2016 Group 1 Cox Plate updated market and latest news
PUNTERS and bookmakers alike have been having a hard time deciding which of the two favoured runners to back for the 2016 Cox Plate this Saturday.
Winx vs. Hartnell has been the most talked about Cox Plate rivalry in many years, but it appears as though punters have finally settled on Winx at an odds-on price.
The Chris Waller-trained mare is looking to defend its title, but many believe the John O’Shea-trained Hartnell could pose a threat to the mighty champion mare. Hartnell is currently a $3 chance at CrownBet, but we’re expecting more money to flow on Winx as the great race gets closer.
With only two runners at single figures, the Cox Plate market is wide open for value punters. Horses such as Yankee Rose and Black Heart Bart are paying over $14 which is a price punters would have dreamed about heading into the spring carnival.
Cox Plate day has plenty of great racing action and punters will get $50 back in bonus bets at Sportsbet if your horse finishes second or third in any of the first four races this Saturday.
2016 Group 1 Cox Plate market and fluctuations
1. Happy Trails – $126
2. Black Heart Bart – $17
3. Hartnell – $3
4. Hauraki – $19
5. Happy Clapper – $71
6. Vadamos -$14
7. Awesome Rock – $61
8. Winx – $2
9. Lucia Valentina – $21
10. Yankee Rose – $15
Winx dropped to $1.95 earlier in the week, but bookmakers have been prepared to risk the mare at $2. It’s unlikely punters will get a better price on the day, so now is the best time to get the value with CrownBet.
Hartnell punters, on the other hand, should wait till later in the week for a better price. $3 on face value is a good price for Hartnell which has looked dominant this spring, but with the amount of public money being bet on Winx, it should drift in the betting come Saturday afternoon.
Black Heart Bart was close behind Winx in a three-horse field last start, but bookmakers are letting it drift in the betting. The Darren Weir-trained gelding opened at $13 and has drifted out to $17 and $3.40 to place at CrownBet.
There hasn’t been much action for any other runner in the market. Top European hope Vadamos is steady at $14 and the only other runners to fluctuate in the market has been Happy Trails from $81 to $126 and Happy Clapper from $61 to $71.
Awesome Rock ready to roll at The Valley
Awesome Rock isn’t the horse on everyone’s lips heading into the 2016 Cox Plate this Saturday, but co-trainer Troy Corstens believes his runner is in better shape now following two runs since its win in the Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes.
“The way he pulled up out of the Underwood (Stakes) determined which way we were going to go into the Cox Plate. He wasn’t fantastic coming out of that race and jarred up quite badly which he’s never done before,” Corstens said.
“That was perplexing as he likes hard tracks and it took a bit to get him over that, he was quite flat after the run.
“The Toorak was obviously a shorter race but we thought it was the right option for him and he ran very well.”
Awesome Rock worked well at Moonee Valley on Tuesday, covering 1400m in 1:35.57 which pleased Corstens ahead of the $3 million feature.
“That was perfect. He’s bright and he’s bouncing and you can see your face in his coat – he looks amazing,” Corstens said.
“The improvement in him from the Toorak run is noticeable and he’s spot on. I really think this is as good as we’ve had him.”
Corstens wants to see Awesome Rock on the pace from barrier five with Stephen Baster in the saddle.
“He’ll go forward,” Corstens said. “If something like Vadamos wants to go on then we’ll take the sit behind but if we can lead we will – it worked well for him in the Australian Cup.
“He’s ready for the fight of his life.”
Awesome Rock looks an each way chance for value punters. Winning the Cox Plate might be a stretch too far, but take the $8.50 at Sportsbet for the place for some interest.
Happy Trails not just making up the numbers
Happy Trails is having its fifth Cox Plate run this Saturday, but trainer Paul Beshara isn’t just making up the numbers with the nine-year-old.
Beshara is out to make a point that despite the odds of $126 for Happy Trails, he’s not wanting to waste the owners money for the sake of running.
“I’m not making up the numbers, I’m going to Moonee Valley to win the Cox Plate. He’s going well and he doesn’t know that it’s his fifth try in the race, nor does he know that he’s a rising 10-year-old,” Beshara said.
Happy Trails has won over $3 million in prizemoney to date and only Winx has amassed more career earnings. Beshara believes it has supporters of the older generation.
“I think you’ll find he’s got a lot of elderly followers, like in the blue rinse-type followers,” Beshara said. “I think he’s the mascot for every blue-rinse set around Australia.
“You see, so many of that vintage can remember way back to when he was born.”
Beshara is happy with his runner following a good run behind subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Jameka.
“I’m so happy with him, I think he’ll run a super race and don’t forget he was closing in hard on Jameka at her last start at Flemington and Jameka came out and trounced them in the Caulfield Cup,” Beshara said.
“I don’t buy this argument that it’s a race of two or three, there is a whole lot of chances and we’re one of them.
“You saw Black Caviar nearly go down in England one time, and you see favourites being beaten every day of the week.
“[Happy Trails] has been placed in the Cox Plate, he seems to appreciate the Valley and you’d be foolish to overlook a bloke like this.”