Sportsbet Blog

Sportingbet Australia will sponsor the Cox Plate for the next five years in a new multi million dollar deal with the Moonee Valley Turf Club.

The race will be called the Sportingbet Cox Plate and Sportingbet Australia CEO Michael Sullivan said he was delighted to be sponsoring the premier weight for age race in the country.

“The Sportingbet Cox Plate is one of the iconic races in this country and no race has produced champions like it has over its near 100 year history,” Sullivan said.

“This is the biggest single commitment we have ever made to a sporting or racing organisation which shows just how much faith we have in the race and the Moonee Valley Turf Club.”

Sullivan said the sponsorship was a further commitment to the Victorian racing industry on top of the product fee paid to Racing Victoria and numerous other sponsorships.

“I have always said Sportingbet would contribute well over and above the product fee we pay to RVL and this is another example of how committed we are to ensuring racing in Victoria continues to grow,” he said.
“This sponsorship will see Sportingbet contribute over $5m to the industry in Victoria alone next year in product fees and sponsorship.”

Already an existing sponsor of the MVRC, the new enhanced deal will make Sportingbet Australia the major sponsor of the MVRC.

“We have been a sponsor of the club for over two years but this deal involves a significant increase as the major sponsor from July 1, 2012,” he said.

Moonee Valley Racing Club Chairman, Bob Scarborough said he was delighted with the partnership.

“The Moonee Valley Racing Club believes that this exciting partnership with Sportingbet Australia will be of great benefit to both organisations, and will ensure that the Sportingbet Cox Plate will remain as the Australian Weight-For-Age Championship,” Scarborough said.

“The Club has developed a number of exciting initiatives for the Sportingbet Cox Plate in recent years, including the move to make this an international invitational race.

“The Club will continue to focus on growing the profile of the Sportingbet Cox Plate in key international markets, and we believe that the partnership with Sportingbet Australia will assist the Club in these endeavours.”

The Group 2 AAMI Vase is another tough Group 2 race that makes up Cox Plate Day. All 8 horses racing will be guaranteed a share in $200,000 for the 2040m race specifically for 3 year olds. This race is for horses heading for the Victorian Derby next week, and several winners of this race have gone on to win the Derby. Famous winners of the AAMI Vase include Helenus, Efficient and Whobegotyou.

One horse that is favoured for the Victorian Derby is Extra Zero, who is $3.40 for this race with Betfair. He has only won once, in a listed race earlier this year, but he has shown a lot of promise. However his odds seem too short here considering he has not won a race this Spring Carnival.

Carrara was very impressive in the Caulfield Guineas, finishing second to Starspangledbanner. He has an excellent record racing in Queensland and his performance in the Guineas shows that he can race in Victoria as well.  He is at $5.10, and has the best form of any horse in this race.

Viking Legend is at $5.00 with Betfair, and the 3 year old is also in good form this spring. He finished 3^rd in the Group 3 Champion Stakes. He has drawn a good barrier and with up and coming jockey Blake Shinn on board he is an excellent chance.

Danny O’Brien’s colt Spacecraft has won two of his three starts, and this will be his first Group race. It is always hard to tell how inexperienced horses will perform when put to tests like this, but the AAMI Vase is a great race for Spacecraft to start his Group racing career in. Spacecraft is $7.40 with Betfair.

Also at $7.40 is Miss With Attitude (ridden by one “miss with attitude,” Clare Lindop), who will be looking towards the Crown Oaks. She finished 6^th in the Caulfield Guineas but her form before that was good, coming second in the Group 2 Bill Stutt Stakes.

This is a tough race to call, but I’m going for Carrara on the back of his Guineas form. I also thing Extra Zero is a top quality horse and will race well, as will Viking Legend. Some roughies to look at are Miss With Attitude and Spacecraft.

MY TIPS:

Carrara

Extra Zero

Viking Legend

Spacecraft

The Group 2 Schweppes Stakes is one of the premier short to middle distance races in the country. It may not have the prestige of Group 1 races such as the Manikato Stakes, but there is still $200,000 in prizemoney, and the race attracts big name sprinters each year. Famous winners of this race include Our Egyptian Raine, Miss Andretti and Lucky Secret. Several winners of this race have gone on to win the Salinger Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.

It comes as no surprise that Apache Cat is racing here. The 7 year old veteran of 40 starts can always be found at big short distance races throughout Victoria and New South Wales. The Schillaci Stakes is always considered a good guide as to how horses will race in the Schweppes Stakes and, after finishing 2^nd in the Schillaci, Apache Cat is one of the favoured horses here ($3.80) and will challenge Lucky Secret for favouritism.

As mentioned earlier, Lucky Secret won this race last year, and now he’s back for more. Usually when a horse attempts a Group 2 he has won earlier it shows that he has progressed little in the year that has passed. However, this is not the case with Lucky Secret. He has won more races and performed well even in Group 1 races. His effort in the Manikato Stakes was disappointing, but his win in the Schillaci Stakes has seen him jump to favouritism here with Betfair at $3.75

Unlike Apache Cat and Lucky Secret, Danleigh performed in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes, winning the race. The 6 year old gelding is able to go a bit further than some of the other horses in this race, and this might show in the last few hundred metres. Danleigh is currently at $11.00 with Betfair.

Mic Mac is at $7.50, the closest in betting to Apache Cat and Lucky Secret. He has had a long carnival, racing since the start of August, and has already secured two wins, including the Group 2 Memsie Stakes. His performance in the Manikato Stakes was ok, finishing 5^th, but he can, and should, do better here.

This will be a great race, with so many good horses racing. I think Mic Mac might be a surprise winner, having only lost 3 of his 10 races. Lucky Secret and Apache Cat will be up there, and both of them could easily win. For a little value, Danleigh is at $11.00 despite beating many of these horses in the Manikato Stakes.

MY TIPS:

Mic Mac

Lucky Secret

Apache Cat

Danleigh

The Group 1 Tatts Cox Plate is the most prestigious weight-for-age race in Australia. The 2040m race is worth over 3 million dollars in prizemoney and trophies, but it is the honour of winning such an important race that drags the big named horses and trainers to the race. The Cox Plate is characteristically won by a top quality horse – past winners include Kingston Town (3 times), Sunline (2 times), Northerly (2 times) and Makybe Diva. Perhaps the most famous winner of the race is Fields of Omagh, who raced in the Plate 5 times for two wins, including the 2006 Plate when, as a nine year old, he became the oldest winner of the race.

As for this race, quality horses are bountiful.  The favourite is Whobegotyou, currently at $3.25 with Betfair (some pretty juicy odds). I made the mistake of betting against Whobegotyou when he was favourite in the Yalumba Stakes, but I will not make it again. Despite drawing a wide barrier, Whobegotyou is a star and I have every confidence in him to win this race.

I bet against Whobegotyou last time for Heart of Dreams, the 4 year old gelding who, in the end, finished second. He has drawn well and will jump from barrier 3, which is one advantage he has over Whobegotyou. Heart of Dreams is certainly a chance, and is at $6.00 with Betfair. This race could easily turn into a showdown between him and Whobegotyou.

One horse looking to muscle his way into the winner’s circle is Speed Gifted ($12.00), Lee Freedman’s 5 year old gelding from Great Britain. Unlike many of the other international horses in the carnival, he has had experience in Australian racing, winning at Randwick and Flemington. This will be his first race at Moonee Valley, and despite winning at distances above and below 2000m, he has only raced at the distance once.

Another chance at slightly longer odds is the Gai Waterhouse-trained Rock Kingdom ($20.00), who won the Group 1 Epsom Handicap and finished 3^rd the Toorak Handicap. He is in great form, and I will again profess my admiration for Gai Waterhouse, but he has not won over 1600m. However he is definitely a chance and his odds look juicy for an each-way bet with Betfair.

Manhattan Rain, Gai Waterhouse’s other runner, has drifted majorly with Betfair, thanks to a poor barrier draw. However, an impressive 3^rd in the Caulfield Guineas and some excellent form before that makes $28.00 seem like long odds. Because of the huge amounts of money poured into the betting pools for this race, the odds on horses will change dramatically on race day. So if you like Manhattan Rain, be sure to place a fixed bet with Betfair before his odds shorten.

I will not bet against Whobegotyou again, so he is my tip to win this year’s Cox Plate. Heart of Dreams is possibly the only other horse that can stick with “Whobe,” while Speed Gifted will also battle hard. For a little value, take your pick between Rock Kingdom and Manhattan Rain. Scenic Shot and So You Think are also good value.

MY TIPS:

Whobegotyou

Heart of Dreams

Speed Gifted

Rock Kingdom

While it may be a Group 3 race, the McEwen Stakes is more prestigious and celebrated than many Group 2 races. It is a sprint, run over 1000m, and the total prize money totals $200,000. Former winners of the race include Testa Rossa, Miss Andretti and Kaphero.

The Tony Vasil trained Lucky Secret ($4.00 with Betfair) is one of the premier sprinters in Australia. According to tradition, success on this track and over this distance leads to a very good run in McEwen Stakes, and Lucky Secret’s claim is irrefutable. He has won five races over 1000m and, from his 8 starts at Moonee Valley, has won 7 of them and placed in the other.

The other horse challenging for favouritism is Secret Flyer. He is equal favourite at the moment at $4.00 but there is a fair chance that his odds may drift. However, his form has been almost as good as Lucky Secret’s. He has raced four times over 1000m for three wins, and from his 5 starts at Moonee Valley has won three and placed in the other two.

Here de Angels ($11.00) won this race in 2007, but hasn’t had much luck since then. The gelding raced in the McEwen Stakes again last year, but finished a disappointing 9^th, despite being at short odds. He has raced at Moonee Valley several times, but has done very little. Despite that, he has won three times over this distance and has won this race before, so he is still a chance.

David Hayes’ Nicconi is at $4.75, fairly short odds considering he has only raced at Moonee Valley once before. He has not raced since April, but he was in some great form there, being competitive in several Group 1 races, and even winning the Group 1 Galaxy at Randwick.

Mrs. Waters is right out at $34.00, though she is not without hope. The 8 year old veteran has won 11 times over 1000. She finished second in an open race over 1000m a few weeks ago, and was only just behind Secret Flyer. However, she has only raced at a level far below this, and this might be a little too late in her career to mount an attack on group racing.

I am going for Lucky Secret because his form over the distance and track has been outstanding. I think Secret Flyer will run well, as will Typhoon Zed ($10). For some value I like I am Invincible ($15), though don’t be afraid to put a place bet on Mrs. Waters.

My Tips:

Lucky Secret

Secret Flyer

Typhoon Zed

I am Invincible