Horse Racing

A host of horses heading towards the 2010 Cox Plate on October 23 will begin preparations and take to the Moonee Valley track this Saturday in the $400,000 Group 2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m).

Four of the eight horses making up the 2010 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes final field are still in contention for the Cox Plate this year following the first declarations for the $3 million weight-for-age feature on Tuesday.

Shoot Out, Whobegotyou, Zipping and Typhoon Tracy will all face off on Saturday as they fight for a spot in the Cox Plate field later in the spring.

Currently John Wallace’s in-form gelding Shoot Out is the second favourite at Sportsbet to win the Cox Plate this year at $6.50 followed by Whobegotyou ($13), Typhoon Tracy ($16) and further down the market Zipping ($41).

Cox Plate Winners in Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes

AJC Derby winner Shoot Out has drawn barrier six in the Dato, attempting his third win of the spring season after taking out the Bletchingly Stakes and JJ Liston Stakes before finishing third to So You Think in the Memsie Stakes last start.

Weight-for-age star Whobegotyou, prepared by last year’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer Mark Kavanagh, is likely to start as one of the top fancies for the Dato on Saturday after making an eye catching return to racing placing second in the Memsie ahead of Shoot Out.

Whobegotyou, who won the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes last year, has drawn well with barrier three for Saturday and will be ridden by champion jockey Michael Rodd.

Recently crowned 2009-10 Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy is another top chance on Saturday, the Memsie Stakes’ fourth placegetter sure to improve second up and also coming up trumps in the barrier draw due to jump from gate two.

Other 2010 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes runners include Warrnambool-trained stayer Hissing Sid, Lloyd Williams super consistent gelding Rundle and two more of Bart Cummings 2010 Melbourne Cup hopefuls Precedence and Brightnight, making this one of the most hotly contested spring races and wide open betting markets.

One notable omission from the Dato Stakes final field is reigning Cox Plate champion So You Think.

Cummings has changed plans for the four-year-old saving him for Saturday week’s Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield instead.

In recent years the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes has proved the definitive guide to the Cox Plate with six of the past 10 Cox Plate winners having started in the Dato, three going on to win the double most recently El Segundo (2007).

The other two feature Moonee Valley Races this Saturday are the Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m) featuring star mares Ghostmilk, Lady Lynette and Bart Cummings’ Faint Perfume vying for a spot in the Melbourne Cup field this November; while the Group 3 McEwen Stakes (1000m) is headed by Peter Moody’s brilliant galloper Reward For Effort.

For the best odds and betting offers for these Saturday races don’t waste your time at the TAB. Get a better price on every horse in every race at premier online bookie Sportsbet.

2010 Dato Tan Chin Name Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw