Horse Racing

Two time Cox Plate Winner So You Think heads the 189 horses among the first nominations for the 2011 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

Aidan O'Brien has not ruled out brining So You Think back to Australia in search of a third Cox Plate

Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien is believed to be weighing up whether to send the two time weight for age champion of Australia to the Arc de Triomphe I France or send him back for a tilt at a third Cox Plate.

Only Kingston Town has been able to win the Cox Plate three times, and Luxbet are offering odds of $7.00 that So You Think will become just the third horse to win the Cox Plate for a third time in 2011.

One man who will be hoping that So You Think goes to France is Mark Kavanagh, who has again nominated his weight for age star Whobegotyou for a third tilt at the Cox Plate. ‘Whobe’ has chased home So You Think in each of the last two years, finishing fifth in 2009 and third last year. Luxbet have installed the six year old as a $9.00 second favourite.

One of the more interesting runners in the 2011 Cox Plate will be More Joyous. The Gai Waterhouse trained mare was one of the standout performers in the Sydney autumn carnival, however she is yet to prove herself beyond a mile. She went into last year’s Cox Plate with eight straight wins under her belt, but was found out in the pressure cooker atmosphere of Australia’s weight for age championship. She is currently being quoted as a $12.00 chance in the 2011 Cox Plate.

Just one mare has one the Cox Plate in the last ten years (Makybe Diva, 2005), however that trend could end this year with some classy mares being nominated. Shamrocker, Scarlett Lady and Aloha have all proven their ability and will come under serious consideration by the time the Cox Plate rolls around.

The Cox Plate has never really been one of the targets for the top international raiders but there is some overseas class amongst this year’s nominations. Jimmy Choux will try and replicate the success he had last time he was in Australia, while Xtension, from Hong Kong has a great record and will give the race an extra dimension.

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2011 Cox Plate Nominations