Horse Racing

Gun New Zealand galloper Jimmy Choux has overtaken Whobegotyou in the Cox Plate 2011 odds, John Bary’s four-year-old now the favourite for Australasia’s weight-for-age championship after winning at Hastings over the weekend.

Jimmy Choux has firmed into the 2011 Cox Plate favourite

Thorn Park stallion Jimmy Choux enjoyed a sensational three-year-old racing season with victories including the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) and the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (200m) at Rosehill.

Spelled after their disappointing sixth when beaten 12 lengths by Shamrocker in the AJC Derby back in April, Jimmy Choux resumed racing on August 27 running a brave second behind Mufhasa in the Group 1 Challenge Stakes (1400m) at Hastings.

Bary bought the talented middle-distance stayer back to Hastings last Saturday, this time Jimmy Choux turning the tables to win the Group 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) three quarters of a length clear of Mufhasa.

Their fourth career Group 1 win on Saturday saw Jimmy Choux shorten into the $7 favourite in the Luxbet 2011 Cox Plate betting markets.

Last year’s Cox Plate third placegetter Whobegotyou is second elect at $8 behind recent Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Rekindled Interest ($9) and Saturday’s Underwood Stakes champion Sincero ($12).

Connections have confirmed that the Windsor Park Plate was Jimmy Choux’s final Cox Plate preparation and that he would not run again until the big day at Moonee Valley on October 22.

If Jimmy Choux does go on to take out the $3 million Cox Plate, he would make history as the first horse in recent history to do so on the back of a five length break.

“We thought we would roll the dice and run like we did yesterday and he did what we thought he would do,” Bary said.

“We’ll just back ourselves to get into the Cox Plate from here.

“He’s pulled up fantastically well.”

While it will be an unconventional path to the Cox Plate for Jimmy Choux, it is one Bary is confident in.

“I won’t run a horse every two weeks just because everyone else does,” he said.

“If he needed to race every two weeks he would, but he’s not the type of horse that does.

“He runs well when he’s fit and fresh and I don’t want to overcook him.”

Indeed Jimmy Choux has a commanding record when racing off a break of 21 – 35 days having won races such as the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas off a 35 day turnaround and the NZ Derby off a 28 day break.

Following their Cox Plate bid, Bary named the $1 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on the closing day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival as another likely spring aim for Jimmy Choux before travelling overseas for the Hong Kong Mile (1600m) at Sha Tin in December.

To get behind Jimmy Choux in the futures Cox Plate betting markets, head to Luxbet today.

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