Earlier this morning the Races.com.au crew published their insider 2011 Cox Plate Day Tips for today’s cracker nine-race program at Moonee Valley Racecourse, but for punters wanting something a bit different from their punting, below we have our best bets of the day with who to back and who to lay.
Lay of the Day – Race 3 #8 Karuta Queen
Hands-down Neville Layt’s Canberra filly Karuta Queen is the classiest in this race, but we just feel that she has perhaps been up a bit long to produce a winning run from her wide gate eight of nine start.
Has great form in Sydney but at her Melbourne debut came up against a freak and having put in her all only to be beaten nearly five lengths by Black Caviar last-start in the Schillaci, Kartua Queen may be ready for a break not a run at the Valley over 1200m, which she has never won over.
Either lay Karuta Queen through Luxbet, or back our tip to win, #6 Beckon paying $4.20 through Luxbet to win her third from as many career starts.
Better Than Bank Interest – Race 4 # 1 Manawanui
Cannot understand why this horse has drifted out from $1.12 to $1.20 at Luxbet, but we’re glad they have because a 20% bonus on every dollar we put on this star-in-the-making suits us just fine.
Drawn in barrier four of a diminutive six-horse-field, Manawanui is a Group 1 winner rated 108 and their closest rival in the ratings is Collar (80), a horse that got beaten five lengths on a Dead (4) track at Caulfield last start.
Manawanui has won five of their seven starts and comes off a very gallant second to today’s Cox Plate favourite Helmet in the Caulfield Guineas.
Against better rivals might query the distance, but really, $1.20 is generous.
Best Roughie of the Day Race 6 #9 Pergola
Now Pergola won’t win the Drake International Cup, but they certainly have claims to place and at $61 to Win and $12.43 to Place at Luxbet make an excellent exotic selection.
They have been disappointing this season sure, but back in February they won the Moonee Valley Night Cup over 2500 metres and we think they are set for a form turnaround.
Wide draw shouldn’t faze over the distance, which they have twice won on, and they are undefeated (three-from-three) at the Valley and experience here counts for a lot.
In the Big One Race 8 #13 King’s Rose
Yes, we are tipping an upset 2011 Cox Plate result with King’s Rose to defeat the favourite Helmet.
Moody’s mare is a dual winner over the distance, proven at weight-for-age, drawn well in gate two where she is likely to settle just off the pacesetters, ridden by Nolen and at $10 through Luxbet is at great odds.
In a Tight Market Race 9 #3 More Strawberries
There are five at single figures in the last at Moonee Valley, and the favourite More Strawberries looks the best of these to back at $3.50 through Luxbet.
Waterhouse’s mare looked very impressive when galloping at the track on Tuesday, blinkers will sharpen her up and she is set to peak here.
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