Black Caviar could make her international debut on Dubai World Cup night in March

A winner of all 16 of her 16 career starts to date for an incredible $4.38 million in prize money, brilliant Bel Esprit five-year-old Black Caviar has captured the attention and hearts of the Australian racing public and will this year be showcased overseas for the first time.

While the Royal Ascot Carnival in England mid-year was tipped to host to Black Caviar’s international debut, Moody is keeping the options open with two Group 1 Dubai World Cup Carnival race nominations made for the speedster.

Current plans for Black Caviar next race are for the champ to resume racing in the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27.

She will then progress onto other Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival features including the $400,000 Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 2 and the $500,000 Group 1 Futurity Stakes at the same track and distance on Blue Diamond Stakes Day, February 25.

There is now also a “pie in the sky” chance that the glamour girl of racing could feature alongside the likes of the Darley-owned boom colts Sepoy and Helmet on Dubai World Cup night at Meydan on March 31.

“We may finish her campaign here sometime in early March and Dubai is at the end of March – then the UK in June,” Moody explained.

“There would be no drama there (getting to Dubai).”

Black Caviar has been entered for both the $1.2 million Group 1 Golden Shaheen (1200m) at Tapeta’s synthetic surface, as well as the $600,000 Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1000m) on the grass.

Of the two events it is the 2012 Golden Shaheen, the third leg of the 2012 Global Sprint Challenge, which looks the more appealing for Black Caviar.

If accepted, Black Caviar would come face to face with Peter Snowden’s four-time Group 1 winning Elusive Quality three-year-old Sepoy, making for one of the hottest sprint showdowns in racing history.

The Dubai International Racing Club manager Martin Talty was pleased about having lured a Black Caviar nomination for the Dubai World Cup Carnival this year, naming her as the best sprinter of the modern racing era.

“Black Caviar is the best sprinter in the world of the past 20 years,” Talty told Paris Turf.

“This is the first time trainer Peter Moody has entered her outside Australia and we would be delighted to see her in Dubai.

“It is an honour for the racecourse here.”

Talty also mentioned the mouth-watering clash between Sepoy and Black Caviar as something all race fans in Australia would be very eager to see.

“All Australians want to see her run against Sepoy, who is owned by Sheikh Mohammed,” he said.

“With So You Think involved in the World Cup, the three best horses in Australia in recnet years could all run in Dubai.”

Dual Cox Plate winning Aussie expat So You Think, now prepared by Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien, was entered for the $10 million Dubai World Cup (2000m) this week and installed as the early favourite in futures betting on the world’s richest race.

“It would be exciting if he ran,” Coolmore Stud’s Australian manager Tom Magnier said.

While far from confirming a Dubai appearance, Moody said there was no harm in making the free nomination.

“It was a free entry, so I whacked her in,” he said.

“I haven’t even discussed it with the owners, but I’d like to keep my options open.”

Australian punters’ favourite online bookmaker Luxbet don’t just offer the best Aussie horse racing odds, they also have very competitive markets on all of the international majors.

So make sure you are ready to get behind Black Caviar wherever she is racing by signing up with Luxbet today and enjoy a $400 bonus bet when you make your first deposit and quote BONUSBET!

Black Caviar is officially the highest-ever ranked mare in World Thoroughbred Rankings history

Ace English four-year-old Frankel, a winner of all nine of their career starts to date including five Group 1 showdowns, achieved the highest ranking of any horse with 136 in the 2011 WTR released in London overnight.

Peter Moody’s brilliant Bel Esprit mare Black Caviar, also unbeaten with an incredible 16 from 16 record to her name to date, came in second with her rating raised to 132.

It was a full two points higher than her 130 marking from 2010 making the superlative sprinter officially the highest-ranked mare in history, Black Caviar also named the Champion Sprinter in the World for the second straight year.

During 2011 the ‘Black Flash’ started eight times for eight incredible wins, six at Group 1 level including five straight from February through until May across three states.

Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper and a member of the WTR committee, pointed out that it was Black Caviar’s Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) success at Flemington last March when carrying a hefty 58kg that helped raise her ranking.

“The rating assigned to Black Caviar reflects her absolute dominance in the Newmarket Handicap where she gave weight and trounced her rivals to win in the fastest time ever recorded in the 138-year history of Australia’s iconic sprint race,” Carpenter said.

Black Caviar won the Newmarket Handicap on March 12, 2011 by a commanding three lengths over former Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily in a blistering time of 1:07.36 seconds.

“The WTR committee finalized her ranking at 132 which is a great result for Black Caviar and her connections and Australian racing,” Carpenter said.

With her 132 ranking Black Caviar broke a plethora of records becoming not only the highest-rated mare in history surpassing Goldikova (130 in 2009), but also the highest-rated sprinter exceeding previous benchmarker Oasis Dream (125 in 2003), and the highest-rated Australian-trained horse leaving Aussie expat and dual Cox Plate hero So You Think (126 in 2010) in her wake.

“She is by far and away the highest-rated sprinter…and she now exceeds the more of Goldikova as the highest-ever ranked mare,” Carpenter continued.

“It’s a remarkable feat.”

Black Caviar is tipped to resume racing in the $200,000 Group 2 Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on January 27.

There were 351 horses to make the WTR list with a rating of 115 or more, 47 of which were Australian-trained including ace three-year-olds Sepoy and Atlantic Jewel.

With a rating of 123 Sepoy was named the Champion 3YO Sprinter in the World for 2011 thanks to the Darley-owned, Peter Snowden-trained colt’s victories in races including the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in September against older rivals, and most recently the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day.

Looking to add another Aussie elite-level to his title in the $350,000 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 25 during the 2012 Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, Sepoy is then set to head overseas to embark on an ambitious international campaign starting with the Dubai World Cup Carnival followed by a stint in Europe.

Taking out the Champion 3YO Filly 2011 title was then the Mark Kavanagh-trained Atlantic Jewel with a rating of 121.

The hugely talented daughter of Fastnet Rock from Zabeel mare Regard won last year’s Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in emphatic fashion at just her fourth career start before the seven length flogging she gave her rivals in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) last-start at Flemington on October 29 during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“The 2011 World Thoroughbred Rankings again confirmed Australia as a major player in World Racing and are a stunning advertisement for the quality of Australia’s racing and breeding industries,” Carpenter said.

Other notable Australian-trained gallopers in the WTR list included All Aged Stakes champion Hay List (122), Gai Waterhouse’s glamor mare More Joyous (120), Mark Kavanagh’s weight-for-age hero Whobegotyou (120), Caulfield Guineas champ Helmet (119), the now-retired Shocking (119), the Mick Price-trained Heart of Dreams (118), Ron Leemon’s Caulfield Guineas runner-up Manawanui (118), Caulfield Stakes winner Descarado (117) and Cox Plate third palcegetter Rekindled Interest (117).

To back Black Caviar next race, or rally behind Australia’s other champions in the World Thoroughbred Ranking, head to Australia’s champion online bookmaker Luxbet and enjoy a $400 bonus bet when you sign up, deposit and quote the code BONUSBET!

Luke Nolen, pictured with Peter Moody, will partner He's An Angel in the 2011 Wodonga Cup this Sunday

Set to jump at 3:52pm (local time) as Wodonga Race 7 on Sunday, the $66,000 Wodonga Cup (1590m) this year attracted a full field of 14 starters with He’s An Angel to wear the No. 1 saddlecloth.

The veteran Jeune seven-year-old enjoyed a first-up win in the Jerilderie Cup back in September, and also recently took out a 1400 metre handicap at Bendigo.

They were disappointing last-start, however, when 10^th to Viva Las in the Snake Gully Cup (1400m) at Gundagai on November 11.

Local Wodonga trainer Cox, and Luke Nolen who is most famous for his association with superstar mare Black Caviar, are hopeful He’s An Angel can return to form back at their home track on Sunday.

“It’s Cup Day up there and it’s normally a good day of racing in the north east,” Nolen said.

“I spent most of my adolescence and youth and apprenticeship in the north east, so it’s always good to get back and support those meetings.”

He’s An Angel, however, must also overcome a wide barrier 13 of 14 draw if they are to salute in their home Cup.

Cox will also be represented in the Wodonga Cup this year by Flagstaff and Cudgewa, to be ridden by Lisa Cropp, who fared far better in the barrier draw than their stablemate the pair due to jump from gates two and four respectively.

Another top chance that has suffered an early blow with a double-digit gate is the Stephen Aldrige-trained Thrillionaire out in barrier 12.

The Monde Bleu mare comes off a smart win at the track and distance back on November 6 and is well-weighted on 55kg.

Along with He’s An Angel, two other Wodonga Cup hopes this year have been handicapped above the 55kg minimum.

First is the Leon Corstens-trained Delayedreaction on 56.5kg, the eight-year-old Postponed gelding drawn favourably in barrier three.

Delayedreaction was outclassed last-start, beaten over 13 lengths when ninth to He’s Remarkable in the Visit Victoria Handicap (1600m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day.

The drop back in class will suite the Kyneton-based galloper who has been racing against some of the best in the business all spring in Melbourne.

The next heaviest-weighted hopeful is then Neil Dyer’s Testa Rossa nine-year-old Redhead Rage with 56kg, last seen running a brave second to Did We Win in the Donald Cup (1620m) on November 13.

Other notable runners in the Wodonga Cup 2011 field include recent Berrigan Cup winner Regular Aussie and Michael Hickmott’s imported Danehill Dancer five-year-old Cornish.

Young Morphettville-based trainer Michael Hickmott is looking to follow in the footsteps of his father John by claiming Wodonga Cup success.

Cornish began their career racing in Ireland when under the preparation of Aiden O’Brien, the trainer now in charge of former Aussie superstar So You Think, with their best performance being a third in the Group 1 International Stakes at York in August of 2009.

They were sent to Australian and trained by Robert Hickmott at the start of this year after being purchased by Lloyd Williams who originally had them set for a Melbourne Cup campaign.

When Melbourne Cup plans were shelved, Cornish was sold and joined their current stable earlier this season.

“Cornish probably went three-to-four lengths below what I expected last start, but that was trainer error,” Hickmott said.

“He’s a big, gross thing that needs plenty of work and has really stepped up since and should run well.”

Below punters can find the complete 2011 Telstra Business Centre Wodonga Cup field, barriers, weights and jockeys.

Our preferred online bookmaker Luxbet are due to release odds on the feature shortly, so make sure you are ready for the weekend’s racing action by signing up with Luxbet now quoting the code BONUSBET when making your first deposit for a $400 bonus bet!

2011 Wodonga Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw

Wodonga Race 7 – 27/11/2011

Scheduled to run as Flemington Race 7 at 4:25pm (AEDT), the 2011 Myer Spring Fashion Stakes field currently features 10 three-year-olds following the early scratching of #7 Rosewall.

Dwayne Dunn rides So You Think's half-brother Now You Know on Crown Oaks Day

Sitting at the top of the Myer Spring Fashions Stakes odds at Luxbet is the Danny O’Brien-trained Now You Know who has firmed in from $4.420 to $4.00 to secure their second spring win on the trot.

Drawn on the rails today Elusive City colt Now You Know, who shares the same dam (Triassic) as dual Cox Plate hero So You Think, was last seen running away to win a maiden over the mile at Sale on October 23 by an easy four lengths.

It is a notable class rise for the youngster today who faces a quality field of rivals include the Peter Moody-trained filly Torah ($4.20 Luxbet) who comes off a win in the Listed Jeep Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and Mick Price’s undefeated More Than Ready colt Proliferate ($4.80 Luxbet).

For their first win Now You Know was ridden by Dwayne Dunn who retains the ride in the Myer Spring Fashion Stakes today.

“He’s starting to do things right and really impressed last time,” Dunn said of the three-year-old.

“There’s a lot of pressure, not so much on me but on the horse because of who he is (related to).

“He is still learning and I think he will be set for the autumn in Sydney but I am hoping he goes well (on Crown Oaks Day).”

Dunn has a strong book of rides at Flemington today including a mount in the day’s marquee race, the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at 3:40pm (AEDT) on outside chance Flame Of Lanka.

Drawn in barrier five of 11, the David Hayes-trained Redoute’s Choice filly Flame Of Lanka comes off a fourth to Torah in the Jeep Stakes, before which she claimed a tidy victory at Morphettville Parks.

Despite her nice gate and solid lead-up form Flame Of Lanka just looks to be lacking a bit of class and experience for the Crown Oaks 2011 and as such is paying $26 in the Luxbet markets.

Today the best place to head for all of your Crown Oaks Day bets is the Tabcorp-owned and trusted online bookmaker Luxbet who has a $500 bonus bet waiting for new depositing customers that quote the exclusive code BONUSBET!

2011 Myer Spring Fashions Stakes Field

Flemington Race 7 – 03/11/2011

That could be said about Dunaden’s French trainer Mikel Delzangles who is following the footsteps of his former boss Alain Du Royer-Dupre by trying to win the Group 1 $6m 2011 Melbourne Cup.

And by the price of Dunaden with Luxbet at $7.50, the tracing of footsteps to date has been spot on.

2011 Melbourne Cup – horse profile

#3 Dunaden (barrier 13) 54.5kg

• six year old bay horse
• Record: 27 starts 7 wins 8 second 5 third
• Winning distance range 2100m to 3100m
• Best win: 2011 Group 3 De Barbeville (3100m) Longchamp, France
• Trainer: Mikel Delzangles, France.
• Jockey, Craig Williams or Christophe Lemaire (to be decided).
• Latest price Luxbet $7.50.

Delzangles was the assistant to Royer-Dupre for ten year before going out training successfully on his own.

Last year Royer Dupre won the Melbourne Cup with Americain who at the time was a six year old entire Geelong Cup winner who carried 54.5kg to Melbourne Cup victory.

Guess what – this season Dunaden is a six year old entire who won the Geelong Cup and will carry 54.5kg in the Melbourne Cup.

While Americain had So You Think standing in the way in 2010, Dunaden has Americain, the 2011 Melbourne Cup $4.60 favourite with Luxbet to knock over – so can Dunaden become 2011 Melbourne Cup winner?

Back in April he met Americain and beat him home in the De Barbeville at Longchamp by 3-1/2 lengths.

How ready Americain was for that race is debatable but on fact and figures Dunaden can certainly become the 2011 Melbourne Cup winner.

Americain carried three kilograms more than Dunaden at Longchamp but has to carry 3-1/2kg more in the Melbourne Cup of 2011.

Dunaden has many things in his favour.

He has adapted well to Australia as seen by the Geelong Cup win.

He can stay 3200m but sprint quickly when needed.

He has a comfortable weight and handles wet and dry ground.

His overall record tells us he is a model of consistency.

Dunaden likes to settle midfield and doesn’t like to use energy early.

The jockey who finally gets to ride on Dunaden has the job of not getting caught wide early.

If he gets caught wide he may go back further than desired.

Not many holes can get punched into Dunaden and he looks like an outstanding chance in the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

For the best value at the Flemington Racing Spring Carnival sign up with Luxbet and be instantly rewarded with u[p to $500 bonus bet when you deposit and quote the limited-time-only code Bonusbet.

Luxbet is mathcing your deposit anywhere from $25 to $500. Put in $500 and you will have $1000. Ask about the conditions and be on a winner.

After he watched the gallop he turned to part owner Coleen Bamford and said that the work was “perfect” and added “you don’t need me here.”

Luxbet have Americain at $4.60 to become the Group 1 $6m 2011 Melbourne Cup winner and by all reports that is great value.

2011 Melbourne Cup – horse profile

#1 Americain (barrier 15) 58kg

• seven year old brown/bay horse
• Record: 26 starts 10 wins 3 second 3 third
• Winning distance range 1400m to 3200m
• Best win: 2010 Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) Flemington
• Trainer: Alain De Royer-Dupre, Chantilly, France
• Jockey, Gerard Mosse.
• Latest price Luxbet $4.60 favourite.

It must be remembered that in the 2010 version of the Melbourne Cup, Americian made a pretty decent horse look average.

That horse was So You Think, the dual Cox Plate winner and star of Australian racing.

Americain was absolutely running away with the race in the final 100m and if the race was any further,  the 2-3/4 length winning margin would have been greater

Okay So You Think may not stay the journey, but what Americain did to him, he also did to the rest of the field including Maluckyday.

In short, that Melbourne Cup was of high quality, probably better than the Melbourne Cup of 2011.

After the 2010 Melbourne Cup, Americain went back to Europe and performed moderately.

But think of it this way.

Having the knowledge you can win $3.5m in Australia at the end the year, it is only common sense that the great French trainer wouldn’t overtax his galloper beforehand.

Americian returned to Australia for two runs and the first, in the Moonee Valley Cup, was an easy pipe opener.

Going to the line under a hold, jockey Gerard Mosse dismounted and said the horse only used 70% of his talent to win.

One wouldn’t image there is not much hope for those who finished behind him.

The only worry with the whole repeat is that Americain has to carry more weight. Last year he carried 54.5kg and this year it is 58kg.

To offset that, he is a big horse who has carried bigger weight to victory overseas. His Moonee Valley Cup win was also with 58kg.

Royer-Dupre said barrier 15 wouldn’t be an excuse.

Truth is Americain runs 3200m right out, extremely well whereas many of his rivals may not.

He is the right favourite of the 2011 Melbourne Cup because he will be very tough to beat.

This is the best time to jump on Luxbet’s offer code Bonusbet, deposit $25 to $500 and get 100% Bonus on your money.

So if you put $100 in a Luxbet account they will match it. So $500 in get you $1000 in your account. Place a single bet with your bonus money on a horse paying $1.50 or over (remember the good odds on Americain) and it is yours. Ask about the conditions of this beauty.

Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed will have her final spring run in the 2011 Mackinnon Stakes

Yesterday there were 26 horses nominated for the $1 million Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), many of which are keen to win for the ballot free ride into Tuesday week’s 2011 Melbourne Cup field.

Today the connections of a number of the Mackinnon Stakes nominees declared that they would not be accepting when the final field is released on Wednesday.

2011 Mackinnon Stakes Nominees to Defect from Final Field:

• Secret Admirer (Grahame Begg) – Epsom Handicap winner who ran fifth in the Cox Plate last weekend will not run at all this Saturday, Begg to withdraw her from both the Mackinnon and the Myer Classic opting to go straight into next week’s 2011 Emirates Stakes on the final day of the Cup Carnival.

• Unusual Suspect (Michael Kent) – American import ran sixth in the Caulfield Cup last start, producing the fastest sectionals of any runner in the feature, and will bypass Derby Day going straight to the Melbourne Cup for which they are rated a $26 chance for at Luxbet

“We don’t have to run him, he’s in the Cup, he’s coming along nicely,” Part-owner Peter Lord said of Unusual Suspect.

There was also confirmation from a number of trainers this morning that the Mackinnon Stakes was the target for their horses including premier Victorian horseman Peter Moody saying Lights Of Heaven would accept for the Mackinnon and not the $500,000 Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) on Saturday.

2011 Mackinnon Stakes Nominees to Accept for the Final Field:

• Lights Of Heaven (Peter Moody) – Moody believes the Myer Classic over the mile will better suit his Zabeel mare, last seen running third to Descarado in the Caulfield Stakes, especially with a Cups campaign now off the cards

• Glass Harmonium (Michael Moroney) – Finished outside the top four in their first run since debuting down under back in May when a disappointing 10^th in the Cox Plate last weekend, Melbourne Cup acceptance relies on their Mackinnon run, they are in the field (7^th on the order of entry) but may not start on the first Tuesday of November if they don’t perform here, paying $81 in the Melbourne Cup markets at Luxbet

Meanwhile, recent Caulfield Cup winner Southern Speed had her first major piece of work since her upset victory in the first of the spring majors at Flemington this morning.

The talented South Australian-trained mare is due to be ridden by red-hot hoop Craig Williams in the Mackinnon on Saturday before being turned out to the paddock for a well-deserved rest ahead of the autumn.

Southern Speed did everything right in her Flemington gallop this morning when ridden by Clare Lindop, pulling up well have a slight blow.

“She looks a million dollars,” co-trainer Leon Macdonald said of Southern Speed this week.

“She has done everything right since the Caulfield Cup and I couldn’t be happier.”

The Mackinnon Stakes is a crucial Melbourne Cup guide for fans and punters and was won last year by the heroic So You Think before their third to Americain in the 150^th edition of the Cup.

Americain is favourite in the Melbourne Cup 2011 markets to go back-to-back at a quote of $4 through Luxbet.

View the full Melbourne Cup odds and options open now at Luxbet, where the hottest Derby Day offers will also be found including Best Tote Exotics + 5% Bonus available for every race at Flemington this Saturday.

Jimmy Choux is one of three New Zealand-trained horses in the 2011 Cox Plate

The $3 million Group 1 Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) is set to run as Race 8 at Moonee Valley on Saturday and is due to jump at 5:35pm (AEDST).

The current 14-horse field of hopefuls is led by the Peter Snowden-trained Helmet, the sole three-year-old in the race continuing to gain support having been well-backed in from $3.50 to $3.20 at Luxbet.

Helmet may have age and race experience against him going into the 2011 Cox Plate, but this is no ordinary youngster.

They already have three Group 1 wins up their sleeve and carrying just 49.5kg in the Cox Plate, it is a brave punter that writes Helmet off on their age alone.

History is definitely against Helmet here with the past 12 Caulfield Guineas winners attempting a Cox Plate victory in the same season all finishing out of the money, but Red Anchor did it in 1984 and Snowden remains hopeful that even from barrier 10 Helmet can do it again.

The other 2011 Cox Plate hopes under double-figures at Luxbet are outstanding New Zealander Jimmy Choux ($6) drawn one inside the favourite and Jim Conlan’s Moonee Valley whizz Rekindled Interest ($7.50).

Not far behind in the betting are the likes of last-start Epsom Handicap winner Secret Admirer ($11), pacesetter Glass Harmonium ($12) drawn to perfection in gate four and Peter Moody’s proven 2000 metre mare King’s Rose ($12).

There are plenty of great horses at great prices in the Cox Plate 2011, but what about those Luxbet special markets?

2011 Cox Plate Betting Specials

Moonee Valley Race 8 Markets

Winning Margin

• Dead Heat to 0.99 Lengths – $2.80 Luxbet
• 1 Length to 1.99 Lengths – $2.80 Luxbet
• 2 Lengths or more – $2.60 Luxbet

If it is race favourite Helmet you fancy to win, his last-start Guineas success was only by a nose, and of his six career wins to date three have been by a length or less making a Dead Heat to 0.99 Lengths the best bet here.

Last year So You Think won the 2010 Cox Plate by 1.3 lengths, the year before as a 3YO they won by 2.5 lengths.

Other recent Cox Plate winning margins have been:

• 2008 Maldivian by 1 Length
• 2007 El Segundo by 3 Lengths
• 2006 Fields Of Omagh 0.1 Lengths
• 2005 Makybe Diva 1.3 Lenths

The average Cox Plate Winning Margin range over the past six years then is 1 – 1.99 Lengths.

Will a Four-Year-Old Win the Cox Plate?

• Yes – $1.60 Luxbet
• No – $2.35 Luxbet

History suggests the best age to win a Cox Plate is four with 26 winners throughout history having won as a four-year-old, the most recent being So You Think 12 months ago.

There are nine 4YO’s in contention this year, the shortest-priced of which is Jimmy Choux paying $6 at Luxbet.

Saddle Cloth Odd v Even

• Odd – $1.85 Luxbet
  Even – $1.95 Luxbet

State of Origin – Which Team Will Produce the Cox Plate Winner

• Team VIC – $1.35 Luxbet

#1 Efficient, #4 Glass Harmonium, #9 Rekindled Interest, #10 Shamrocker, #11 Pinker Pinker, #13 King’s Rose, #14 Helmet, #15 Avienus

• Team NSW – $9 Luxbet

#6 Sincero, #12 Secret Admirer

• Team WA – $61 Luxbet

#8 Playing God

• Team NZ – $4 Luxbet

#3 Wall Street, #5 Jimmy Choux, #7 Lion Tamer

Get access to all of these exclusive Cox Plate markets as well as a $500 bonus welcome bet by signing up with Luxbet today and quoting the promo code BONUSBET when making your first deposit.

Running as Moonee Valley Race 8 at 5:35pm (AEDST), the $3 million Group 1 Tatts Cox Plate (2040m) currently features a full field of 14 starters.

Helmet is out to claim the Caulfield Guineas - Cox Plate double in the same season for the first time since Red Anchor (1984)

On Wednesday second emergency Yosei was withdrawn due to a leg injury and after #2 Descarado was officially scratched from the 2011 Cox Plate field on Thursday, the Mark Webb-trained mare Avienus moved up from first emergency to final starter.

If no other hopefuls withdraw, it will be the first time since 2005 that the Cox Plate is run at capacity, meaning this year there is more form, facts and stats to consider than in recent years.

Unlike last year when all the pre-race hype was on one horse and one horse only, eventual dual Cox Plate winner So You Think, this year seems to be a much more even affair.

In a field with no genuine weight-for-age standout it would be tempting to have a gut-guess-bet to pick the Cox Plate winner.

The line-up and betting markets at Luxbet may be fairly open, but don’t throw your wagering dollars away.

To have the best chance of cleaning out the bookies with your Cox Plate 2011 bets, punters need to know the form on the runners and evaluate their claims looking at everything from where they are drawn in the field, what races they have come via and what the betting facts and history says.

Can 49.5kg lightweight and $3.20 Luxbet favourite Helmet win the Cox Plate as a three-year-old?

Will the addition of blinkers have Luxbet market mover Rekindled Interest sharp enough for an upset?

Does the controversial addition to the field, former Melbourne Cup winner Efficient have any claims for a Cox Plate victory?

Who are the smokys in the field that could bet the value bets of the spring?

Races.com.au readers don’t have to do their own form guide research as we have done the hard work for you.

See below where we have compiled a useful list of the best 2011 Cox Plate form guide and betting facts and stats.

Once you’ve improved your knowledge on the Cox Plate field, put it to good use by backing your selections at the best prices through Luxbet.

2011 Cox Plate Form Facts & Betting Stats

• Last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think jumped from barrier five with Steven Arnold in the mount; this year #1 Efficient ($21 Luxbet) is drawn in gate five and Arnold has the mount on #10 Shamrocker ($41 Luxbet)

• Other runners to be ridden by a former Cox Plate winning jockey on Saturday are #1 Efficient (Steven King), #3 Wall Street (Darren Beadman), #4 Glass Harmonium (Damien Oliver), #11 Pinker Pinker (Craig Williams) and #13 King’s Rose (Luke Nolen)

• Twelve months ago So You Think, who also saluted in the 2009 Cox Plate, came off three straight Group 1 wins before tacking out the Cox having won the Memsie Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Yalumba Stakes

• This year the Memsie Stakes was won by Cox Plate Horse #13 King’s Rose ($12 Luxbet), the Underwood by Cox Plate Horse #7 Lion Tamer ($15 Luxbet) and the Yalumba by Cox Plate scratching #2 Descarado

• Cox Plate betting long-shots #15 Avienus ($61 Luxbet) and #3 Wall Street ($71 Luxbet) are the only horses in the field that ran in the feature last year, Avienus having finishing sixth and Wall Street seventh

• #14 Helmet boasts the highest Win Rate of the field – an impressive 66.67% – followed by #6 Sincero (64.71%), #5 Jimmy Choux (57.14%) and #13 King’s Rose (53.33%)

• The best Place Percentages of the field belong to #14 Helmet (100%), #12 Secret Admirer (87.50%), #5 Jimmy Choux (85.71%) and #8 Playing God (73.68%)

• There are three last-start winners in the race with #5 Jimmy Choux (2040m, Hastings, 01/10/2011), #12 Secret Admirer (1600m, Randwick, 01/10/2011) and #14 Helmet (1600m, Caulfield, 08/10/2011)

• Jimmy Choux’s last-start win is the only one of these three that doesn’t come with a hoodoo; if successful race favourite #14 Helmet ($3.20) would be the first horse to win the Caulfield Guineas – Cox Plate double in the same season since Red Anchor (1984) while #12 Secret Admirer would become just the third Epsom Handicap winner in history to win the Cox Plate in the same spring

• Only two of the Cox Plate hopes have won at the Track & Distance with #1 Efficient (2-1-0-0) and #9 Rekindled Interest (1-1-0-0)

• Horses with the best record over 2000m/2040m are: #1 Efficient (6-2-0-0), #3 Wall Street (2-1-0-0), #4 Glass Harmonium (8-2-1-2), #5 Jimmy Choux (3-3-0-0), #9 Rekindled Interest (2-1-0-0) and #13 King’s Rose (2-2-0-0)

• Cox Plate horses to have run and won at Moonee Valley are: #1 Efficient (3-1-0-0), #9 Rekindled Interest (3-2-0-0), #13 King’s Rose (1-1-0-0) and #15 Avienus (7-1-0-1)

• 6YO’s have the best recent record winning four of the past 10 Cox Plates; six-year-olds in contention this year are #4 Glass Harmonium ($13 Luxbet) and #15 Avienus ($61 Luxbet)

• History is against Avienus as a mare, however, as there have been only four female Cox Plate winners in the past 27 years with Makybe Diva (2005), Sunline (2000 & 1999) and Dane Ripper (1997)

• Six of the past 10 Cox Plate winners were geldings; geldings out to continue this trend in 2011 are #1 Efficient ($21 Luxbet), #3 Wall Street ($71 Luxbet), #6 Sincero ($21 Luxbet) and #9 Rekindled Interest ($6.50 Luxbet)

Stay tuned to Races.com.au for our insider Cox Plate betting tips based on the above form analysis, to be published later in the week.

If you can’t wait and want to get in on the action now, simply head to Luxbet and open your new account with Australia’s ace online bookie and receive a bonus $500 bet when you quote the promo code BONUSBET once you’ve made your initial deposit!

2011 Cox Plate Field & Form Guide

Moonee Valley Race 8 – 22/10/2011

Form Guide Credit IASbet

Twelve months ago Reset mare Avienus lined up against an imposing field of weight-for-age stars and finished a game sixth, beaten just under five lengths, by dual champion So You Thinkin last year’s Cox Plate.

Avienus has gained a start in the 2011 Cox Plate field

“To be beaten four and a half lengths behind So You Think is an outstanding effort,” Webb said of the 2010 Cox Plate result for his mare.

On Saturday she will again contest the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley after gaining an eleventh hour start as the first emergency, and Webb is convinced that she has a genuine shot against what he calls a very even affair.

“Last year So You Think was such a champion of a horse and always looked the winner and did it so easily,” Webb said.

“Zipping, Shootout, So You Think, More Joyous….they were outstanding horses.

“It’s a very even Cox Plate (this year).

“You’ve got great horses like Helmet, but it’s a very, very event race.”

Originally Webb was shattered when Moonee Valley Racing Club committee members chose not to give Avienus a spot in the 14-starter Cox Plate field, regulating the six-year-old to first emergency, considering she ran an eye-catching second to Descarado in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) last-start.

“We set her for this campaign,” he said.

“We’ve been a little bit criticised for performances leading up to this…but you want your horse to peak at certain races and she’s done that and warranted this start.

“That showed in her 2000 (metres) in the Caulfield Stakes behind Descarado.

“She had to run the race of her life to warrant a start in the Cox Plate.”

Descarado got in her way in the Caulfield Stakes, but he moved out of the way for the Cox Plate allowing Avienus her chance to prove herself as a genuine Cox Plate horse.

With no way of knowing whether Avienus would indeed gain a Cox Plate start, Webb also accepted her for the $150,000 Trojan Hand Tools Stakes (1600m) – formerly the Tesio Stakes – at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Whether she would be running in a mile race or over 2040 metres on Cox Plate Day meant that Webb had to keep his preparation with Avienus open this week.

“This week’s been a bit tricky, we’ve sort of been in two minds whether we were having to go to a mile race (or the Cox Plate),” Webb said.

Updated Cox Plate odds at Luxbet following yesterday’s withdrawal of second emergency Yosei and this morning’s scratching of Descarado have Avienus rated a $61 long-shot to win.

These are generous odds for a horse that has been to a Cox Plate before, although Webb is aware of the tough task ahead.

“It’s a high pressure race, a field of 13 (sic), over 2000 at the Valley,” he said.

Making Avienus’ test even harder on Saturday is that she has drawn wide in barrier 14, into 13 with Descarado having been in nine.

“She is a mare that can race anywhere, she can race forward or back, she’s versatile like that,” Webb said.

“But it’s a tough call when you draw out wide in big field at the Valley.

“She has only got a shorter sprint…she probably only has a 400 metre sprint and we will have to mindful of that.

“I will leave it up to Brad (Rawiller, jockey).”

The 2011 Tatts Cox Plate is scheduled to run as Moonee Valley Race 8 on Saturday and is due to jump at 4:35pm (AESDT).

All the best Cox Plate betting odds and options, including Best Tote Exotics + 5% Bonus offers, can be found at the Tabcorp-owned and trusted online bookmaker Luxbet.

As a first-time Luxbet customer this spring, make sure you enter the promo code BONUSBET when making your initial deposit between $25 and $500 to get your stakes matched 100% as a bonus bet up to $500!