Gai Waterhouse’s smart colt Pierro has been reinstalled as the Cox Plate 2012 betting favourite for this Saturday’s Moonee Valley clash after coming up trumps with barrier seven.

Pierro remains the 2012 Cox Plate betting favourite after drawing barrier 7 of 14

Connections selected the mid-field gate for the autumn 2YO triple crown winning Lonhro colt knowing that barrier seven has produced more Cox Plate winners in history than any other gate.

While there are a stack of other statistics and historical hoodoos for Pierro to overcome in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday including the fact that just four of the 62 three-year-olds to have contested the weight-for-age classic succeeded, the bookies are taking no chances.

After the gates were drawn and the 14-horse field was released Pierro reopened as the $4 favourite in the Cox Plate odds at bookmaker.com.au.

Close second favourite at a quote of $4.60 is then the Lloyd Williams-owned Green Moon, the last start Turnbull Stakes winner coming up with gate five.

Reigning Cox Plate winning jockey Craig Williams turned his back on Pierro and having to waste for the Cox Plate opting instead to maintain his association with Green Moon who will carry 59kg to Pierro’s 49.5kg on Saturday.

“I’ve done all the work on him (Green Moon),” Williams said.

“I couldn’t be more comfortable going with him into the Cox Plate. He’s done everything I’ve asked for. I feel he’s the right horse.”

There are then just two other runners under $10 in the Cox Plate 2012 odds with:

• #9 Ocean Park ($5.50) – Drawn in gate nine with Glen Boss to ride, Gary Hennessy’s Kiwi raider is out for their fourth Group 1 win on the trot, the classy four-year-old last seen carrying 58kg to victory in the Caulfield Stakes over 2000m on October 13

• #13 All Too Hard ($9) – One of three 3YO’s in the Cox Plate field this year, Hawkes-trained champ got the better of Pierro by a half-length when scoring an upset win the Caulfield Guineas over the mile, sees the 2000m for the first time here but from barrier three with Chris Munce aboard are a genuine chance

Other top fancies a little longer in the markets out for an upset Cox Plate result then include two of Pierro’s stablemates with fellow spruik three-year-old Proisir ($10) coming off their first career loss when second to Victoria Derby bound It’s A Dundeel in the Spring Champion Stakes, and veteran mare More Joyous ($13) looking to add a ninth Group 1 title to her imposing career record after she failed when fourth as the 60kg topweight in the Toorak Handicap last time out.

More Joyous has gate 11 on Saturday and was in fact the first to have a barrier selected for them, Waterhouse going with the barrier that last year’s Cox Plate winner Pinker Pinker, ridden by Craig Williams, jumped from.

Check out the full Cox Plate fixed win prices below, prices courtesy of our preferred online sportsbook bookmaker.com.au who are also offering exclusive Pick Your Own Cox Plate Odds markets!

2012 Cox Plate Odds

Moonee Valley Race 8 – 5:15pm (AEST) – 27/10/2012

*Fixed Win odds provided by bookmaker.com.au and subject to change