Prolific Australian racehorse owner Lloyd Williams is happy to have jockey Katelyn Mallyon aboard his returning Cox Plate hope The United States in the 2016 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes at Moonee Valley on the weekend.
2016 Cox Plate-bound The United States kicks off his spring at Moonee Valley in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
A capacity final field of weight-for-age stars line-up in this Saturday’s $250,000 Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) including the Robert Hickmott-trained The United States for Macedon Lodge.
The Galileo stallion was last seen running second to Lucia Valentina at Randwick on April 9 in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during Sydney’s ‘The Championships’.
That run followed a strong autumn for the now seven-year-old chestnut who also won the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.
Hoop Kerrin McEvoy was aboard for both of those Group 1 runs, but Mallyon has been booked for her first ride on The United States in the galloper’s resuming run on Saturday.
“She’s been doing quite a bit of riding for the stable and I’m happy with her. She’s going well,” Williams said of Mallyon speaking to Racing Victoria.
Formerly prepared in Ireland, the imported The United States has had five previous runs at the tight Moonee Valley circuit for a strong record of two wins, a second and a third.
His latest run at the track produced a Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) victory in October last Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
He backed up from that turf triumph in the world’s richest handicap, his staying powers put to the test when 14th behind Prince Of Penzance in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
This season Williams plans to keep the $1.57 million earner to a shorter distance Grand Final in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) back at the Valley on Saturday October 22.
The only seven-year-old Cox Plate winners in the past 30 plus years are Almaarad (1989) and mighty mare, triple Melbourne Cup champion Makybe Diva (2005).
Currently The United States pays $17 as one of three equal second favourites behind the defending champion Winx ($2.50) in futures Cox Plate betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The other $17 fancies for Australasia’s weight-for-age championship are last year’s third placegetter Highland Reel prepared in the UK by Ed Dunlop and the now Darren Weir-trained Japanese import Tosen Stardom.
Tosen Stardom has his first start for last year’s Melbourne Cup winning trainer Weir this weekend taking on The United States in the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes and is early $5.50 favourite.
The United States is at $6.50 in Dato’ Tan Chin Nam betting as is one of Weir’s three other runners Mahuta on the quick back-up after a third in last Saturday’s Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m).
Access the premier spring betting odds for Saturday and check out the full Group 1 futures prices for the Cox Plate nominations online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
