THE
COX PLATE OF 2007
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Australia's premier WFA race, the Cox Plate, will be run on Saturday. The current favourite for the ten furlong race is Miss Finland. El Segundo 6 g Pins - Palos Verdes, by Oak Ridge Runner up in this race last year, when just touched off by the gallant Fields of Omagh. On that occasion he had Miss Finland, three lengths behind and Lad of the Manor beaten five lengths. A multiple Gr1 winner, El Segundo was a bit disappointing in his trial for the Cox Plate, when sixth in the Turnball Stakes, beaten by Devil Moon, last time out. The winner of over $1.9 million and three Gp1 races , El Segundo is currently third favourite for the Moonee Valley showpiece. Lad of the Manor 8 g Zabeel - Matrona, by Woodman Former winner of the Mackinnon Stakes, the nicely bred gelding has not won in over a year and is an outsider here. He ran well at his last start, when beaten under two lengths by the top-class mare Divine Madonna. Niconero 6 g Danzero - Nicola Lass, by Scenic He ran second in Gr1 races in his last two starts. Last time out he was beaten three parts of a length in the Toorak Handicap, by the brilliant mare Divine Madonna. It was a good run by Niconero, as he was conceding the winner five pounds. Previously he had ran second in the Sir Rupert Clark Handicap, beaten three parts of a length, giving the winner eight pounds. Behind him in third place, beaten three parts of a length, was fellow Cox Plate runner Wonderful World. A previous Gp1 winner, Niconero has only once run over ten furlongs, when he was well beaten. Marasco 5 g Scenic- Bluegrass Belle, by Is It True Ultra consistent gelding, coming off a rare unplaced effort in the Turnball behind Devil Moon. He worked well recently at Moonee Valley. Trainer Fred Kersley won this race twice with the great Northerly. Third at his penultimate start in the Underwood Stakes, when beaten into third by two and a half lengths. On that occasion he had brilliant filly Miss Finland a length and a half in front of him and Eskimo Queen a length and a quarter behind him. Zipping 6 g Danehill - Social Scene, by Grand Lodge Fifth last time out in the Turnball, beaten five lengths by Devil Moon. Has a proven affinity for the course, having won the Gp2 Moonvee Valley Gold Cup last year. A smart stayer, he was fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, behind the Japanese pair of Delta Blue and Pop Rock. He has won ten of his 24 starts. He is from the wonderful family of champions Electrocutionist and Ardross. Haradasun 4 c Fusaichi Pegasus- Circle of Gold, by Marscay Top-class performer, looked very impressive when winning the George Ryder and Doncaster Handicap earlier this season. A half brother to top international performer Elvstroem, shares in him were sold to Coolmore earlier this year for his stud career. Third in the Turnball last time out, he is one of the leading fancies for the race. The sole of consistency he has been once unplaced in 14 starts. He was second two starts at Moonee Valley behind El Segundo. Efficient 4 g Zabeel - Refused the Dance, by Defensive Play A former leading contender for the Melbourne Cup, he was eased out in the betting following an unplaced run in the Turnball. The winner of the Victoria Derby last year, Efficient also won the AAMI Verse at Moonee Valley last year over the same course and distance as the Cox Plate. He will need to improve on his last run however. Wonderful World 4 c Agnes World - Success Tale, by Success Express The winner of last year's Caulfield Guineas. He has been third in his last two outings, behind Divine Madonna and Bon Hoffa. He has yet to try the distance which is a bit of concern, as his pedigree suggests he may battle to see it out. Wonderful World's only run at Moonee Valley saw him finish unplaced in the Manikato Stakes - though that maybe have been on the short side for him. Magic Cape 4 g Magic Albert - Cape City, by Kaapstad Last year's New Zealand 2000 Guineas victor. Ran third behind the brilliant filly Princess Coup in the Gp1 Kelt Capital Stakes. On that occasion he was just touched off by the former NZ Oaks victress. Has yet to race outside of New Zealand but is clearly one of their better horses currently in training. Divine Madonna 4 f Hurricane Sky - My Madonna, by Prego Brilliant filly. She won the Toorak Handicap impressively last time out. A triple group one winner, she is a stablemate of Turnball Stakes victress Devil Moon and thus gives Mark Kavanagh a powerful hand in this race. She has yet to be tried further than a mile and Michael Rodd, who rode to victory in the Toorak, rides Marasco in preference to the mare. She ran very well in the Doncaster behind Hardasun, when beaten under a length. Miss Finland 4 f Redoute's Choice - Forest Pearl, by Woodman Regarded as one of the best horses currently racing in Australia. Winner of the Golden Slipper at two, she had a brilliant campaign at three, winning the Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks and Australian Guineas. She was second last time behind Maldivian in the Yalumba Stakes last time out and looks a worthy favourite for this race. A very consistent filly, she has won 11 of her 20 starts to date and five Gp1 races. Her second dam won the Epsom Oaks. Devil Moon 4 f King Cugat - Classy Babe, by Masterclass Winner of the Turnball last time out, defeating the likes of Cox
Plate entrants Zipping, Hardasun, El Segundo and Marasco. While many
of her opposition would probably have needed the run, she showed plenty
of guts to hold on in a tight finish. SELECTION |