Cox Plate Day is one of the biggest events on the Australian sporting calendar, and the highlight event for Moonee Valley Racecourse each year. Cox Plate Day is being held on the 26th of October in 2013, with a full day of racing complemented by fashion, entertainment, and dining attractions. With gates open from 10.30am and the last race run at 5.40pm, Melbourne is set for one of its biggest days of the year.
There are a total of 10 races held on the day, with the WS Cox Plate the centre attraction and final event. While the Cox Plate is the only Group 1 event of the day, the Drake International Cup, Schweppes Crystal Mile, and Mitchelton Wines Vase are all Group 2 races, with two Group 3 races also held earlier in the day to complement the main race.
RACE TIME DISTANCE RACE NAME
Race 1 12:10pm 1000m Inglis Banner
Race 2 12:45pm 2040m City Jeep Handicap
Race 3 1:20pm 1000m 1PRINT.COM.AU Handicap
Race 4 1:55pm 1200m Drummond Golf Handicap
Race 5 2:30pm 1600m Eliza Park International Stakes
Race 6 3:05pm 1200m Telstra PhoneWords Stakes
Race 7 3:40pm 2040m Mitchelton Wines Vase
Race 8 4:15pm 1600m Schweppes Crystal Mile
Race 9 4:50pm 2500m Drake International Cup
Race 10 5.40pm 2040m Sportingbet Cox Plate
Along with all the racing action, racegoers can also look forward to a great day of fashion and entertainment, including David Jones Fashions on the Field. There will be four fashion categories showcased on the day, including Head Turning Hats, Mens’ Signature Style, Ladies’ Classic and Young Contemporary. The famous David Jones Ladies Fashion Luncheon will also feature the very latest fashion and millinery from David Jones on the Wednesday prior to race day.
Like always at Moonee Valley Racecourse, there will also be a full complement of dining options available for members and guests to enjoy, with dining packages available to purchase and a number of bars in operation throughout the day. General admission for 2013 Cox Plate Day is $55, with concession tickets $35 and children’s over 12 just $15.
RACE OVERVIEW AND TIPS
No definitive leader on paper but as the case is more often than not in the Cox Plate, the pace should be a genuine one. The two overseas visitors Side Glance and Mull Of Killough, along with the two 3yo’s, Long John and Shamus Award, should all push forward with Happy Trails and Puissance De Lune in behind them. The latter two have good chances. Happy Trails’ form is spot on for this and he appears to represented good value in early markets and even now, after tightening into $14.00, still comes in for close consideration. Puissance De Lune should get a lovely run and with a bit of give expected in the Valley circuit, the conditions required to leave him with no excuses. Really hard to tip It’s A Dundeel with the confidence you need to heading into a big race like this given the enforced break he has had due to the abscess. At his best he’s in this up to his neck and more than likely still be involved in the finish. It’s just the final furlong of what should be a solid 2000m that holds some concerns. Despite the draw, will stick with Fiorente as the one to beat. He got too far back in the Turnbull, found some traffic at a crucial stage but hit the line better than anything in the race. He is already one from one on this track and hopefully Shinn, who is riding in good form, can find the right horse form 800m to tack onto and bring him into the straight before peeling out and unleashing his big finish.
- FIORENTE
- PUISSANCE DE LUNE
- IT’S A DUNDEEL
- HAPPY TRAILS
Cox Plate 2013 Odds comparison
Latest Cox Plate 2013 news:
What’s in a name?
Plenty if you are Chris Waller trying to win the Bob Ingham Handicap.
Waller is preparing for Group One assaults at Moonee Valley this weekend with Arinosa in the Manikato Stakes and Foreteller in the Cox Plate.
But he is just as desperate to win a benchmark race at Rosehill on Saturday worth the standard $85,000 but carrying the name of a man who has been one of his biggest supporters and friends.
Together with his late brother Jack and their families, Bob Ingham ran the hugely successful Woodlands racing and breeding empire.
Five years after his brother died in 2003, Bob Ingham sold Woodlands to Sheikh Mohammed in a reported $500 million deal.
After the sale, Bob Ingham hand-picked Waller to be his trainer when he re-entered racing, albeit on a much smaller scale.
At the time, Waller was a promising young trainer but not the superstar he is now with three Sydney trainers’ premierships in the bag.
And he will never forget the faith Bob Ingham showed in him, which is why Saturday’s race means so much.
“Every Friday at four o’clock I give him a call and I’m always on the edge of my seat scared to miss the call,” Waller said.
“He has been so helpful to me in my career through so many little aspects I couldn’t even start to explain.
“We’ve got a great team but he’s been a very, very important part of my career.
“I start to get a little bit emotional just talking about it.
“He’s just a magic man and he’s got a beautiful family. I have so much respect for them.”
Waller is a strong chance to win the race named in honour of his mentor, a feat he said would be “magic” if achieved.
He will start Said Com, Fulgur, Disciple and Heart Testa and cannot split them, although he said Heart Testa has the benefit of race fitness while the others are resuming.
“They will probably all go their separate ways after Saturday but it will be a good starting point.”
None of the Waller quartet is owned by Bob Ingham but all will be racing for him.
