What a card of quality racing we have to look forward to at the home of racing at The Valley on Saturday afternoon!
Our full 2022 Cox Plate Qualifier Day Preview can be read below.
Preview brought to you by Ladbrokes. Learn more about Ladbrokes HERE.
Race 1 – Ladbrokes Handicap (1500m)
Small field with a number of horses right in the money.
I’m happy to stay out of this one from a betting perspective.
Race 2 – Open Handicap (2040m)
The 2022 Perth Cup winner Midnight Blue has a class edge on the majority of this field in my opinion and although he will be better over more distance, he looks well placed in this event.
He has been placed in 13 of his 20 career starts and the blinkers go back on to sharpen him up a bit.
This is a real litmus test for the six year old gelding when assessing his spring options and I think the stable will have him ready to win.
Race 3 – 3YO Handicap (1200m)
The Moody trained Millane has been to the race track just twice but both have been in black type races.
He scored by over a length on debut over 1000m at Flemington at Listed level in March and finished third when resuming in the Group 3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield.
The step up to 1200m shouldn’t be an issue and he looks to have a class advantage on the majority of this field at this stage in their careers.
Race 4 – Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m)
A small field has been assembled in the Feehan Stakes and Mr Brightside has come up very short in the market after his win first up at Caulfield.
There is a genuine fitness concern over a few of these that are right in the market but Forgot You has come up nice each way odds.
The son of Savabeel will be better suited over further but he romped home in a recent jump out and is three from three at The Valley.
Race 5 – Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m)
This is the race of the day at The Valley with plenty of winning chances and no shortage of early speed.
The Magic Millions Classic winner Coolangatta has returned in good order if her recent jump out was anything to go on at Cranbourne.
She won by a huge margin over 800m and will be required to carry just 50kg in this event.
Jamie Kah will have options from barrier five but I wouldn’t be surprised if she goes straight to the front under the light weight.
Race 6 – Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m)
Berry Bubbly led all the way and romped home by 2.5 in her second start here at The Valley over 955m in February.
One of the last descendant’s of the late, great Redoute’s Choice, she has had two starts so far this prep.
Beaten three lengths at The Valley first up and then recorded the third fastest last 200m of the race in the Group 3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield last time out.
Drawn well in barrier six, has a fitness edge over a few of these and I’m hoping Ethan Brown can take a sit in behind what looks a pretty solid tempo up front.
Race 7 – Listed Chautauqua Stakes (1200m)
A very open race awaits us in the seventh with a capacity field of 14 runners.
Peter Moody has praised his five year old Oxley Road despite a somewhat disappointing first up effort as favourite in the Group 3 John Monash Stakes at Caulfield.
He looked like he needed the run and he finished third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate second up last prep and look for Luke Nolan to be a bit more aggressive out of the barriers in this race.
Race 8 – Open Handicap (1600m)
The Busuttin and Young trained import Uncle Bryn is a horse with a huge amount of upside coming into his second Australian campaign.
His four length win at Sale put the writing on the wall that he has a fair amount of talent but that opinion was franked when beaten under three lengths in the Group 2 P.B Lawrence first up at Caulfield.
He has won twice from three starts over 1600m and has drawn perfectly in barrier five.
Race 9 – Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m)
The Peter Moody trained Pounding did not miss a place in six starts last campaign and he was excellent when beaten a small margin at Caulfield first up over 1200m.
He simply didn’t handle the heavy track when sent out as favourite at Bendigo last start and will be much better back on top of the ground.
Ready to peak third up now, he represents good value at double figures to close out the day on a winning note.