Cox Plate 2020: Guide to all runners, odds and tip
Welcome to our Cox Plate runner-by-runner guide and tips, which will give you a clear insight into the weight-for-age championship of Australia. The 2020 Cox Plate will take place on Saturday, October 24, at Moonee Valley in Melbourne and includes a strong international element. Below we have examined the entire Cox Plate field in detail, with this race s showcase in a huge day in Australian sport, with the AFL grand final set to take place in Brisbane between Geelong and Richmond on Saturday night.
What is the Cox Plate horse race?
The Cox Plate is one of Australia’s greatest horse races and is held annually in October and run at Moonee Valley racecourse in Melbourne. The Cox Plate is run over 2040 metres at weight-for-age and its honour roll is littered with the champions of the Australian turf. The race usually attracts a massive crowd to the amphitheatre of the Valley, though in 2020 there will be no fans on-course, as racing has continued under strict biosecurity measures through the COVID-19 pandemic.
What horse will win the 2020 Cox Plate?
Our resident big-race expert ”Magic Mike” has examined the 14 runners for the 2020 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday, October 24. Here is his runner-by-runner guide to each of the contenders for the group 1 races which offers $AU5 million in prizemoney. First emergency Buckhurst has gained a start in the race with the late scratching of Magic Wand
1 KOLDING
(Trainer: Chris Waller. Jockey: James McDonald. Barrier: 10. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: His dad Ocean Park won this race in 2012, and Kolding has been back to his best this campaign with a win in the group 1 George Main Stakes over 1600m at Randwick and group 2 Hill Stakes over 2000m at the same track. This is a step up in class and he has not been at his best in Melbourne previously but you must always respect runners from Australia’s leading stable partnered by superstar jockey James McDonald.
UniBet odds: $13
2 HUMIDOR
(Trainer: Chris Waller. Jockey: Craig Williams. Barrier: 14. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Another from the powerful Waller camp and the eight-year-old has excelled in this race before, running a closing second to Winx in 2017 and then third to the great mare a year later. You just know he will run an honest race and he is racing in great heart this season but we will leave him out this time around.
UniBet odds: $21
3 FIERCE IMPACT
(Trainer: Matthew Smith. Jockey: Luke Currie. Barrier: 12. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: A top-notch handicapper with a stunning turn of foot and has won over 2000m but we believe he is better suited over the mile than in this testing assigment. Not without a place chance but yet to show he is a genuine weight-for-age star.
UniBet odds: $26
4 MASTER OF WINE
(Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes. Jockey: Michael Rodd. Barrier: 1. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Well fancied in the Caulfield Cup last week but weakened out after being ridden aggressively right on the pace. A classy stayer but seems to be a little short of his best this campaign and it would be a major surprise for him to contend here.
UniBet odds: $34
5 MUGATOO
(Trainer: Kris Lees. Jockey: John Allen. Barrier: 9. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: A six-year-old former British stayer which has barely put a foot wrong in Australia and is only lightly raced with eight wins from 15 starts. He ran second in the group 1 The Metrop last start. Mugatoo shapes as more of a handicapper but he still has upside and will be strong to the line. A good chance of running on into the first four.
UniBet odds: $23
6 ASPETAR
(Trainer: Roger Charlton. Jockey: Damian Lane. Barrier: 3. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Has the services of last year’s winning rider and this appears to be his best distance. Has not started for three months and raced only twice this year. It is hard to line up his form but his best would put him right in the mix.
UniBet odds: $16
7 SIR DRAGONET
(Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. Jockey: Glen Boss. Barrier: 7. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: High-class galloper which has form around some of the world’s best racehorses including running second last start behind Magical at The Curragh in the group 1 Tatt’s Gold Cup. The rain in Melbourne brings him into calculations though Sir Dragonet has a habit of always finding one better.
UniBet odds: $13
8 MAGIC WAND
(Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Mark Zahra. Barrier: 4. Weight: 57kg)
Scratched
9 ARCADIA QUEEN
(Trainer: Grant & Alana Williams. Jockey: William Pike. Barrier: 8. Weight: 57kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Star Western Australia-trained mare which finally delivered on her promise in blitzing boom galloper Russsian Camelot in the group 1 Caulfield Stakes last time out. There will be a lot more pressure on in this race and also the track is expected to be rain-affected which will not suit her. We will bet around her this time.
UniBet odds: $6
10 NETTOYER
(Trainer: Wendy Roche. Jockey: Billy Egan. Barrier: 13. Weight: 57kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Won a Doncaster Handicap at big odds and has an impressive finish but not sure she is up to a Cox Plate under the weight-for-age conditions.
UniBet odds: $81
11 RUSSIAN CAMELOT
(Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Jockey: Damien Oliver. Barrier: 15. Weight: 56.5kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Oustanding young galloper facing his moment of truth. Drawn wide so may have to push forward early but has a master rider aboard in Damien Oliver, who has won this race previously on Dane Ripper (1997) and Northerly (2001). The lightly raced stallion should be at his peak after three runs since a spell and can improve markedly on last start when he was slightly disappointing.
UniBet odds: $4.80
12 ARMORY
(Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Ben Melham. Barrier: 6. Weight: 56.5kg)
What the World Gambling List says: From one of the world’s best stables and if he has arrived in Australia in good order he will be right in the finish. Aidan O’Brien won this race with another Galileo four-year-old in 2014 and this horse has even better credentials. He is the one to beat.
UniBet odds: $6
13 PROBABEEL
(Trainer: Jamie Richards. Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy. Barrier: 2. Weight: 55.5kg)
What the World Gambling List says: This mare’s sire Savabeel won this race in 2004 and she has won eight of 18 starts, including the group 1 Epsom Handicap last time out over 1600m at Randwick. She is a gutsy mare and has the services of noted big-race rider McEvoy. A live chance.
UniBet odds: $8.50
14 GRANDSLAM
(Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. Jockey: Jye McNeil. Barrier: 5. Weight: 49.5kg)
What the World Gambling List says: A three-year-old having only his seventh start chucked in at the deep end with the feather weight. He was a gutsy third in the group 1 Caulfield Guineas last start and it is not without precedent for a lightly raced three-year-old to cause an upset in the Cox Plate. First start out to this sort of distance and could be out in front for a long way but just doubt he is season enough to hold off the older horses late.
UniBet odds: $18
Reserve:
15 BUCKHURST
(Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Jockey: Jamie Kah. Barrier: 11. Weight: 59kg)
What the World Gambling List says: Gained a start with the scratching of Magic Wand after initially being a controversial omission. Buckhurst has formed around some of the other international horses and was a little unlucky in the Caulfield Cup when only seventh last Saturday. Would be no surprise if he ran a cheeky race.
UniBet odds: $41
Our final Cox Plate 2020 top four
1 Armory, 2 Russian Camelot, 3 Aspetar, 4 Arcadia Queen.
Recent winners of the Cox Plate
2019 Lys Gracieux. Jockey: Damian Lane. Trainer: Yoshito Yahagi. Time: 2:04.21.
2018 Winx. Jockey: Hugh Bowman. Trainer: Chris Waller. Time: 2:03.47.
2017 Winx. Jockey: Hugh Bowman. Trainer: Chris Waller. Time: 2:02.94. Odds: 2-11F
2016 Winx. Jockey: Hugh Bowman. Trainer: Chris Waller. Time: 2:06.35
2015 Winx. Jockey: Hugh Bowman. Trainer: Chris Waller. Time: 2:02.98
2014 Adelaide. Jockey: Ryan Moore. Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Time: 2:03.76
2013 Shamus Award. Jockey: Chad Schofield. Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Time: 2:05.27
2012 Ocean Park. Jockey: Glen Boss. Trainer: Gary Hennessy. Time: 2:04.14
2011 Pinker Pinker. Jockey: Craig Williams. Trainer: Greg Eurell. Time: 2:05.39
2010 So You Think. Jockey: Steve Arnold. Trainer: J B Cummings. Time: 2:07.45
2009 So You Think. Jockey: Glen Boss. Trainer: J B Cummings. Time: 2:03.98
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