might as well maintain my obvious unpopularity on this forum bydisagreeing with you to Sportz!!Lee Freedman has stated all along that he was training her specifically for the Cox and that it would be to big an ask to back up in the Cup,and that he was waiting on the owner to advise him if he wanted to run in both.I remember laughing to myself when they had that promo you mentioned.At that stage I was convinced that neither would even run,from memory the minimum bet on her or Vinnie was $5 and maximum $50.The Diva quota was apparently sold out in 3 hours.Even if Vinnie does come,and I doubt it will,I think he had his chance to beat her last year and couldnt,and Dermot Weld is too smart to spend megabucks to come back with him when he knows he cant win,or at least cant beat her on her own turf.

Looking at cold hard stats,the imports record is pretty poor,regardless of all the hype that surrounds them,yet people get sucked in by it every year!!Having said that,and not wanting to contradict myself,I have some good doubles going in the CC with Distinction,which is already booked to come,and ran a big race last year for 6th from memory.I just hope they wise up and put a local jockey on it.

Another cold stat to consider,how many 7yo mares have won the Cup and how many mares have won it with the steadier of 58kgs??

And another stat,the record of favs in the Cup is abyssmal.Imo anyone who takes even money in the Cox,which I believe she will be,she's in to $2.30 already,or $3 in the MC,has obviously got more money than sense.

Imo the CC and the MC are fairly open this year,there is no standout at this stage.And remember the words of a bloke called Bart whose won the odd one or two,they have to have a lot of miles in their legs leading up to the Cup And run the wekend before to top them off.Dont forget the horse that bolted in with the Adelaide Cup Demerger.I took 25s its now in to 10s,so must be a bit of money for it,and it will run 2 miles right out.

Think the Cox is a 2 horse race,with Xcellent beating the Diva with Lad in 3rd spot.He has an incredible turn of foot(like her)it may come down to luck in running or the best ride on the day.He has only had 7 starts for 6 wins,for at G1,my only concern is the strathayr surface and the tight turns ay the Valley.

I will go on record by declaring him NEARLY a good thing at e/w odds.Have had a good hit at $6.50 and intend to unload more.

I am not canning the Diva,she is one of my favourite horses,but really think he is the heir apparent to her throne.

Apologies for digressing from your original topic.

cheers and good luck whatever you back.