Who will win the Cox Plate? What do you think?

Very interesting read. About the only place i have read to totally dis regard Makybe Diva. What it says makes sense i just wonder if they took into account that Makybe has been set for this race, The last 2 springs it has been set for the cup and provided its best run of the campaign on Cup day. From this assesment i rate Makybe ahead of Lad of the Manor even after the result last time at Moonee Valley.

His argument against MD isn't very convincing. Not enough evidence to say she doesn't like the Valley - only 3 starts with 2 close up 2nds over distances short of her best, early in her campaigns when she had bigger fish to fry much later on.

He says its because of her come-from-behind style of racing. Yet he reckons Xcellent is a genuine chance. X will most likely sit behind MD in the run himself, as its his only racing style. I'm also gambling that X has been set for the Cup & not the Plate, while MD has been set for the Plate & the Cup is merely an afterthought.

Havent read the assessments mentioned as yet,but do recall Freedman saying the Cox was the race he was training her for,so would agree with the chief,the Cup is an afterthought depnding how she pulls up after the Cox I guess.

Do recall Moroney saying after Xcellent won the Kelt that he thought the Cox was the ideal race for him,and no mention of the Cup. IMO they will run the quinella,but not sure which will win.Only problem for the "X" factor is the weather forecast for rain.Although his breeding would suggest he should handle it,he failed in the heavy in the Derby.

Didnt think they would start the Diva in the Cup with the big weight,but she did go up 4.5kgs last year and still won,and the money that has gone on would suggest she will run.



Anyone watch Racing Retro last week?Richard Freedman was completely non committal as to whether she will or wont.Interesting.

I'm a massive Diva fan, so Diva for me all the way in the Cox Plate. I'll tip her, back her, talk her up and take her for long walks on the beach if needs be.

Diva will win.
Go Diva.

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LOTM for me...

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Stix
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in that case give me a call mad and i will walk with you with the other reign.

i love the diva....

she lost to lad by 0.1 lengths at the valley. lad is a one of the inform gallopers going around and mind you this 0.1 length win was at lads track with diva preparing for a bigger race. this trip is 240m longer with perhaps rain, boss at the tym mentioned he hardly pushed her and freedman has set her for this race. freedman has something up his sleeve and i cant see her settleing more than 6-8 off the pace at the turn. if she busts the slightest sweat then she will make that ground in 200m as she did with grand armee and her trial run on the w/e. i dont wanna get over confident, however, i will back her for every trip in every race. she is the greatest.....

cheers

matt..

I still have a feeling that she will still missed out (I mean winning the race) as the MV track might be just too short for her. It's all base on te timing for big races. She might need to get 6 wide at the 400m. Also she might get into some trouble as she is in at barrier 4.

X has a perfect distance record but Coleman might not have the right timing compare to aust jockey. Also the track might be dead or worst coming the weekend.

I might risk both of them to catch a big tri. That's gambling.

I might also risk the 3 yrs old as both are not as excellent as Octagonal. GO win was excellent in Guineas but I believe that MV might be a bit short at the straight for him.

Lad and FOO are my pick with Kid and Confectioner to follow.

go punting....!!!

Don't even think for a minute Lad of the Manor doesn't like the wet he loves it go no further than the sire of the his Dam Woodman there might not be a better wet track sire going around they all run in it and absolutely thrive in it. I have heard so many tell me that Lad won't run the trip but I feel this arguement is a little flawed he has gone around this journey twice now with a 2nd and a 3rd both to Makybe Diva however they were also both at her track Flemington. When she beat him last time I just saw what I needed to out of him he was an absolute muck lather before the race and he still finished about a half a length behind the great one.

Make no mistakes about it from the 1st time he set foot on the track this spring he was set for this race and it is at a track he loves not Makybe Diva and not Flemington. The biggest danger to him in my mind is Greys Inn he is a damn good horse who won't be back last or 2nd last and he has shown a penchant for getting home hard in quality races, I am sorry to all Makybe Diva fans out there don't get me wrong I don't hate the horse I backed her for alot of her earlier starts actually including her 1st Cup win for an absolute stack but these days she doesn't even get close to the odds that get me interested and for mine she is drastically underpriced in this race.

For all of you who have backed her good luck she is going to have to be a super horse and I do think she is the best stayer I have seen but at this distance at this track she has to be a query I will take my chances and am extremely confident.