Can Starcraft really win the Cox Plate? Today he reefed and pulled in the Kelt (with no pace in the race) and "dismounted" Boss in the birdcage. What will he (Starcraft) do in front of a bigger crowd? Will he in fact cope with the tight turning 'Valley track with its short straight (173m by memory)?

I don't want to sound like another Kiwi knocking the horse (NZ bred that he is) but he just had nothing to give; didn't have the usual blistering acceleration; and in my opinion, as 'humble' as it may be, has not beaten too many flash fields, both here in NZ and over there (Oz). Is he over-hyped or can he really cut the mustard?

I am interested in your opinions as you guys (Aussies) will have a better feel for the horses running around over there. Is Starcraft a valid contender for the Cox because I don't think he is. His run in the Stoney Bridge wasn't overly convincing when he just ran down Miss Potential and now today. Although he has won both starts at >2000m.

Is Starcraft just a miler?

Look forward to your comments

run was pretty good.
probably needed some pace but fought on well enough.

Till recently thought he had a real good chance in the Cox. But now not so sure, with his defeat on the weekend and taking a line through Miss Potential's unplaced run in the Epsom.

Starcraft will kick everybody's donkey!!! Northerly will test.

[ This Message was edited by: Starcraft on 2004-10-04 08:28 ]

I'm with you! after all if anyone knows best, it's YOU :smile:

He's had his chance to prove he's a fluke - and he's obviously not, so I reckon get on a good thing early, cause those NZ horses can go like an energizer...

Hey Starcraft, do you still reckon Starcraft (the horse) will win the Cox Plate? To win he will have to do A LOT better than Saturday. Starcraft couldn't beat a 9 horse field in a race suited to horses running from off the pace and he had a 367m straight to "work with." He peaked with 100-200m to go. (Mummify had the fastest last 200m 12.48s). If Starcraft doesn't get handy in the Cox then all the tea in China won't see him win, especially with the "worlds shortest straight" (173m). I believe he is better suited to 1600m. Oh yeah, he needs blinkers as well.

If Balmuse gets a run in the Cox, look out for him. He's got a great finishing burst, but the only query could be if he can get balanced at the turn for the sprint home.

Well that's my 2 cents worth. If I'm proven wrong re Starcraft and the Cox Plate I will only write nice fluffy postings about him in future and beg for your forgiveness.

Not suggesting anything untoward, but one week he's up leading, the next he's back last. On Saturday his price blew alarmingly. No questions asked. Why not? One week he's an iron horse who can travel the world unaffected, the next the trainer is saying maybe coming back from NZ and starting within a week was against him. And each time he gets beaten the price eases out a little for his main goal.

Mark, good points regarding Starcrafts racing position and price. Forgot about that. There doesn't seem to be any uniformity or pattern to his racing does there? His last 3 runs haven't been flash and he has been slow away twice now. It begs the question, did the starting gate accident (Mudgway, I think) adversely affect Starcraft? I heard that Garry wanted Starcraft to settle at the rear. I don't know what the reasoning behind this was, if in fact it was true.

In New Zealand(the Kelt) he was always going to go forward as a trial for the cox plate to see if he can race on the pace. He got his brains kicked in by balmuse so they simply went back to his usual style of racing.