Cox Plate to headline the racing Across the Ditch
Across the Ditch • October 25th, 2024 9:55 AM
Thoroughbred Racing - Nick Quinn
A tremendous edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and in my opinion, there are five genuine winning chances.
Prognosis
The starting point must be the Japanese galloper Prognosis.
He comes into this race first-up from a spell and is looking to become the first winner from the land of the rising sun since Lys Gracieux in 2019.
Prognosis has never won a Group 1 race but has won three Group 2 events that could easily be considered stronger than several Group 1 races across the world.
He has twice won the Kinko Sho and saluted in the Sapporo Kinen.
He has been placed at Group 1 level on three occasions, including the 2023 Tenno Sho behind Equinox, and twice behind 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate winner Romantic Warrior in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong.
Broadsiding
Broadsiding is looking to become the 21st three-year-old to win the Cox Plate and shapes as a leading chance.
He resumed from a spell with a dominate win in the Golden Rose before being a beaten favourite in the Caulfield Guineas.
Via Sistina
Via Sistina has had an eventful week when she threw jockey James McDonald at the ‘Breakfast With The Best’ on Tuesday morning before completing three circuits of the track.
All indications are that she has come through that with no issues and will line up as planned on Saturday.
Pride of Jenni and Mr Brightside
The Valley erupted with noise during the Feehan Stakes when bold frontrunner Pride of Jenni held off Mr Brightside.
Both those horses have gone on to run, and finish second since then.
Pride Of Jenni was nabbed late by Ceolwulf in the King Charles while Mr Brightside couldn’t run down Deny Knowledge in the Caulfield Stakes.
In what should be a classic race, Pride Of Jenni will give the field something to chase, time will tell if she will hold on.
Harness Racing - Adam Hamilton
THE most important lead-up races to New Zealand Cup Week unfold in Australia this weekend.
It doesn’t get any bigger than champion pacer Leap To Fame’s race at Menangle on Saturday night, a run which will decide whether he crosses the ditch or not to chase the A$1 million IRT New Zealand Cup at Addington on November 12.
Then, on Sunday, champion trotter Just Believe will cap his preparation for another NZ raid when he faces a good field in the Gr.3 Maryborough Trotters’ Gold Cup (2690m).
Just for good measure, Auckland Cup winner and Just Believe’s stablemate, Better Eclipse, will also step out at Melton on Saturday night, looking to show he will be a force in the New Zealand Cup.
And brilliant three-year-old filly Keayang Zahara will look to stretch her unbeaten record to 11 races when she takes on the boys in Sunday’s Gr.1 Victoria Trotters’ Derby at Maryborough.
It’s one heck of a weekend.
For all the talent on display, Leap To Fame is THE star act.
Not just for his talent, but the importance of a race where he is looking to prove is fully recovered from a virus which made him a late scratching from the Victoria Cup at Melton when a $1.20 favourite last Saturday week.
Trainer-driver Grant Dixon says all the signs are good, but admits only a race will tell the full story.
His rivals include two other NZ Cup contenders, Major Moth and Nerano, who are both trained by Jason Grimson, the man who prepared Swayzee to win the race last year.
While Major Moth looks safe inside the NZ Cup field, Nerano will need a bold showing to push his way above the cut-off point for a start.
Depending on how this weekend plays out, there could be as many as a remarkable 12 Aussie horses competing at NZ Cup Week.
Greyhound Racing - Jared Timms
Victoria’s biggest feature races await Blue Kermaro after his stunning upset victory in Saturday night’s Million Dollar Chase.
Sent off at huge odds after scraping through his semi-final and drawing Box 4, Blue Kermaro pinged the lids and found himself up near the speed as the field passed the kennels, stalking leader Sunset Fraizer and ultimately sustaining through the line to withstand a late challenge from Zipping Megatron.
Understandably elated with the biggest win of his career so far, up-and-coming trainer Josh Formosa revealed his confidence in the greyhound despite his big quote in the market.
“I’ve been pretty confident all week and just to see him step that good, and that’s the dog you wanted in front, it’s the one you can run down,” Formosa said after the race.
“He’s just a ripper, that dog. It’s unbelievable.”
Having returned to his local Victoria on Sunday, focus now turns to the Melbourne Cup series at Sandown Park, peaking with November 30th’s feature race, before a hopeful tilt at The Phoenix; Australia’s $1 million to-the-winner slot race at The Meadows on December 21st.
“I don’t even care about the money, to be honest, I just love winning these big races – it’s my first one,” he said.
“Biggest one on the calendar, what else can we do? The Phoenix? If you’ve got my number, call me!”
Blue Kermaro has entered early betting for the Melbourne Cup at odds of $21; the same price that he paid in Saturday night’s feature race, while the same quote is also available in The Phoenix futures markets.
Photograph at the top of the page: Pride of Jenni will contest the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au
