The greatest two minutes in sport on the planet, the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, the W.S. Cox Plate, is the main event this Saturday at Moonee Valley. With several Group and Listed events also featuring on the monster program of racing, all roads lead to Moonee Ponds! We head to Royal Randwick in old Sydney town for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. The $2,000,000 Group 2 Invitation for the fillies and mares will ensure another bumper crowd is front and centre in the eastern suburbs. How good is spring!
Moonee Valley Race 7
#4 Rise At Dawn
Rise At Dawn has been good without winning. The form around him is elite, and he meets easier opposition on Saturday. The inside draw is advantageous, and I suspect he will take up a prominent role with a clean break from the barriers. The Almanzor gelding loves the mile and was previously a winner at the track. The 57.5kg looks like a luxury, and Michael Dee has a winning association with the big boy. He will look the winner as they run for the doctor.
Oh Too Good tasted black-type success at her latest outing. It was a great reward for her effort for her and the camp, and I suspect she can now go on with the job. The All Too Hard mare should be rock-hard fit after a lengthy and fruitful campaign, and the inside draw should ensure a soft trip in transit. She comes in well at the weights and has been supported early doors. The class rise is the primary concern.
Suggested Bet: Rise At Dawn @ $4.40
Moonee Valley Race 8
#7 Niance
Niance is edging closer to her next victory. Both runs this campaign have been good without threatening, and I suspect she is ready to explode third-up from a spell. Her record at the distance is near perfect, and she traditionally performs well at this stage of her campaign. The Swiss Ace mare looks well placed in this grade, and if she doesn’t get too far out of her ground during the middle stages of the race, I expect her to prove too strong late. I am unsure the tight turning circuit will suit her racing pattern and style.
Charm Stone sensationally took out the Group 1 Manikato first-up from a spell. The I Am Invincible mare was a dominant winner and traditionally improves second-up. The progressive five-year-old is undefeated at the track, and I suspect she will appreciate the significant drop-in class. Blake Shinn sticks with the consistent galloper, and the market has gravitated towards the last-start victor. The carpark draw is the biggest deterrent.
Suggested Bet: Niance @ $6.00
#1 Observer
Observer was a horrible watch for supporters in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. The Ghaiyyath colt was disappointed for a run when the whips were cracking, and I suspect it cost the big boy a significant victory. His form prior is first-class, and the longer trip here could prove the winning difference. The key appointment of Mark Zahra speaks volumes, and I suspect he still has improvement to come for his current spring campaign. The early money has been significant, and I expect him to start the shortest-priced favourite on a tricky and competitive card of racing. The one to beat!
Crown Of Russia can run a drum at a juicy price. The Russian Camelot colt is racing well in all of the traditional Derby lead-up races, and I suspect he is ready to improve over the longer trip. The inform Craig Williams retains the ride and has been competitive with some serious gallopers during his career. His toughness and honesty puts him into all winning calculations, and the inside draw should give his key rivals sleepless nights leading into Saturday’s Group 2 event. Over the odds!
Suggested Bet: Observer @ $2.00
Moonee Valley Race 10
#6 Via Sistina
The defending champion Via Sistina looks poised to strike in her title defence on Saturday, however; it won’t be the walk in the park that we witnessed in the 2024 edition. The Fastnet Rock mare hasn’t been at her brilliant best during her current spring campaign, and the vultures are circling to take the rising nine-year-old’s weight-for-age crown. Her first-up victory in the Winx Stakes was superb, before being out-jogged and questionably ridden in a farcical edition of the Makybe Diva Stakes. Her building and closing speed behind Sir Delius and Antino looked ominous, and I suspect she is ready to explode at her favourite track and pet distance. Chris Waller is arguably the best ‘Grand Final’ trainer there is, and a victory here would cement Via’s spot in the history books of our great game for a menagerie of different reasons. It would be a fitting end to the current Moonee Valley configuration, and I am unsure anyone would begrudge a champion, our fastest winner of the W.S. Cox Plate, a winning farewell.
Antino is the obvious danger to the favourite, and the one that possesses the ‘X’ factor. The Redwood gelding is in form, and I suspect this race, and this race only, has been the main target for 12 months. His winter performances were first-class, and the form around him has stood up time and again. The 2000m doesn’t pose any issues, and his versatility alone puts him into all winning conversations. His daring win in last years’ Toorak Handicap is still fresh in the memory bank, and I expect similar tactics will be employed as they fly past the school for the last time on Saturday. If he can leave his more credentialed rivals flat-footed or catch them off guard, the fat lady could be in full voice as heads turn for home. Tactics always play a significant role in Group 1 events, however; even more prevalent here.
Royal Randwick Race 8
#2 Shangri La Boy
Shangri La Boy is a speed machine. The Pierro colt has recorded two victories on the bounce, and he deserves his shot at this level on Saturday. The inside draw will allow the big boy to push forward and take up a prominent role, and if he is allowed to cheat the clock throughout, the fat lady will be in full voice as they run for the doctor. The Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper is well related to Storm Boy, and he will have plenty of supporters after his last-start romp. The one to beat!
Attica was a brilliant winner of the Dulcify at his latest outing. The Lonhro colt put his rivals to the sword a long way from home, and he looks well placed in this company. The drop back in trip could prove decisive, and I suspect this has been the long-range target from the astute Joseph Pride and Godolphin camps. The jump-out in between runs looked ominous, and the money trail is significant. The carpark draw is his biggest obstacle.
Royal Randwick Race 9
#2 Manaal
Manaal has recaptured her mojo. The Tassort mare has put her rivals away at the top of the straight her at two latest outings, and she looks well placed to continue on her winning ways. Her record at the trip must be respected, and she meets the usual suspects here. The big girl handles all track conditions, and her versatility is exceptional for her age and race-day experience. She maps incredibly well, and I expect her to fight out the finish. You can’t beat a mare in form!
Miss Roumbini is knocking on the door. The Zoustar mare caught the eyes of punters late in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke, and I suspect she has been trained to the minute for her third-up assignment. Her record at this stage of the campaign is near perfect, and the key booking of the inform Adam Hyeronimus speaks volumes. The primary concerns are the dramatic increase in weight and awkward barrier draw.
Suggested Bet: Manaal @ $4.80
