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It’s a brave new world at Moonee Valley Racing Club with a new field vying for the Cox Plate that has been dominated by superstar mare Winx for the past four years.
According to Tabcorp, this means it will be much harder to find a tip for this year’s Cox Plate, given Winx’s absence from this year’s event.
“From a betting standpoint, this year’s 2022 Cox Plate stands are the most interesting in recent times as there’s a fantastic crop of Australian middle distance runners waiting to stake their claim and emerge from behind the huge shadow of Winx,” he said. Tabcorp in their official preview of the Cox Plate.
Jockey Hugh Bowman on Winx wins the Cox Plate in 2018 at Moonee Valley Racecourse
“Superstar mare Winx cemented her place in Australian racing folklore last year, winning the Cox Plate for an unprecedented fourth consecutive time, a feat likely never to be repeated.”
However, four-time Cox Plate champion Glen Boss believes ‘fearless’ Nash Rawiller is an understated dark horse to win the $5 million Group 1 race – he says he has the tactics to push favorite Anamoe and his jockey James McDonald past the post to fluff.
With big guns Zaaki and Alligator Blood drawn into barriers one and twelve respectively, the racing event will get underway at a breakneck pace.
Rohan Welsh of Tabcorp says gamblers have stayed next to the favourite, but can find great value elsewhere.
“Anamoe continues to be heavily backed by TAB and owns 40% of the Cox Plate investment with multiple notable bets, including one of 10K for $2.40,” he said.
“El Bodegan is the big mover to second favorite at $5.50 with about 15% of the money for a 10% easing from Zaaki and $6.50.”
James McDonald points to trainer James Cummings after beating I’m Thunderstruck and Zaaki in race 7, at the great feature Neds Might and Power in Caulfield, October 8
Retired champion Boss says five-year-old Bay Mo’unga will thrive under a fierce ride from Rawiller.
“Nash will be positive about him, he will not flop in the back,” said the 96-time group one winner.
“You’ve got Zaaki moving forward, kicking hard because he has to… you’ve got Alligator crossing over and you’ve got Mo’unga, who won’t wonder.
Glen Bos wins his fourth Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23, 2020 – aboard Sir Dragonet
Nash is probably the most intelligent rider out there, he does exactly what he wants to do, fearlessly, and he doesn’t care what people think.
He does things that others wouldn’t think of because they are too afraid of being judged if they are wrong, if he is wrong at least he tells me I did something.’
The 47-year-old Victorian was praised by punters this year in his stellar run of Think It Over during the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the 2000m.
Nash Rawiller gets to work on Think It Over – it won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, as the jockey left the field and rails and brought the horse to the far left of the straight for a drier track
Rawiller infamously sent the seven-year-old all the way to the left on a tough Randwick track, leaving the rest of the field on track.
The over 5,500-start jockey defeated Verry Elleegant and Zaaki, favorite in the home race, to take a massive $41 in the $4 million race.
Still, his brave ride came at a price, with NSW race stewards fined Rawiller $40,000 for excessive whip use while suspending him for two weeks.
Boss, who won the 2005, 2009, 2012 and 2020 Cox Plate, says McDonald won’t get him the race even by the perfect draw.
Boss smiles at Makybe Diva as he wins his first Cox Plate during his 2005 Moonee Valley
While McDonald is currently Cox Plateless in his 71 group of triumphs, the 53-year-old retired legend says the Kiwi has the racing “weapon.”
McDonald looked down and out at the 300-foot mark on Anamoe during the Might and Power Stakes on October 8, but showed a stunning twist of the foot to beat the home mark. I’m Thunderstruck and tempo runner Zaaki.
The Godolphin-bred and James Cummings-trained four-year-old sits as the $2.30 favorite for the Cox Plate, having won 10 of his 19 races and only missed a place twice.
Anamoe jumps off barrier four and will likely be on the pace, behind the Jamie Kah ridden Zaaki.
James McDonald (c) poses with trainer James Cummings (L) and Vin Cox (R), after winning race 7, Neds Might and Power
Last year Irish horse State of Rest won by half a head over favorite Anamoe, while 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant rounded out the standings.
2022 Cox Plate field and odds:
1. Zaaki ($6/$2.05), 2. I’m Thunderstruck ($11/$2.90), 3. Alligator Blood ($21/$4.60), 4. Mr Brightside ($14/$3.40), 5 Mo’unga ($26/$5.50), 6. Gold Trip ($12/$3.10), 7. Law of Indices ($35/$6.50), 8. Young Werther ($41/$7), 9. Maximal ($61/$9.50 ), 10. Anamoe ($2.35/$1.30) , 11. Profondo ($67/$12), 12. El Bodegon ($5.50/$1.95)