2010 Cox Plate Field, Barriers & Weights

The final field of acceptances for the 2010 Cox Plate has been released by Racing Victoria this morning, with hot favourite and reigning champion So You Think firming further in the markets after an ideal barrier five draw.

This Saturday the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) will take place as part of a bumper nine-event card at Moonee Valley.

After drawing barrier five in the 10-horse Cox Plate field, So You Think has seemingly turned the showdown into a one horse race.

Sportsbet punters were rewarded early yesterday, the online bookmaker paying out all bets on So You Think to win the 2010 Cox Plate.

So You Think has enjoyed a succession of spring wins including his comprehensive Yalumba Stakes victory last start.

Due to carry a reasonable 57.5kg on Saturday with Steven Arnold aboard, the High Chaparral four-year-old is the deserved favourite.

However, the race isn’t done and dusted yet and there still looks to be top value in a number of the other runners.

Drawn ideally in barrier three, Gai Waterhouse’s in-form mare More Joyous could cause an upset on Saturday at a juicy price through Sportsbet.

Allocated the lowest weight of just 55.5kg and due to be ridden by Nash Rawiller, a good jump from the Toorak Handicap winner will see More Joyous at the front early.

One other mare will also run in this year’s Cox Plate, with the Mark Webb-trained Avienus in barrier seven.

Last Start Group 1 Winners in 2010 Cox Plate

So You Think – Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 9
More Joyous – Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 9
Zipping – Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 3
Captain Sonador – Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick on October 2

Aside from So You Think and More Joyous, the star-studded 2010 Cox Plate field features two other last-start Group 1 winners with Lloyd William’s evergreen nine-year-old Zipping coming off a sensational upset in the Turnbull Stakes, and Queensland star Captain Sonador who took out the Epsom Handicap earlier in the month.

International Horses in 2010 Cox Plate

Luen Yat Forever (Macau)
Wall Street (New Zealand)

Macau gelding Luen Yat Forever is perfectly positioned in barrier two and will have benefited greatly from their first-up Australian run last-start where the Honours List gelding finished a gallant fourth to More Joyous in the Toorak Handicap.

Meanwhile star Kiwi galloper Wall Street will be making their Australian race debut in the Cox Plate, coming off back-to-back Group 1 wins in New Zealand, most recently wining the Spring Classic over the 2040m Cox Plate distance.

Notable Absentees from 2010 Cox Plate

Shocking (Mark Kavanagh)
Metal Bender (Chris Waller)
C’est La Guerre (Robert Hickmott)
Herculian Prince (Gai Waterhouse)
Monaco Consul (Michael Mornoney)
Typhoon Tracy (Peter Moody)

Notable absentees from the 2010 Cox Plate field include Shocking who will be saved for the Melbourne Cup and Typhoon Tracy, ruled out last week after connections decided to target the Myer Classic on Derby Day instead.

In a shocking development this morning, trainer John Wallace must find a new jockey to ride his Queensland galloper Shoot Out in the Cox Plate after regular rider Stathi Katsidis was found dead.

The updated Cox Plate odds will be released at SportsBet shortly so sign up now and get ready to lock in your bets at the hottest prices in Australia!