In a shock that left the racing community shattered, champion Brisbane jockey Katsidis was found dead in his home yesterday morning.

Stating he would not chase the ride under the circumstances, Brown was asked by Shoot Out’s trainer John Wallace to take the mount in Saturday’s $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

A friend of Katsidis’, Brown accepted saying the ride would be in his honour.

Brown is also set to ride High Chaparral four-year-old Shoot Out in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) on October 30 at Flemington’s Victoria Derby Day and will get first refusal for the 2010 Melbourne Cup if Shoot Out makes the field.

On Saturday Shoot Out is set to jump from barrier nine in the Cox Plate field and is currently paying $12 to win through SportsBet, third elect behind hot favourite So You Think and the Gai Waterhouse-trained More Joyous.

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!

2010 Cox Plate Field, Barriers & Weights

Four-year-old More Than Ready mare More Joyous made it eight successive victories when she outclassed her competition in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on Saturday, proving her versatility and talent at her maiden Melbourne run.

Owner John Singleton had scheduled the Toorak as More Joyous’ final run before embarking on the Cox Plate field, and she couldn’t have produced a more ideal Cox Plate trial.

The impressive performance bought More Joyous’ record up to 10 wins from 13 starts and has Waterhouse more confident of her chances in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 23.

Following the win More Joyous jumped up the 2010 Cox Plate odds, now the $7.50 second elect behind Bart Cummings’ reigning champion So You Think at SportsBet.

High Chaparral four-year-old So You Think improved his vice-like grip over the Cox Plate betting markets, firming from $2.40 into a very short quote of $1.65 after he made it back-to-back Group 1 victories with an easy three length win in the Yalumba Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

So You Think claimed his sixth career win from just nine starts, his third straight this spring, beating Alcopop and Whobegotyou in the Yalumba causing bookies to slash their price on him to win the 2010 Cox Plate.

Bookies have also reported a betting plunge for So You Think in the 2010 Melbourne Cup markets.

So You Think is now the $5.50 favourite to win the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 and complete the rare Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup double emulating the great Saintly who won both races in 1996.

Mark Kavanagh’s Whobegotyou was paying $6 in the Cox Plate markets before Saturday, however with Alcopop able to run him down and steal second in the Yalumba, Whobegotyou has drifted out to $13 in the markets.

The 2010 Cox Plate final field will be released next Tuesday October 19 and published here along with the detailed form of the runners and betting tips.

To get in on the action now and lock your favourites in at a generous early odds, sign up with SportsBet today!

Updated 2010 Cox Plate Odds

*For full market and updated odds visit SportsBet

Scheduled to run at the scenic Moonee Valley Racecourse on Saturday October 23, the 2010 Cox Plate final field will feature 14 of the spring’s best gallopers meaning another 10 will drop out of contention.

Notable horses that were not among yesterday’s third acceptors for the Cox Plate include Lloyd Williams’ Alandi and C’est La Guerre after topweight Alandi was sent home to Europe and C’est La Guerre will be aimed specifically at the 2010 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2.

Notable Cox Plate Defectors Following Third Declarations

• Alandi (Robert Hickmott)
• Zabrasive (John O’Shea)
• Danleigh (Chris Waller)
• Triple Honour (Chris Waller)
• Theseo (Gai Waterhouse)

The final field of acceptances for the 2010 Cox Plate will be taken on Tuesday October 19, but punters can get in on the betting action now thanks to the early markets available through Sportsbet.

Cox Plate betting is still dominated by current winner So You Think paying $2.50 at Sportsbet, while other early favourites that were among the third declarations yesterday include Mark Kavanagh’s Whobegotyou ($6), the Gai Waterhouse-trained mare More Joyous ($7) and top Queenslander Shoot Out ($9).

Notable Cox Plate Third Acceptors

• So You Think (Bart Cummings)
• Whobegotyou (Mark Kavanagh)
• More Joyous (Gai Waterhouse)
• Shoot Out (John Wallace)
• Luen Yat Forever (Pou Choi)
• Shocking (Mark Kavanagh)
• Zipping (Robert Hickmott)
• Wall Street (Jeff Lynds)

Other notable acceptors for the 2010 Cox Plate yesterday included international runner Luen Yat Forever from Macau, Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, recent Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner Zipping and star New Zealand galloper Wall Street.

Other spring feature acceptances taken yesterday were the 2010 Caulfield Cup third declarations that have left the chances that Moudre, Precedence and Linton will make the final field in doubt, and the 2010 Melbourne Cup second declarations that cut the number of horses still in contention for the world’s richest handicap down to 78.

Check out the updated betting for the trio of spring features and ensure you get a better price than at the TAB by joining SportsBet today, it only takes a few minutes and new customers receive a free $300 bet!

Third Declarations for 2010 Cox Plate

The most notable defectors from the $3 million Cox Plate field at second declaration stage were Heart Of Dreams who jarred up in Saturday’s Underwood Stakes and is now of for the spring, Golden Rose winning three-year-old Toorak Toff and one of the early Caulfield Cup favourites Moudre.

Top Defectors from 2010 Cox Plate Second Declarations:

• Heart Of Dreams
• Toorak Toff
• Moudre
• Alcopop
• Sniper’s Bullet
• Faint Perfume
• Largo Lad

An adjustment to the Cox Plate betting markets has seen the price for reigning champion So You Think shortened into $2.50 at Sportsbet.

Updated 2010 Cox Plate Betting Odds Following Second Declarations:

• So You Think ($2.50)
• Whobegotyou ($6.50)
• Shoot Out ($9)
• More Joyous ($9)
• Typhoon Tracy ($17)
• Metal Bender ($17)

For full Cox Plate markets visit SportsBet

The Bart Cummings-trained So You Think will miss the 2010 Caulfield Cup, using the Cox Plate as his primary lead-up for the $6 million Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 instead.

So You Think was one of the big omissions from the Caulfield Cup second declarations, also taken yesterday, as was John Wallace’s Shoot Out who is also targeting the Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup favourite.

Shoot Out is the equal-third favourite for the Cox Plate at $9 along with Gai Waterhouse’s star mare More Joyous, following Whobegotyou at $6.50.

Second declarations for the most anticipated race of the year, the 2010 Melbourne Cup, will be taken on October 5.

If you want to back your favourite galloper for this year’s Cox Plate, taking place at Moonee Valley on October 23, then now is the time to lock in top odds at SportsBet so sign up today and enjoy a free $300 bet!

2010 Tatts Cox Plate List of Second Acceptances

The Bart Cummings-trained So You Think ran rings around his rivals in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on Saturday with Sportsbet slashing his odds to win back-to-back Cox Plates.

So You Think is now at $2.60 to win the $3 million Cox Plate on October 23 and become the first horse since Northerly in 2001-02 to win successive Cox Plates.

On Saturday So You Think beat stablemate Dariana in the Underwood Stakes, with Metal Bender in third giving the High Chaparral four-year-old an unbeaten spring record after his earlier success in the Memsie Stakes.

The victory has sent a serious warning to the other horses heading towards the Cox Plate this year.

Rosehill-based trainer Chris Waller has said Saturday’s third placegetter Metal Bender is now more likely to target the 2010 Caulfield Cup on October 9 instead of braving another rematch with So You Think in the Cox Plate.

“He (So You Think) is just a superstar. It was frightening what he did to them,” Waller said in response to the thrashing So You Think gave his rivals in the Underwood.

The hopes of fellow Underwood Stakes runner Heart Of Dreams of making the 2010 Cox Plate Field have also been dashed after the Mick Price-trained gelding finished a well beaten seventh.

Other Cox Plate entries that ran in Saturday’s showdown included Zavite and Red Ruler.

The Anthony Cummings-trained Zavite was a $51 chance and ran an eye-catching fourth while the next best performer was the sixth placed Red Ruler.

So You Think has also risen in the 2010 Melbourne Cup betting moving up to third favourite at $13 through Sportsbet.

To get the best odds for the Cox Plate this spring make sure you sign up with Australia’s most trusted online bookie SportsBet today!

The four-year-old underdog has long odds of $101 with SportsBet for the 2010 Cox Plate win.

Sportsbet is the best place for online wagering, offering you a good look at various Australian odds available – so don’t miss out!

Shoot Out is an early market favourite at $6.50 with SportsBet, but trainer of rival Captain Sonador Roger Milne, is hoping to rise to the challenge.

The four-year-old underdog has long odds of $101 with SportsBet for the 2010 Cox Plate win, so the emerging stayer would pay very well to the winning punter.

Captain Sonador had a perfect first up win this spring which will target the 2010 Cox Plate, claiming a 1200 metre handicap trial at Eagle Farm.

The Shamardal entire impressed spectators over the weekend, proving he’s fully fit after surgery on his two front knees back in March.

He produced a great run which saw him come from behind to defeat Ulladulla by a length and three-quarters, after starting at the back of the field.

Milne is looking to run Captain Sonador in Sydney on September 18 in the Group Two Shannon Stakes (1500m), followed by the Group One Epsom Handicap (1600m) on October 2 before heading to Melbourne.

The four-year-old has always finished second best to Shoot Out in the three times they’ve met, but Milne believes that will change in the 2010 Cox Plate after his runners’ surgery.

So if you are looking to place an early wager on the 2010 Cox Plate final field then make sure you head to SportsBet. That way you can make the most of the highly lucrative odds on offer to see your money go that much further.

An impressive 186 horses have been nominated for the Moonee Valley feature which is scheduled to jump on the 23^rd of October and is shaping up to be a superb race once again, so make sure you head toSportsBet to find the best online bookie when it comes to lucrative early market punts.

Worth an impressive $3 million in prize money, the Cox Plate saw 169 quality entrants last year, so it is great to see the number rise for the 2010 edition.

SportsBet are due to release early market odds on Thursday so today is the best time to sign up with an online bookie as the odds will not get any more lucrative than this, and it only takes a matter of minutes to set up an account!

With odds more lucrative than the TAB don’t worry about getting to your local agent, just sign up online and the entire action at the Spring Racing Carnival is at your disposal just head to SportsBet.

Also released today were the nominations for the highly coveted Melbourne Cup, the BMW Caulfield Cup, the Age Caulfield Guineas and the Schweppes Thousand Guineas.

Here at 2010coxplate.com.au we will look at many of the Cox Plate nominations over the next few weeks, give you our tips, and provide you with the latest news, so make sure to bookmark this page before you leave!

The champion mare which is on target to soon become known as Australia’s top thoroughbred horse has seen her spring program changed by trainer Peter Moody, and will begin with a start in the $200,000 Group Two Memsie Stakes (1400m) on the 28^th of August at Caulfield Racecourse.

With a few weeks left in the five-year-olds training regime, champion trainer Moody has selected the later first-up run to compensate for the extra couple of weeks needed to recover from a virus she suffered from in Sydney.

After the Memsie Stakes, the five-time Group One winning mare will head to Melbourne’s Moonee Valley Racecourse for a jump in the $500,000 Group Two Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m), with Moody undecided as to where to go from there on her path to the Cox Plate field.

The 2010 Cox Plate (2040m) is scheduled to take place on the 23^rd of October at Moonee Valley and will draw another top quality field to the track, all hoping to take home a share of the Cox Plate prizemoney which has reached $3 million.

The Cox Plate is one of the highlights of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and after a disappointing run in the $350,000 Group One Underwood Stakes (1800m) last year, Typhoon Tracy’s 2009 Cox Plate campaign was axed as the improving mare struggled over the longer distance.

The Red Ransom mare has notched up just under $2 million in prize money over the course of her 14 race start career, and will no doubt see Moody aim to raise that after the spring, although the rising six-year-old has never won a race greater than 1, 600 metres.

Elsewhere in 2010 Cox Plate news, Shoot Out has confirmed his chances for the title after defeating a solid field in the 2010 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), and is set for a strong spring.

If you are looking to make some worthwhile punts over the course of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, or even the action down in Sydney, make sure you sign up to an online bookie such as SportsBet, so you can really make the most of your hard-earned cash!

Here at 2010coxplate.com.au we will constantly provide updates as to the latest news in the lead up to the 2010 Cox Plate, so check back regularly to find some early tips as the best time of year in Australian horse racing rolls around.

The 2010 Cox Plate is due to jump on the 23^rd of October at the esteemed Moonee Valley Racecourse as part of the anticipated Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival – so head to Sportbet for some great Cox Plate betting tips.

Scheduled as the fifth race of the day, the Cox Plate Raceday will feature nine exciting races on one of the most looked forward to days of racing in Melbourne.

Having claimed a total of over $3 million in career prizemoney, Theseo raced well in a 1, 250 metre trial at Randwick last week where he lost to stablemate Herculian Prince – proving himself a staying star of the future.

The six-year-old Theseo proved his classy staying ability in the trial, nabbing the middle early, then powering home in the closing stages to finish third by a half-length.

The result impressed Waterhouse seeing as the five-time Group One victor had been in training for just six weeks and will undoubtedly prove a strong candidate in the 2010 Cox Plate.

The Danewin gelding proved a strong force in the Autumn, claiming two prestigious Group One events in the Chipping Norton Stakes and the Ranvet Stakes, and will hope to follow that up with a strong spring run including the illustrious Cox Plate.

Waterhouse has revealed Theseo’s spring path will begin in his hometown of Sydney and the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) on the 21^st of August with a potential jump in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) on the 4^th of September – but she will decide closer to the time.

The rising seven-year-olds final race in Sydney will be on the 25^th of September in the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) before heading to Melbourne and the 2010 Cox Plate field.

Also taking place on the 23^rd of October at Moonee Valley will be four Group Two races; AAMI Vase (2040m), Schweppes Stakes (1200m), Patinack Farm Crystal Mile (1600m) and the Cathay Pacific Airways Cup (2500m), along with two Group Three races – the 1300 Australia Stakes (1200m) and the Tesio Stakes (1600m).

So to make the most of early 2010 Cox Plate betting markets, make sure you are signed up with SportsBet before the odds deflate, and remember the further out from the race jump you are the higher the win will be!