Australia’s weight-for-age championship will be decided at The Valley on Saturday when a classy field of ten contests the 2021 Cox Plate.
Not since Winx won an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate has the race garnered so much hype, and we are set for a thrilling contest as the likes of Zaaki, Verry Elleegant and Anamoe chase their spot in the history books.
Before placing your bets, check out my 2021 Cox Plate Tips below.
Cox Plate – Winner – No. 9 Anamoe
For many, many months it has been billed as a match race between Zaaki and Verry Elleegant, but I have actually landed on Anamoe, and I think that he will be the first three-year-old Cox Plate winner since Shamus Award in 2013.
The Street Boss colt was nothing short of outstanding during his two-year-old season, placing in both the Neds Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper, with his most notable performance coming in his Inglis Sires’ victory.
He returned to the races a winner in the Run To The Rose in September, only just missed in the Golden Rose and charged in to score an impressive victory in the Neds Caulfield Guineas last time.
While he is yet to be tested at the trip, he gets into the Cox Plate with just 49.5kgs and with even luck, I think he can win.
Cox Plate – 2nd – No. 6 Verry Elleegant
She is a star of the Australasian turf and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Verry Elleegant in the Cox Plate winner’s stall.
The nine-time Group 1 champion has returned to the races in typically strong form this time, and added the George Main Stakes to her CV most notably, having only just missed in the Winx Stakes when resuming.
She was certainly flat behind Incentivise in the Turnbull Stakes last time out, but I am happy to forgive her as history suggests it was a rare blemish, and I’m sure she’ll receive every chance in the Cox Plate 2021.
Cox Plate – 3rd – No. 1 Zaaki
He could come out and win by four lengths, but I am just a little concerned that the track will prove to be too firm for Zaaki again, and there is no doubt that the Cox Plate field is stronger than that of the Neds Might And Power Stakes.
Regardless, the seven-year-old gelding has been a revelation since touching down in Australia, and owned arguably the performance of the year when he gave his rivals a serious touch up in the Doomben Cup.
He returned this time for an eye-catching win in the Tramway Stakes, he proved far too good in the Underwood second-up, but he was very disappointing and well beaten last time.
James McDonald returns to the saddle and if he does like the track, he’ll take a power of beating.
Cox Plate – 4th – No. 5 Mo’unga
One Cox Plate entry whom I think is genuinely over the odds is Mo’unga.
Mo’unga has always hinted at above-average ability, but there is no doubt that he has gone to another level since transferring to the care of Annabel Neasham, which speaks volumes of the young trainer’s ability given this horse was originally saddled by Chris Waller.
He broke through for a maiden Group 1 victory in the Rosehill Guineas in autumn, and he resumed this time with a devastating performance that saw him add a second in the Winx Stakes.
Since then, his two runs in the Makybe Diva Stakes and the Epsom Handicap have been full of merit, and he’ll relish getting out to 2000m.
Cox Plate Suggested Bets
- 3 Units straight out #9 Anamoe
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
