Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley Tips, Race Previews and Selections

Australasia’s premier weight-for-age championship will be contested this weekend, and another stunning edition of the $5 million Cox Plate headlines the program at The Valley!

With the Manikato Stakes always moved to this program, the card has simply never looked stronger, and I’ve provided my complete 2023 Cox Plate Day Tips below.

Unflinching needed his first run back to dust off the cobwebs, but I think he can fight out the finish at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.

The I Am Invincible gelding recorded three wins in succession last time in, all in short, sharp sprints here at The Valey, before ending his prep third in a BM100.

He boasts a good second-up record, and the booking of Jamie Kah doesn’t hinder his chances this week.

Suggested Bet: No. 2 Unflinching

Inglis Banner (1000m) – 12:45pm AEDT

Every galloper confirmed in the 2023 Inglis Banner field is on debut and there has already been interest for a few of them in the market.

There is simply too much that can happen in these early two-year-old races for my liking, and I am going to stay out of it from a betting perspective, with a view towards something further into the season.

Suggested Bet: No Bet

Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) – 1:20pm AEDT

Wishlor Lass has returned to the races in sharp order and the Tesio Stakes looks a nice bit of black type for her.

The Symon Wilde-trained mare hit the line to finish a length behind the winner in BM84 company at her first run back and she hasn’t looked back, recording consecutive wins, including the Group 3 Ladies’ Day Vase on Neds Caulfield Guineas Day.

She’s hard fit, the mile is ideal, and I can’t find a reason why she won’t be in the finish again.

Suggested Bet: No. 2 Wishlor Lass

Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) – 1:55pm AEDT

I’m happy to stick with a fit Inhibitions when she goes around in Saturday’s Crockett Stakes.

Inhibitions was too good for the likes of Oz Empress over this route at her first start back in August, and she followed up that effort with consecutive second placings in black type company, also here at The Valley.

She was far from disgraced over the 1400m in last weekend’s Thousand Guineas Prelude, but it’s starting to become quite clear that these are her pet conditions, and I like that she’s on the quick back-up.

Suggested Bet: No. 3 Inhibitions

Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) – 2:30pm AEDT

Another perfect race for the Queenslander Antino, but he runs into some really good horses again in the Crystal Mile, including Kiwi Group 1 winner Prowess.

Prowess was nothing short of outstanding during her three-year-old campaign, picking off some lovely races over in her native New Zealand, including the Group 1 Bonecrusher Stakes, before arriving in Australia to win the Vinery Stud Stakes.

A minor but unfortunately ailment ended her Cox Plate hopes, but she returned to action at the beginning of the month to finish second in a 1400m Group 3, and I have little doubt she’ll improve noticeably getting out to the mile.

Suggested Bet: No. 6 Prowess

Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m) – 4:05pm AEDT

Skybird puts an unbeaten record on the line and has opened favourite in Moonee Valley Fillies Classic betting, but she faces a big rise in class into this race, and I am going to take her on with Broadcaster.

Broadcaster remains a maiden, but she has returned four competitive performances since debuting, and she was last seen filling the minors behind the talented Artic Glamour in black type company.

She steps out this week in peak order, she’s drawn well under Craig Williams, and I am actually quite confident in her chances here.

Suggested Bet: No. 10 Broadcaster

Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) – 3:40pm AEDT

Sunsource was an unfortunate scratching from last week’s Neds Classic, but this looks to be a very similar race, and I am confident he can have an impact at double-figure Moonee Valley Vase odds ($12 at publish).

The Zoustar colt has returned some nice performances this time in, winning over 1800m at Flemington most notably, and he was last seen finishing second behind Riff Rocket in the Super Impose Stakes – form that has since been franked.

The team were reportedly pleased with his condition and quietly confident he’d run well last week, so I am going to stick with him each way in something like this.

Suggested Bet: No. 1 Sunsource

Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) – 4:20pm AEDT

Friday’s loss is absolutely Saturday’s gain, and the Manikato Stakes now takes its position on Cox Plate Day, one race before the main event!

Imperatriz has been outstanding this time and I’ve put her on top, but you can find my complete 2023 Manikato Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.

Suggested Bet: No. 6 Imperatriz

Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) – 5:10pm AEDT

Is it Australia’s best race? There is an ENORMOUS case to be made for it being Australia’s best race.

At any rate, we’re set for another outstanding edition of the Cox Plate, as some of Australia’s best gallopers step out alongside a strong international contingent on Saturday afternoon.

I’ve got the Hong Kong star, Romantic Warrior on top, but find all of my thoughts and complete 2023 Cox Plate Tips RIGHT HERE.

Suggested Bet: No. 1 Romantic Warrior

Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) – 5:50pm AEDT

I’m happy to give Archo Nacho another chance when he takes his place in the Red Anchor Stakes field.

Archo Nacho has experienced something of a meteoric rise to prominence since making his debut, and he returned an eye-catching winner of the Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last month.

I was with him when he stepped out in the Danehill Stakes second-up, but he was disappointing that day and finished sixth.

Fitter third-up, out to the 1200m and under Mark Zahra this week, I think he’ll be afforded every opportunity.

Suggested Bet: No. 3 Archo Nacho