Cox Plate: Pro punter preview, video and betting strategy

It’s Australia’s greatest race and perhaps “the greatest two minutes in sport”: the $5 million weight-for-age championship of Australia, the Cox Plate. It’s where legends are made!

You can check out our list (and watch the videos) of the Top 10 Cox Plate Winners right here.

What time is the Cox Plate?

The 2022 Cox Plate will be run at 5:10pm Melbourne time on Saturday, 22nd October. The Cox Plate is Race 9 on the ten race card.

Here’s pro punter Trevor Lawson on the race…

Cox Plate 2022: Trev’s preview

Track It’s a Good 4 at the moment but there is of course a lot of variables before the Cox Plate gets run… there’s meant to be a little bit of rain coming, and it’s Race 18 of 19 over the two days. . The rail is in the true. In general, The Valley has been very leader-ish and traditionally this meeting has played well for on-pacers too. So you have to plan for that.

Speed Alligator Blood surely goes forward from the outside and battles it out with Zaaki for the lead. Anamoe will slide in behind them, possibly with Mr Brightside if they go forward. Otherwise Mr Brightside will go back, as will I’m Thunderstruck.

📺 Video preview

Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

10 Anamoe [$2.40] is flying. He lost a bit of ground on the corner in the Might And Power but then just rattled home late. I think he can improve off that. He gets a gun run here… I think they just sit one-out, one-back behind Zaaki, though also behind Alligator Blood if need be. And if others want to go forward he can just sit another pair back. He’s drawn Barrier 4 so sits right in the running line. Certainly the horse to beat.

1 Zaaki [$4.00] should be fully fit now. From Barrier 1 he should kick up and hold the lead. I’ve got him second pick at the moment, largely in line with the market.

12 El Bodegon [$7.50] is pretty hard to price. I’d have him a lot longer off his Timeform rating but I’ve learnt that with these unseen imports you’re better off just going with what the market says… it always seems to know! So I’d follow the market and possibly have a small saver on him if he’s been backed.

Cox Plate contender El Bodegon has settled handy at his past few runs
His last win 👇- Saint Cloud in France (2000M- Oct 2021 )
Tk was rated soft
Second horse Stone Age won it’s 2 subsequent runs, one was a maiden, other was the Irish Derby trial. @RadioTABAus @SkyRacingAU pic.twitter.com/sPYSkMvyhh

— STEVE HEWLETT 🏇🎣 🛥📻🏃‍♂️👱‍♀️ (@stevejoseph69) October 18, 2022

2 I’m Thunderstruck [$13] I have about in line with the market. They’ve drawn Barrier 10 in a bigger field than he faced in the Might And Power, so he’ll be second-last or last. He’ll need the speed on and will need a good ride (which Zahra is capable of, of course). If they go hard out in front then he’s a chance at the odds.

3 Alligator Blood [$14] was very good two starts back in the Underwood in the small field, then in the Might And Power he was a bit disappointing. Drawn the outside gate so they definitely just have to go forward here and try to sit outside or cross Zaaki. I’m happy to risk him and would want $20+ to entertain him.

6 Gold Trip [$14] was good last week in the Caulfield Cup but that was on soft ground which he prefers, and it was over the 2400 metres. So he’s back in trip, gets blinkers again and also gets Jamie Spencer, who’s a gun overseas rider but hasn’t ridden here for a long time. He’s drawn a middle gate so it’s a bit hard to know whether they’ll go forward or back. I have him about in line with the market.

4 Mr Brightside [$15] was better in the Might And Power when ridden back. He’s drawn 11 here and they’re putting the winkers on so I’m not entirely sure what their plan will be. With Williams on you’d think they probably go forward, but he’ll have some work to do. If they go back then they’ll really need the speed on. Another I’d want good odds on, probably $30+.

5 Mo’unga [$31] is probably not good enough to win a Cox Plate.

7 Laws Of Indices [$34] ran well last start with second in the Toorak. He’s going to 2000 metres-plus for the first time and he’s coming off handicap form. I think he’ll probably be found wanting when the pressure builds. Rough chance.

I don’t think the rest measure up here… I don’t think they can win: 8 Young Werther [$61], 9 Maximal [$61],11 Profondo [$71].

Betting strategy

Top pick Anamoe
Value play Gold Trip

There’s no doubt Anamoe is the one to beat. Favourites have a good record in the Cox Plate – it’s the race for the best horses. He ran second in this last year as a three-year-old, so is a year older now, and has probably the best rider in the country. And he maps to get the right run.

They’re predicting some rain and if that comes, I’ll be shortening up Gold Trip and looking to back him – he’s the one genuine wet tracker in the race.

Good luck!