Cox Plate Field

After a week of injuries, scratchings, good and bad track work and betting moves, the 2011 Group 1 $3m Cox Plate field (2040m) is settled and set to fly this afternoon.

The Moonee Valley track is rated dead four which shouldn’t disadvantage any horse – it’s perfect.

While the bookies have given New Zealand galloper Jimmy Choux a wide berth since Tuesday’s supposed bad track work at Moonee Valley and wide draw, punters on the home tote in Victoria have opened him up favourite this morning.

Luxbet is giving generous odds with Jimmy Choux now $6.50 out from $3.60 in 2011 Cox Plate betting..

Jimmy Choux hasn’t raced at Moonee Valley and isn’t the only 2011 Cox Plate horse not to have raced at the track – Glass Harmonium Luxbet $12 , Sincero [luxbet] $21, Playing God Luxbet $71, Shamrocker Luxbet $41, Secret Admirer Luxbet $11 and 2011 Cox Plate favourite Helmet Luxbet $3.30 will have their first start at the tricky course today.

Descarado and Yosei pulled out of the race during the week through injury.

The defection of Descarado in particular changed the nature of the race as it meant one less on pace horse vying for the early lead.

It is expected that Helmet, Glass Harmonium, and Lion Tamer Luxbet $12 may all push forward early in the race.

That could play into Helmet’s hands who worked like a Trojan to lead the Caulfield Guineas field.

One wouldn’t expect him to be asked work as hard in the 2011 Cox Plate but then again it would be a surprise if the rival jockeys weren’t looking to make his task tougher.

Rekindled Interest Luxbet $7 has been the best backed horse all week coming in from $12 before drawing well in three.

He was the one who blew Jimmy Choux away the in the work out at Moonee Valley on Tuesday – Rekindled Interest loves the track and gets blinkers on for the first time.

First emergency Avienus Luxbet $61 who was left out of the field in preference to Efficient Luxbet $18, by Moonee Valley officials earlier in the week, now takes up a spot in the final field.

Avienus is drawn badly but her Caulfield Stakes second to Descarado is worthy of respect, in fact is was clearly the best run in that race and trainer Mark Webb says she is just as good at Moonee Valley.

Efficient’s owner Lloyd Williams has been advise by form expert Dominic Beirne to make jockey Steven King take off at the 1000m and make it a staying race.

The 2007 Melbourne Cup winner has been backed in from $21.

Four horses will receive gear changes for the  2011 Cox Plate (2040m).

The trainers of Pinker Pinker Luxbet $31, Sincero [luxbet] $21, Rekindled Interest and Lion Tamer are all making last minute tweaks to improve the chances of their 2011 Cox Plate charges.

Pinker Pinker has a lugging bit on, Sincero blinkers on again, Rekindled Interest blinkers for the first time on and Lion Tamer blinkers on again.

Pinker Pinker last start in the Epsom Handicap failed to peel off front runners in the early part of the straight costing it a margin and the lugging bit will make her more tractable.

Sincero raced in blinkers when he won the 2011 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June. The blinkers are saved for the best races and none are better than the 2011 Cox Plate.

Lion Tamer showed there is two sides to his performances when easily winning the Underwood Stakes  (1800m) at Caulfield, a traditionally good Cox Plate lead up and then flopping in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

Trainer Murray Baker has re-applied the blinkers to get the best out of the four-year-old entire for the Cox Plate of 2011.

Trainer Jim Conlan may have pulled the master stroke of all, waiting until a Cox Plate to apply the blinkers for the first time on Rekindled Interest.

The Moonee Valley lover is having his 12^th start in a race and the temptation to use them earlier must have been great.

Both King’s Rose Luxbet $12 in from $15 and Wall Street Luxbet $61 in form $71 have had backing in the 2011 Cox Plate.

King’s Rose should get the perfect run behind the pace and is undefeated at 2000m.