Fawkner, Adelaide Among Cox Plate Favorites
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Recent Caulfield Stakes (Aus-I) victor Fawkner is the favorite in a full field of 14 for the Sportingbet Cox Plate (Aus-I), Australia's premier weight-for-age race, Oct. 25 at Moonee Valley.
There are three European-based contenders entered: Coolmore and partners' Adelaide, winner of the Secretariat Stakes (gr. IT) this summer at Arlington International Racecourse; Pearl Bloodstock's Side Glance, twice third in the Arlington Million Stakes (gr. IT) and most recently third in the Caulfield Stakes; and Guest of Honour, winner of the Summer Mile (gr. II) in July at Ascot for trainer Marco Botti.
Nick Williams, who campaigns Fawkner, with his father, Lloyd, selected post four at the post-position draw Oct. 21.
"He is in perfect order," Nick Williams told the Melbourne Herald-Sun. "He is the favorite and we would not swap him for any other in the race.
"The reality is that this is the best race in Australia and it takes some winning, as we know too well."
Of the Williamses' previous Cox Plate runners, Mahogany was the runner-up in 1995, and Zipping was second in 2008 and 2010 and third in 2009.
Fawkner's primary challengers, Adelaide, who is the third choice, and Raffles Thoroughbred Racing's two-time Doncaster Mile (Aus-I) Sacred Falls, the second favorite, will start from the less-than-ideal posts of 13 and 9, respectively.
Coolmore's Tom Magnier was last to choose for post positions but only the 13 hole remained. He conceded the 3-year-old Galileo colt had his work cut out for him.
"He has traveled well and he tries hard," he told the Herald-Sun about Adelaide, who was third in Qatar Prix Neil (Fr-II) Sept. 14 at Longchamp last time out. "If you are not in it, you can't win it, so we'll see."
Sir Owen Glen's Criterion, winner of the BMW Australian Derby (gr. I) earlier this year and second to Fawkner in the Caulfield Stakes, will start from post 6.
Sportingbet Cox Plate (Aus-I), Aus$3.05 million, 3YO&Up, 2,040 meters (about 1 1/4 miles), Moonee Valley
No. PP. Horse (Where Bred) (Sire), Jockey, Weight, Trainer
1. 9. Scared Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly), Z. Purton, 130, C. Waller
2. 4. Fawkner (AUS) (Reset), N. Hall, 130, R. Hickmott
3. 7. Side Glance (GB) (Passing Glance), J. Spencer, 130, Andrew Balding
4. 2. Happy Trails (AUS) (Good Journey), D. Oliver, 130, P. Beshara
5. 1. Foreteller (GB) (Dansili), T. Berry, 130, C. Waller
6. 14. The Cleaner (AUS) (Savoire Vivre), S. Arnold, 130, Mick Burles
7. 10. Guest of Honour (IRE) (Cape Cross), C. Williams, 130, M. Botti
8. 6. Criterion (NZ) (Sebring), H. Bowman, 127, David Payne
9. 11. Silent Achiever (NZ) (O'Reilly), N. Rawiller, 126, Roger James
10. 3. Royal Descent (AUS) (Redoute's Choice), G. Boss, 126, C. Waller
11. 13. Adelaide (IRE) (Galileo), R. Moore, 123, A. O'Brien
12. 8. Almalad (AUS) (Al Maher), C. Newitt, 109, Gai Waterhouse
13. 12. Sweynesse (AUS) (Lonhro),C. Schofield, 109, J. O'Shea
14. 5. Wandjina (AUS) (Sntizel), D. Yendall, 109, G. Waterhouse