The Cox Plate odds for Peter Snowden’s three year old Long John continues to shorten for the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley tomorrow.
Long John continues to firm for the Cox Plate. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Since the barrier draw on Tuesday, Long John has been the biggest market mover with his Cox Plate odds firming from $10 to $7.50
Ladbrokes.com.au Bookmaker Operations Director Jason Scott said that the money has come consistently since the barrier draw but says the market was a bit distorted with the early scratching of long time favourite Atlantic Jewel who has been retired after suffering another tendon injury.
“Atlantic Jewel came out and the whole market had to be reshaped but Long John was $10 after the barrier draw and is now into $7.50,” Scott said.
While the second and third favourites Puissance De Lune, $4.20 to $4.60 and Fiorente $4.60 to $5.50 have eased slightly, ruling favourite It’s A Dundeel remains firm at $4.20 with plenty of support.
“Puissance De Lune and Fiorente are out in the betting. It’s A Dundeel is very steady, he is the best backed of the three favourites,” Scott said.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has been on a Spartan diet to get down to 49.5kgs for Long John after Snowden and the Darley team decided to take on the older weight for age horses in the 2013 Cox Plate.
Long John is attempting to repeat the efforts of the mighty Red Anchor back in 1984 as the last three year old to complete the Caulfield Guineas – Cox Plate double in the one year.
The John Hawkes trained All Too Hard tried valiantly to do it last year but was nabbed on the line by tough Kiwi weight for age star Ocean Park.
While the last three year old to win the weight for age championship of Australasia was So You Think when he won his first Cox Plate in 2009 and went on to win ten Group 1s in Australia and in Europe.
Cox Plate preparations for the three favourites haven’t been all smooth sailing with It’s Dundeel missing some work because of a foot abscess while the connections of Puissance De Lune and Fiorente have had to search for new jockeys after their regular riders were suspended for careless riding.
Ben Melham has taken over from Glen Boss on Puissance De Lune while Blake Shinn picked up the ride on the Gai Waterhouse trained Fiorenta after Damien Oliver was also suspended.
