Cox Plate Odds for English raider Side Glance are well above what visiting connections were expecting three days out from the running of the Group 1 $3m Sportingbet Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Craig Williams aboard English galloper Side Glance in trackwork. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Wife of English trainer Andrew Balding, Anna, said that bookmakers have underestimated the seven year old by putting his 2013 Cox Plate odds up at $61, well above the stables expectations.
Anna Balding considers Side Glance is going into the Cox Plate with very solid form which includes a fourth in the Group 1 US$10m Dubai World Cup (2000m) at Meydan on March 30 three starts back and a third in the Group 1 US$1m Arlington Million (2000m) at Arlington Park in the USA on August 17.
I’m not a gambling person, but the bookmakers odds do seem generous,” Anna Balding told Racing Network.
“He’s in great form and Craig was keen for him to draw an inside gate. He’s a keen horse, he’ll be up there.”
Big race jockey Craig Williams has the reins on Side Glance on Saturday and is certain to give the seven year old a top ride from the inside gate.
Williams travelled to the Werribee International Horse Centre to get a feel of Side Glance this morning before the big race on Saturday and was impressed with the work out.
“He was quite aggressive today. He handled the wet ground really well this morning,” Williams said.
Balding also doesn’t expect Side Glance to be affected by the huge Moonee Valley crowd after having he coped well with the big race atmosphere of the Dubai World Cup and the Arlington Million race day.
Kiwi star It’s A Dundeel heads the 2013 Cox Plate odds at $4 while Puissance De Lune is not far off the pace at $4.40.
Fiorente, who has drawn the outside of the fourteen horse field is next in the betting at $4.60 while three year old Long John is a $9 chance coming off a win in the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas(1600m) while Side Glance’s visiting English companion Mull Of Killough is also at long odds at $61.
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