Fawkner is currently available at 2014 Cox Plate odds of $4.20 and he remains a clear favourite to become the first horse since Might And Power to win the Cox Plate after winning the Caulfield Cup a year earlier.
Fawkner is set to start the 2014 Cox Plate as a clear favourite in betting. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Fawkner was the big winner of the Cox Plate barrier draw, after drawing ideally in barrier four, but he has been slightly easy in betting markets for the Group 1 event at Moonee Valley on Saturday after opening at $4.
Owner Lloyd Williams is desperate to win the Cox Plate for the first time and his son Nick Williams said that the barrier draw yesterday that the Macedon Lodge team may never have a better chance of taking out the race.
“The horse is in perfect order and we couldn’t be happier,” Williams said.
“It is the perfect Tuesday before the race, he is obviously the favourite for the race and we wouldn’t swap him for anything.
“The reality is that this is the best race in Australia and it takes some winning as we know very well having tried god knows how many times and never been able to pull it off.”
Sacred Falls is on the second line of Cox Plate betting markets and he is back into a quote of $6 after drifting out to $6.50 in early betting for the race.
There is still a question mark over whether Sacred Falls is capable of running out a strong 2040 metres, but he was second behind It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) earlier this year and ran home fairly when fourth behind Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Classic (20000m) on October 11.
Punter and bookmakers alike seem unable to get a real handle on the Cox Plate chances of Aidan O’Brien-trained Adelaide and he is back into a price of $6.50 after being backed into $6 before drifting out to $7.
Adelaide will be making his Australian racing debut in the Cox Plate after performing well in France, Ireland, Great Britain and the United States this preparation and O’Brien is happy with the Galileo entire heading into the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.
He is in good form,” O’Brien said.
“He has had a couple of nice runs; he had a nice run in France last time and he won in America the time before that, so he seems to be in good form.
“(Stable representatives) T.J. and David seem to be happy with him down there.”
The only other horse that is available at single figure Cox Plate odds is Criterion, who has the chance to become the first horse since Bonecrusher in 1986 to complete the Australian Derby/Cox Plate Double.
Criterion was available at a quote of $41 to take out the Cox Plate after he failed to fire in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and finished second in the Hill Stakes (2000m), but had his price slashed after he stormed home late to finish second behind Fawkner in the Caulfield Stakes.
The best backed runner in 2014 Cox Plate betting markets has been Godolphin colt Sweynesse.
Sweynesse opened at $34 when the 2014 Cox Plate field was released yesterday morning, but there has been a steady stream of support for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes placegetter and he is now into odds of $21.
There has also been a sprinkling of support for Tasmanian galloper The Cleaner ($14), while Side Glance ($26 out to $34) and Happy Trails ($11) have both been on the drift.
