Cox Plate from 'The in form Burns'.

Race 1

Diamond Earth  11- Has been backed heavy in a race that has no form to compare.

Race 2

Bliss Street 1.  Class horses 1-3 vs recent form including at this track in the 4+5.  The 1 is the best of the field, hoping for a return to form.

Race 3

8- Karuta Queen.  Can’t have anything else after the run against black cavier.  Also front runners track.  Exacta into the 6 Beckon.

Trifecta runners 1,2 and 7

Race 4

Great run Manawanui against helmet last start, can’t afford to get back but will go ok against not many runners.  Exacta into 2- Collar.

Race 5

Black Cavier

Race 6

Difficult field, with a  lot of come from behind horses in a large field which lends itself the bad luck.  I don’t think Americain can win first up with large weight, big field and a tight track, but will be in the mix.  Tullamore the same, but I prefer from Americain, I also like the 5 Shewan.  The front runner with the light weight is the bottom weight Lalla Rookh- I like this each way at odds.  So the 4 from the 5 from the 1 and the 13, perhaps also the 11 Swooper and also 9 Pergola form at the track and distance for the exotics.

Race 7- Chances are as follows.

Danleigh- Third up could find wfa form from the Autumn. 8

Ginga Dude-  Front runner that suits the track, great the distance, in form could steal this, but expect it to run a good 3^rd. 7

Dao Dao-  Good horse but no wins since Autumn 2009.  Can’t have it on that.  5

Triple Elegance-  Oliver goes well on these days.  Would like to see it race forward from the (1).  Possibly outclassed here.  Hard to judge. Rating unknown.

Luen Yat Forever-  a return to ok form, but a long time since a win. 4

Testa my patience-  Will meet a better field here than last start.  5.

Blackie-  Ignore last start and a chance.  4.

Happy Trails- lightweight chance. 4

Hardest race.  I think the 1 beats the 6 with 2 finishing 3^rd after leading until 2 lengths before the winning post.

Race 8- The Cox Plate

Efficient-  What a record 7 wins, 0 places from 22 starts.  This horse is set to win races, and perhaps this is it.   Concern is the night track for a horse that winds up, so will need to go wide to win, or go early.  Just hate it on the track, but didn’t stop me backing it 8 weeks ago to win 3.5k.  Same trainer as zipping, so could be well prepped and well nurtured.

Wall Street-  Emirates this time last year was its last win. Average form since with 2^nd’s in weak races.  Can’t have it.

Glass Harmonium-  Form horse testing December Draw last start and forward runners benefit here.  Should win.

Jimmy Choux-  Great recent NZ form, always prefer to see the New Zealanders second start up since the trip.  In the mix, but think it will get nutted.

Sincero- Distance?? Barely been to 1600, is of concern.

Lion Tamer-  Drawn 16 makes it hard after getting caught wide last start and failing.  Happy to ignore last start but not from that wide.  Hard 200m to find a spot before a turn, won’t get in a spot for the first 600m and will find the barrier a killer.

Playing God-  Long prep, started early August, so been racing 12 weeks, peaked in the Turnball, needs a spell.

Rekindled Interest-  One of the big chances, like it’s M-Valley form.  I think it can race close to the speed, perhaps 4^th or 5^th.  Needs to get 1 off the fence, which is hard from 3.  Chances come down to the jockey putting it in the race.  Like it.

Shamrocker-  Could be the big upset.  Hard to believe that this horse can win the AJC Derby and 2^nd in the AJC Oaks, 3^rd in the Rosehill guineas and winner of the Australian Guineas in the Autumn and then not have success this spring, so is it due??  Fouth up and it wouldn’t surprise if it wins, at massive odds. If so I take 7.5k

Pinker Pinker-  First start at the distance in the hardest race in the calendar, enough for me to leave it out.

Secret Admirer- Great form, first start this direction, first go this distance, might enjoy the soft track, could be the wet track chance. Hard to leave out.

Kings Rose-  Another horse difficult to leave out.  In form, handles the track and the distance.  Hard to get back from barrier 2 without having to get right back and circle the field, can it go forward?  Luke Nolen, good jockey so have to include.  Like it.

Helmet-  not many 3yr olds win, and is not as good as ‘so you think’.  First up at the distance, will go forward from the 11 barrier, reckon will try and lead and skip away.  I’m happy to bet against it, history says it won’t win.

Avienus-  not the worst, trainer knew it was a good thing last start.  Neighbour owns it and told me it would win.  Massive run against Desarado at 51’s.  Will go forward, will run a place after a solid 4^th   Good place chance at Odds.

I rank them in this order

·        Glass Harmonium

·        Secret Admirer,

·        Efficient, Shamrocker, Kings Rose, Rekindled Interest

·        Avienus, Jimmy Choux, Wall Street

·        Others..... helmet

Race 9-

Raspberries