26/10/20 Saturday Racing Review at The Valley

Ride Of The Day 

GLEN BOSS

Boss was back to his best on Sir Dragonet in the Cox Plate.

He settled the stallion in a great mid-field spot and bided his time, before asking him to go.

He showed great confidence in the horse. As rival international raider Armory looked to be bolting ahead, Boss knew what he had underneath him and timed his run to perfection.

 

Melbourne Cup watch

1. SIR DRAGONET

He ran away from his rivals in the closing stages of the Cox Plate and he won with ears pricked.

After the line, he kept on surging which suggests he’s looking for more ground.

 

2. RUSSIAN CAMELOT

He worked early in the race to get a spot. Then he was left in front a long way out, but kept on fighting.

If he’s ridden patiently, he’ll be right in the mix in the Melbourne Cup.

 

3. MIAMI BOUND

She relished being back on to a wet track and she was impressive winning the Moonee Valley Cup.

She recorded the ninth fastest last 400m of 24.94 seconds and the tenth fastest last 200m of 12.44 seconds. She also ran seven metres further than runner-up Shared Ambition.

 

4. OCEANEX

Tough effort to hold on and finish third in the Moonee Valley Cup.

She worked forward and was left in front a long way out. Co-Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior should have her ready to peak in the Melbourne Cup

 

Horses to Follow

WRITTEN BEAUTY

She’ll likely appear in the Red Roses Stakes at Flemington on Oaks Day and she’ll be hard to beat.

She’s a powerful, classy filly, who has a bright future. She recorded the fastest last 400m 22.11 and the fastest last 200m of 10.97 seconds.

 

AFFAIR TO REMEMBER

She didn’t get around the turn on Friday night, but she flattened out in the closing stages.

She’ll relish getting back to Flemington in Cup week and she’s got to have a chance in a race such as the Matriarch Stakes.

Her last 200 metres of 11.29 seconds was the 8^th fastest on the night.

 

Forgive File

ARCADIA QUEEN

She’ll be hard to beat in the Mackinnon Stakes.

It was top effort in the Cox Plate to finish fifth, as she almost fell with 1000 metres to go and she also ran 12 metres further than the winner Sir Dragonet.

 

QUEEN ANNABEL

She was held up at a key time on Friday night when she finished fifth behind Sartorial Splendour. She needs things to go her way but she should win a race shortly.

 

Sectional Stars 

TEMPEST CHARM

Good effort from this first starter to produce a closing split of 12.13 seconds to finish fifth, which was the fifth fastest for the meeting.

 

ANCESTRY

The fastest horse on Saturday was unsurprisingly Ancestry, who recorded the best sectionals for the day in the opening race over 955 metres with first use of the track.

He ran his last 400 metres in 23.63 seconds and last 200 metres in 11.62 seconds.

 

What the Jockeys said

COX PLATE

Ben Melham on Armory: 

“He was good. He just struggled in the ground and I had to keep him wide on the fresh ground. Just got beaten by a better one on the day. He had his chance.”

 

Damien Oliver on Russian Camelot: 

“Great effort. He ran really good. Got into a nice position. Was probably a little close to a strong speed from the barrier but we did as well as we could. He was super brave even when the first two came to him. He fought it out really well.”

 

John Allen on Mugatoo: 

“He’s gone super. Tried to get a bit of cover early so he’d done it the tough way. Didn’t get around the home bend great but he battled on good.”

 

What the Trainers said

Danny O'Brien on Miami Bound heading to the Melbourne Cup: 

“I would think she’d definitely be an acceptor now. She won that impressively. When you’re that close it is pretty hard not to run. It’s more a difficult essay for those fillies that had won an Oaks and come and win a Melbourne Cup, I don’t think it’s been done for 30 or 40 years.”

“I think we’ll be there on the first Tuesday and we’ll give it a crack.”

 

Mick Price on Oceanex: 

“Today was stand up day. I thought she did stand up after having to do a bit of work early and hitting the front too soon. For her to run third, beaten a short margin, was excellent.”

“It’s a measure of timing. The soft track was helpful and the Melbourne Cup will be great for that mare.”

“A soft track would be good for her and you can see the timing of it is working. Like I said, today was a test and I thought she passed it no problem.”

(Quotes supplied by Racing Victoria)