3 minute read

R&S experts Simon Dinopoulos and Adam Blencowe looked deeply into the distance to zero in on the horses to watch this spring.

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COX PLATE - Simon 

Gai Waterhouse has never been one to shy away from a fight and expect no different with talented three-year-old Converge. In it's 100-year history, three-year-olds have won the Cox Plate 21 times with Adelaide the most recent in 2014. Twice Group 1 placed, once behind Captivant, Converge placed in the Qld Sires' Produce before easily winning the Group 1 J.J. Atkins.

Zaaki and Verry Elleegant currently head the betting and while obvious favourites you shouldn't be scared off. They are beatable. The Golden Rose has become the fork in the road for our star three-year-olds. They either press on to the Caulfield Guineas or drop back in trip for either the Coolmore or the Everest.

Usually you would pencil in the Golden Rose quinella for the Everest however many at the pointy end of betting are more milers than sprinters. If Converge can feature in the Golden Rose or Caulfield Guineas, expect to see it in the Cox Plate. You just know that if he's good enough, Gai will want to give it a shot. 

MELBOURNE CUP - Adam 

The general talk around the 2021 Melbourne Cup has been about the international challenge, or lack thereof, but despite that the top of early betting has a typically cosmopolitan look about it. One that grabs the attention early is Gold Trip who is set to fly in for the spring where he will be trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

The primary target for Gold Trip is reportedly the Cox Plate, for which he must hold a good chance, but if he runs as expected there, then the Melbourne Cup will surely come onto the radar. In the Cup, Gold Trip has the profile of a leading chance – if not the leading chance. Gold Trip showed glimpses of high-class form last season, winning a Derby Trial before finishing close up in the Grand Prix De Paris and the Arc. He moved into both races strongly before being outclassed late in the day – a work in progress. 

Gold Trip is well established at a Timeform rating of 122 but with genuine reasons to think that he can produce better. That being the case he looks a big spring player in both the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup where he is available to be backed at more than 30/1.