With Weekend Hussler (Hussonet) unlikely to be among the acceptors for Saturday’s Cox Plate
(Aus-G1), the focus
is firmly on SAMANTHA MISS (Redoute’s Choice) who is aiming to become the
first filly
to win the great race since Surround in 1976. Jockey Glen Boss, working
hard to ride the
sophomore at her featherweight 105-pound impost, was delighted with her workout
at
Moonee Valley Saturday morning. Samantha Miss dashed off her final 400 meters in
:23.81.
“She is a high-quality filly with the big weight advantage and her work is
outstanding, so she
is a great ride,” Boss said. “She only needs a good barrier, and I reckon after
working at
Moonee Valley on Tuesday and Saturday morning she will have no problems with the
tight
track. She is an intelligent filly and seems to handle anything thrown at her.”
Purchased for
A$1.5-million at Inglis Easter by owner Ron Croghan, the three-year-old won the
Champagne S. (Aus-G1) at two and returned to dominate the four-race Princess Series this
term,
culminating with a victory in the Flight S. (Aus-G1) on October 4 at Randwick. She is the
second choice in
the early wagering, behind 7-2 chalk PRINCESS COUP (Encosta de Lago).
A four-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand, Princess Coup scored a second
consecutive win in the
Kelt Capital S. (NZ-G1), denying Red Ruler (Viking Ruler) and Nom du Jeu (Montjeu
[Ire]) in the 2040-meter
feature on October
4. AJC Australian Derby (Aus-G1) winner Nom du Jeu’s runner-up effort in the Caulfield Cup
(Aus-G1)
adds merit to Princess Coup’s Cox Plate aspirations.
“The Cox Plate has always
been her grand
final this campaign,” trainer Mark Walker said. “I think she can improve
again on what
she did in the Kelt.”
Moonee Valley Race Club received approval from Racing
Victoria stewards
to follow the lead of another of the world’s great races — the Kentucky Derby
(G1) at Churchill Downs — by
compelling
connections to choose their own barriers for the A$3 million Cox Plate.
“We believe it will certainly promote more
discussion and
add a little more excitement,” MVRC’s Public Affairs Manager Jo McKinnon said.