Last year's winning margin (two lengths) in the Dato Tan Chin Nam or Feehan Stakes, was the biggest in quite a long time.
It surely must be the mystic of Moonee Valley generating such drama - hard to find any other factor causing such remarkably close finishes. Let's take a look at this important Cox Plate lead up.
Lad Of The Manor scored an emotional win Photo by Racing and Sports While Lad of the Manor's lead in form to his first Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes was excellent, his second attempt had been disappointing. Favoured to win WFA races in the Autumn, he didn't have the get up and go from his previous year and a six length defeat in the Memsie was of little encouragement. But a Moonee Valley specialist is a Moonee Valley specialist. The consistent Apache Cat led with the perennial entrant Fields of Omagh outside and Red Dazzler third. Barrier One dictated that Lad of the Manor would be held up on the fence for much of the race but when they got to the school, Greg Childs was able to angle him into the clear, coming the second widest but at least he had momentum. Using the camber to the fullest, Childs kept at him, battling Apache Cat right to the line with the latest of late dives. Sadly Roger Hoysted would lose the biggest battle of them all a year later and maybe 'the Lad's' drop off in form in 2007 was because he'd lost his mate. At the very least Lad of the Manor can live a life of luxury in retirement as all great geldings should enjoy.
• 2007 – EL SEGUNDO 6g (Pins x Palos Verdes) ($2.50 fav)
Jockey: Luke Nolen, Trainer: Colin Little
Barrier: 4, Weight: 59.0kg
Gross Time: 1:36.27, 600m Sectional: 36.20
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good, Starters: 11
2nd: Haradasun (58.5kg), 3rd: Cinque Cento (56.5kg)
Timeform Rating: 123
El Segundo won in a stirring finish with Haradasun Photo by Bronwen Healy What were we saying about horses in love with a certain track. Despite El Segundo being trained at Caulfield and racing very well there with numerous Group One victories recorded, it's fair to say he did not run a poor race in his life on the StrathAyr surface. His lead ins were just even efforts in the Aurie Star and the Memsie but the mile was his craving. Activation was sent out with intentions to lead and that he did at pace. Cinque Cento was forced to cart the field up to the leader but could barely get any closer than 4 lengths at the school. The quality WFA horses El Segundo and Haradasun were nearly 10 lengths behind. But as the front runners got the staggers, the really good horses took control, sweeping to advantage. While Haradasun and Beadman tried hard, Luke Nolen got the best out of El Segundo who nosed his rival on the post. It was the same margin he'd lost the Cox Plate by 11 months earlier. Efficient rattled home late to give a little notice of a major assignment to come while the winner would reverse his defeat in the race 'where legends are made'.
• 2008 – GUILLOTINE 4h (Montjeu x Refused The Dance) ($31)
Jockey: Craig Williams, Trainer: David Hayes
Barrier: 5, Weight: 58.5kg
Gross Time: 1:35.98, 600m Sectional: 36.19
Margin: 0.4L, Track: Good, Starters: 14
2nd: Casual Pass (59.0kg), 3rd: Tears I Cry (59.0kg)
Timeform Rating: 120
Guillotine was a surprise winner Photo by Racing and Sports When you are the brother of a Melbourne Cup winner by a staying sire you are naturally expected to be able to get a journey. Guillotine showed in his initial few runs in Sydney that he was heading in that direction. His 2yos runs were excellent but as a 3yo he struggled in the Derby lead ups and the big race itself. The owner sent him to Lindsay Park and the fresh air and surrounding obviously did him good. After a first up win at Cheltenham he went straight to WFA against the best of company. In a fast run race with plenty of leaders, Williams settled him three pegs doing no work. As the on pacers began to struggle Maldivian hit the front but Guillotine got over heels on the bend. He ranged up and won like a good horse with backmarkers flying home. In fact looking back now, the Cox Plate quinella got beaten comprehensively really. Thereafter the grey was adequate in G1 fields without winning and got injured either during or just after the Caulfield Cup.
• 2009 – WHOBEGOTYOU 4g (Street Cry x Temple of Peace) ($2.38 fav)
Jockey: Damien Oliver, Trainer: Mark Kavanagh
Barrier: 6, Weight: 58.5kg
Gross Time: 1:37.39, 600m Sectional: 33.59
Margin: 1L, Track: Good, Starters: 10
2nd: Mic Mac (58.5kg), 3rd: Jolie's Shinju (57.0kg)
Timeform Rating: 127
Whobegotyou loves the Valley Photo by Racing and Sports Here was a horse expected to run well at this track. If previous experience alone was anything to count by, he was a moral here. Whobe had won 3 from 3 including a Vase and a Stutt and so naturally was being aimed at the Cox Plate. His Liston and Memsie runs were top drawer and so had to start fav even over the flying Mic Mac. With the Singapore mare Jolie's Shinju running along and Magical Pearl nearby, it set the race up. Mic Mac landed 1 x 1 while Oliver had his tail and covered all the moves. While the mare ran well, she couldn't hold out the good horses and Mic Mac turned for home in front but Whobegotyou went with him and only just nailed the other horse with 30m to go. He'd subsequently win the Yalumba but a glitch in the armour perhaps over 2000m was shown up in the Plate, failing to run on behind So You Think.
• 2010 – WHOBEGOTYOU 5g (Street Cry x Temple Of Peace) ($3)
Jockey: Michael Rodd, Trainer: Mark Kavanagh
Barrier: 3, Weight: 59.0kg
Gross Time: 1:39.67, 600m Sectional: 35.51
Margin: 2L, Track: Slow, Starters: 8
2nd: Typhoon Tracy (59.0kg), 3rd: Shoot Out (59.0kg)
Timeform Rating: 128
Whobe did it again in 2010 Photo by Racing and Sports This race again proved how it sets up perfectly for the Moonee Valley specialists and how that often translates to the Cox Plate. That might be just the timing or track configuration but it sure fits the profile. Off an unlucky Brisbane winter where he was excellent in the 10,000 and injured in the Stradbroke, he was back quickly running so well behind So You Think in the Memsie. But a fortnight later at his favourite track he loved the way this race set up. The defending champ was seemingly advantaged when advised of a change of tactics from Typhoon Tracy's connections. In the end it was the surprising Hissing Sid who led from Precedence in a walking race. With the speed gradually increasing, TT and Whobe made their moves at the School and several were stretched across the track. But Kav's star had them covered easily, roaring away by a couple of lengths. He would seem disappointing in the Yalumba but brave again back here in the Plate. However the mile is his real go.
RACE PROFILE
o A definitive race for the horses who've shown a clear love of Moonee Valley.
o It's not been a good race for leaders as the winners have generally come from off the pace.
o Reasonably well sized fields don't really indicate a barrier advantage but inside gates have shown up as some assistance.
o Favoured runners have been well found and victorious.
o Horses of all ages have won recently except the 3yos who haven't had a win since 1974.
o Six of the last nine winners have used the Memsie as their final lead up but none of them actually won the Memsie.
o Cox Plate winning jockeys have won 8 of the last 9 runnings.
o Last 10 Winners Most Prevalent Age of winner – 4yo (4 times)
o Last 10 Years Winningest Barrier Range <1-4> - 7 times
o Last 10 Winners Average Price of winner – $6.40
o Breakdown of winners – 7 geldings & 3 entires
o Last 10 Years CF Orr Stks / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – El Segundo ('07)
o Last 10 Years Liston Stks / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – Lad of the Manor ('05)
o Last 10 Years Carlyon Stks / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – El Segundo ('07)
o Last 10 Years Tulloch Stks / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – Natural Blitz ('03)
o Last 10 Years Aurie's Star Stks / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – Fields of Omagh ('02)
o Last 10 Years Australian Cup / Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks double – Northerly ('01)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
Usually the Dato Tan Chin Nam or Feehan Stks is a great trial for the Cox Plate and/or a top pointer for the Spring.
Can Olly produce another top ride on Kavanagh's star Photo by Racing and Sports
But in 2011 there appears only three or four real Spring players.
Not sure who leads but Magical Pearl, Spacecraft and Cabeza are potential candidates.
There are not many times a horse would win the same race three times in a row with the third time being the easiest. But for Whobegotyou, this Dato Tan is the most uncomplicated of the lot.
He loves the track, loves this race and probably just lopes along near the rear, pulls out and wins. Only the Cox Plate has been beyond him at this venue.
Thought Linton was fairly good late in the Memsie even if it was not the strongest edition. He had a nice trial win on Monday which suggests he's been readied for this with the Cox Plate the aim. Needing more than the mile the only query.
Of the 4yos, while Rekindled Interest will be fancied. Domesky has the win this course in the Alister Clark and he won second up last prep this trip.
