A look at some of the support races on the 11-race Moonee Valley program
Cox Plate Day briefs
By Brad Bishop
Photo of Zoe's Princess winning the Moonee Valley Fillies Classic
A look at some of the support races on the 11-race Moonee Valley program
KID COLLECTS BIG DEBUT PAYDAY
Even if Arkansaw Kid does not win another race, his owners will be well in front thanks to a lucrative bonus attached to the $500,000 Inglis Banner (1000m), which the son of Harry Angel won impressively.
In addition to the $300,000 winner's cheque, the Ben and JD Hayes-trained colt – who cost $190,000 at this year's Inglis Classic Sale – collected a $200,000 bonus as part of the Inglis Pink Bonus Series.
The bonus was payable to the first horse home that boasts at least 75 percent female ownership and Arkansaw Kid – who carries the colours of Rupert Legh, whose wife Cheryl is part of the ownership group – was the only eligible runner in the six-horse field.
"It's such a great initiative by Inglis, to pick up $200,000 just for jumping out the gates," JD Hayes said.
"It's huge for the owners. They've already paid for the horse in one run and he's already well paid them now."
Arkansaw Kid, who was ridden by Damien Oliver, let down impressively over the final 200m despite travelling three-wide throughout to run down Sydney visitor Mexico and score a half-length win as $2.60 favourite.
SEJARDAN SETS UP CRACK AT THE COOLMORE
Sejardan needs only to pull up well from his stunning Red Anchor Stakes (1200m) win to back-up in next Saturday's $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
The son of Sebring launched a powerful finish to run down Sweet Ride, who looked to have a race-winning lead after dashing clear rounding the turn, in the final couple of bounds of the $200,000 Group 3 event.
It was just the audition trainer Gary Portelli wanted to see from the colt, who was ridden by Jamie Kah.
"Galloping him on Tuesday morning this way (anti-clockwise) he went enormous and coming to the corner, when she was coming off the fence, I thought it would be a big job to catch the leader because Annabel (Neasham, Sweet Ride's trainer) has them fit, but he just put in," Portelli said.
"He's a very good colt and, don't worry, he'll be there in the Coolmore next Saturday if he pulls up alright."
Despite the impressive win, Sejardan remains a $26 chance in TAB's Coolmore Stud Stakes market, which is headed by Golden Rose quinella Jacquinot and In Secret at $3.50.
CANNON, KELLY CELEBRATE WITH ZOE
Darryl Cannon and Alana Kelly combined for their biggest wins in racing when Zoe's Promise won the $300,000 Moonee Valley Fillies' Classic.
Not only was the 1600-metre event a big payday, carrying a $180,000 winner's cheque, it was the first Group success for each.
Kelly had previously won at Listed level, aboard Point Nepean in this year's Andrew Ramsden Stakes, while it was the first Stakes success for Colac-based Canon.
The victory made it two wins from 10 starts for Zoe's Promise, and back-to-back wins following success at Caulfield on Thousand Guineas Day, and Cannon said it was a great reward in what has been a difficult time training in country Victoria.
"We only work around eight or 10 horses and we do it on our own," Cannon said.
"Up where we are it is very difficult to find trackwork riders, which is a common occurrence across the country, but we just do it as we do with 10 at the most and it is working."
OBERON'S STUNNING AUSSIE DEBUT
John Allen pondered whether My Oberon was in the wrong race on Cox Plate Day after the imported galloper scored a dominant win in the $500,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m).
The six-year-old son of Dubawi had been touted as a possible Cox Plate runner until a couple of weeks ago and, after partnering the gelding to a 1-1/2-length win over Bankers Choice, Allen suspected he would have been competitive in the day's feature.
"It was a good win, maybe he should have been in the Cox Plate with the way he won today," Allen said.
Trainer Annabel Neasham had concerns around My Oberon's fitness, which was a key factor in her targeting the Crystal Mile, but was thrilled with the way the race panned out for the former William Haggas-trained galloper.
"I just thought he might be a bit underdone, he hasn't run since July, but it's just great to see," Neasham said.
"William Haggas sent me a message the other day saying 'good luck, don't hit the front too soon', which was good advice.
"He hit the front and held on well. He'll come on a lot from that and hopefully find a nice race in two weeks."
While My Oberon was held back from Group 1 company at his Australian debut, he will be tested at the highest level with Neasham to weigh up whether to head to the Champions Mile (1600m) or Champions Stakes (2000m), both $3 million events at Flemington on November 5.
