Racing: Big punters in action already for Cox Plate

By MIKE DILLON

Looking at the current wet tracks, Sunline and the $A2.25 million Cox Plate seem a long way off, but the big punters have not forgotten.

The New Zealand champ has monopolised Cox Plate betting with Australian bookmakers, to the point where they have already tightened her in on original quotes of two weeks ago.

"Sixty five per cent of the bets we've laid on the Cox Plate have been on Sunline," said Double Bet manager Brian Taylor.

"Another 30 per cent has been for Northerly. They're the only two horses the punters want to back."

Double Bet has Sunline at 5-2 ($3.50) ahead of Northerly at 6-1.

Kaapstad Way has shortened to 12-1 clear favourite for the $A2.25 Caulfield Cup now that Queensland Derby winner De Gaulle Lane is being spelled until next year.

Kaapstad Way is 14-1 equal second favourite for the $A4 million Melbourne Cup with Big Pat and Native Jazz behind the 12-1 chance Universal Prince, winner of the AJC Derby.

Taylor said there has been a flood of money for Cambridge filly Ethereal in the Caulfield Cup.

"We already had her at what we thought was a pretty tight quote, but the money has been very strong and she's now into the third line of favouritism at 20-1.

"If the punters are right, the Kiwis are going to have a lot of fun in Melbourne's major spring races."

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If Trentham on Saturday showed anything, it was how difficult it is to declare good things on winter tracks.

Northerners Millennium and Revolution were certainties on paper and on half decent ground they would have been.

The fact both finished second brings back the old line that mud negates class.

Revolution clearly needs better footing. He was under pressure to hold his position well before the home turn, looking likely to run closer to last than first on the bend then, when he got balanced on slightly better footing in the straight he got going again.

The last 75m was probably the strongest part of his race.

Millennium was a carbon copy. He was headed, came back to lead clearly, then had no answer to the finish of Cox's Bazaar, who continued the great run for trainer Paul Duncan.

And while Revolution is one to stay with, don't underrate the winner Danzapride, who got home for birthday jock David Johnson.

His part-owner and trainer Jim Mouat hadn't produced a winner for nearly a decade and Danzapride has now won three on the trot for him.

Mouat loves Trentham, and has to have good recall to remember why.

"I was here in 1944 and backed the winner of the Duoro Cup. It paid £32 and I had £2 to win on it."

To put that in perspective, £64 during the War would just about have bought you a new car.

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The $A177,000 Ipswich Cup on Saturday had a Kiwi feel to it.

The winner Henderson Bay is an ex-Kiwi galloper trained by ex-Kiwi Neville McBurney.

Third place after leading went to Cambridge stayer Clinton, ridden by former New Zealand jockey Bruce Compton.