Racing: Jimmy Choux handles track with ease

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Hastings 4-year-old star Jimmy Choux pleased trainer John Bary during his first gallop around Moonee Valley yesterday.

The NZ Derby winner, who has looked terrific in three lead-up runs in New Zealand, was only asked to work in even time.

"He looked very comfortable. He's a very balanced horse and I think this track is made for him," Bary told the Herald Sun.

He said Jimmy Choux would have a much more serious gallop at next Tuesday's Breakfast with the Best at Moonee Valley.

"I think he's going to work with Rekindled Interest that morning and I'll be keen for him to get a really good hitout," he said.

Caulfield Guineas winner Helmet was a surprise absentee from a planned track gallop, but that did not stop Sydney trainer Gai Waterhouse declaring the colt the horse to beat in the Cox Plate.

Waterhouse made the trip to Moonee Valley to gallop her lone Cox Plate contender, Descarado, winner of last Saturday's Caulfield Stakes, with stablemate Fast Clip.

"My pair were just here for a look around. Descarado has come through his win really well," she said.

"Helmet is the one we all have to beat with his light weight. A run like the Guineas won't flatten him because Peter [Snowden, trainer] would have him very fit.

"Red Anchor is the last horse to win the Guineas and Cox Plate double and Helmet looks like he's as good as him."

Owner Lloyd Williams fears an untimely health setback could end the Emirates Melbourne Cup bid for his exciting import, At First Sight.

"You don't want to miss a day's work at this time of year and he's missed a week now," he said yesterday.

"He had his first workout back this morning, but he'd have to run here in the Moonee Valley Cup next week to go on to the Melbourne Cup and I'm not sure he'll be right for next week."

Williams confirmed Green Moon would be his only Caulfield Cup runner, with Nick Hall aboard.

He plans to have three starters in the Cox Plate: Efficient, Midas Touch and Linton.

Efficient led Midas Touch and just finished ahead of him in a Moonee Valley gallop yesterday, finishing off the last 400m in 26.60sec.

Linton led Green Moon in their gallop and the pair finished together in 25.46sec.

Highly rated New South Wales galloper Sincero had his first of three gallops at Moonee Valley ahead of the Cox Plate.

Jockey Chris O'Brien said: "He had a bit of a look around and he'll come back Thursday to work a bit more seriously."

Trainer Steve Farley said Sincero would have his most serious gallop ahead of the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next Tuesday.

"He'll gallop with the blinkers on next Tuesday and then we will decide if we use them in the Cox Plate.

"We put them on for the Stradbroke Handicap and it worked.

"Hopefully, it will work again in the Cox Plate."