KEY POINTS:
Leading rider Nash Rawiller raised eyebrows yesterday when he selected the outside barrier for his mount Theseo in Saturday's A$3 million ($3.37 million) Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
In an innovation by the Moonee Valley Racing Club, connections of each of the 12 runners were able to select
the barrier they wanted as each horse's name was drawn out by chief steward Terry Bailey.
And when Rawiller got his turn he chose gate 12 rather than going for one of the inside barriers still on offer.
Later he revealed he had no hesitation in picking the outside, explaining that Theseo had won the group one Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick at his last start from barrier 18 of 18.
"He worked his way across and actually got caught three-deep and had a very tough run, but he just seems to like getting into his rhythm," he said.
"Even when I won the Magic Millions Cup on him in Queensland that was from the outside gate where he was able to get across and dictate his own terms, so I'm not going to change too much on Saturday.
"I'm going to be very aggressive out of the barriers.
"If I'm three wide around the first turn it is not going to really worry me because I'm going to work my way to the front or outside the leader."
The Gai Waterhouse-trained Theseo will be Rawiller's sixth ride in a Cox Plate, with his best result second on Wonderful World behind El Segundo last year.
Rawiller noted that in three of his Cox Plate rides "they've just pulled up and cantered".
"What I'm saying is, if that happens again, I'll be able to go forward instead of being cluttered up like I was on Elvstroem [eighth in 2004]," he said.
"I don't care if I'm five [lengths] in front _ then they've got to run me down."
Rawiller's proposed tactics were good news for backmarkers such as outstanding Kiwi mare Princess Coup, Australian Cup winner Sirmione, Zipping, former Kiwi C'est La Guerre and Master O'Reilly, as it will mean a genuinely-run race.
The Mark Kavanagh-trained Maldivian, drawn in barrier six, is the likely leader unless Theseo presses on and heads him.
Rawiller, who says his confidence level is high, rates Princess Coup as the hardest to beat.
TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glenn Munsie said the best-supported runner since the barrier draw had been Samantha Miss, who drew barrier two.
Princess Coup, who drew gate nine, drifted slightly from $3.50 to $3.60 equal favouritism, while Samantha Miss came in from $4 to $3.60.
But in New Zealand, Princess Coup was a firm $2.80 favourite last night.
Many Cox Plate candidates took the opportunity to work on the Moonee Valley track at yesterday's Breakfast with the Stars promotion.
Master trainer Bart Cummings, chasing his fourth Cox Plate, was delighted when Sirmione's galloped strongly over 1600m on the course proper.
The Encosta de Lago 5-year-old, with heavyweight track rider Joe Agresta in the saddle, ran the last 400m of his gallop in 25.14.
"That was the best he's worked here. He's improving at exactly the right time," Cummings said.
Cummings' son Anthony made the last-minute decision to run Raheeb in the Cox Plate after he worked over 1600m, dashing home the last 400m 24.55. He had also been nominated for Saturday's Jayco Crystal Mile.
Theseo, the last-start Epsom Handicap winner, worked well solo over 1400m, running his last 400m in 24.84.
Epsom placegetter and Sydney visitor Gallant Tess worked with stablemate Emperor Boneparte.
Ridden by her race rider Corey Brown, the mare worked over 1600m and covered her last 400m in 25.14.
The Mick Price-trained former Kiwi Alamosa, last-start winner of the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield, had a very leisurely workout, trotting and cantering a lap before completing a further circuit at a steady pace.
Price said he has thrived since the Caulfield victory.
- AAP / NZPA
