Leung Ho Yin, Simon's Bio
Simon is a well respected full-time thoroughbred racing commentator specializing in overseas international racing. Bringing with him a wealth of racing knowledge, Simon is the host and race caller for the overseas simulcast programme since 2008/09 season. He is currently the presenter on several racing television programmes including, ‘Banker’, ‘Racing Horizon’ and ‘Horse Racing – Results’.

Moonee Valley Racecourse – Track Analysis (Cox Plate Day):

World-renowned of its tight corners and short straits, starters at Moonee Valley have to brace almost constantly on their left leads throughout contention, while facing the shortest homestretch in Australia – only 180m long – together with the various undulations, runners have to get moving by the 600m marker, right before hitting the final bend, or risk getting stopped cold in heavy traffic by the fading front-runners. As such and for often, riders would rather attempt the overland route than save ground and pray for racing room on the rail. In recent years, a typical Cox Plate winner did come from virtually anywhere in the pack, yet equally so, each has been no stranger to this tricky course.

For the featured Cox Plate and the Moonee Valley Vase, both at 2040m, and the 2500m Moonee Valley Gold Cup, a sedate early pace gives the contenders ample time to position properly, thus stall assignments are not strictly critical; however, from the 1200m Red Anchor Stakes, and the 1600m barrier, where fields for the Fillies Classic and the Crystal Mile will all break from, the first left-handed is merely some 350m ahead; coupled with a stronger pace up front, an outside stall does hurt on the winning chances.

In the 2017 running of the Cox Plate contested on good to firm turf, champion filly WINX, stalking at mid-pack early, cruised to the front from out wide just before hitting the final bend; taking command at the top of the stretch, she held off a strong challenge from the gaining HUMIDOR to seal a three-peat in this prestigious G1 event, while Godolphin's FOLKSWOOD, racing more prominently in the early stages, could not deliver that same level of late pluck as WINX and HUMIDOR, but still managed to hold on for third.

With continued precipitation in the Melbourne area that would extend to Saturday, this year's running of the Cox Plate may be staged on soft ground, and track condition does play a major part on the final race selections.

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