 Brett Davis | |
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| Brett Davis was introduced to Australian Racing by his father back in the early 1980’s when his family became involved in formulating “Thoroughbred Racing Syndications”. Brett worked from 1995 as a Professional Form Analysts and Race Broadcaster with an array of companies throughout most parts of the Australia Racing industry. He currently resides in Adelaide, his hometown in Australia, where he is Chief Thoroughbred Race Caller and Form Analyst for Tabcorp / SkyChannel / RadioTAB. Brett Davis also spent 2 years with the Singapore Turf Club and 13 Racing Seasons with the Hong Kong Jockey Club between 2006 to 2019 as a leading Form Analyst / Race Caller and was the HKJC Chief Race Caller from 2014, calling the last 5 Hong Kong International (Turf World Championships) race meetings and over 50 G1 races. Brett has immense passion for Australian Racing both personally and professionally. With his diverse knowledge and long standing industry relations he’s a valuable asset to racing and it’s enthusiasts. | |
Moonee Valley Racecourse – Track Analysis (Cox Plate Day)
Moonee Valley is one of the four major racecourses in Melbourne, yet the only metropolitan venue that accommodates night meetings under lights. Renowned as a small, tight track that goes around 1800m once round, Moonee Valley features in particular one of the most abbreviated stretch runs amongst all top-tier racetracks in the world – only 173m in length. Just like Hong Kong’s Happy Valley, drawing the right barrier is of vital importance. Besides, track specialists can come to the fore and as a rule, it is an advantage to settle close to the pace.
The G1 Cox Plate is run over 2040m distance at Moonee Valley. Breaking from the top of the straight, the field has a run of 300m before hitting the first turn, and reach the Dean Street side of the course. They then travel along that part of the track for just over 400m before turning onto the backside by the 1200m marker, where the field should have all been sorted out in positioning. Coming off the backside 800m out, the field will soon fly by the famous school at the 600m marker, where the pace precisely picks up. Many a rider will ask his mount, and those who cannot keep up will start to fade. Turning for home – be it the thrill of victory, or the agony of defeat – the stretch drive is just 170m from here on in to the finish.
In last year’s Cox Plate, ANAMOE laid close to the pace in the early goings, made his move at the 400m marker, then held off all challenges to score. I’M THUNDERSTRUCK, breaking from an outside post position, drop to the rear, and rallied late to check in second, while imported galloper EL BODEGON, storming home from way back down the field, was also much too late, and could only grab third.
The 2040m start will also be in play for the G2 Moonee Valley Vase, an exclusive key prep for aspiring three-year-olds en route to the following Saturday’s Victoria Derby at Flemington.
For the Listed William Crockett Stakes, the G1 Manikato Stakes and the G3 Red Anchor Stakes over 1200m, the barrier is positioned in the top-right corner of the track. Runners have about 400m to sort themselves out before hitting the first turn at the 800m mark. Except for a fast horse that possesses incandescent gate speed to whip across from an outside post position, and snatch the rail right from the go, inside to middle barriers are much preferred.
Meanwhile, three 1600m contests in the raceday, including the G3 Tesio Stakes, the G2 Crystal Mile and the G2 Fillies Classic, do feature a 400m stretch run on the Dean Street side of the course before reaching the first turn. Therefore, riders are forced to make their moves early, or risk being parked wide, whereas outside post positions are certainly no omens at all.
The remaining sprint on Cox Plate Day, a 1000m Inglis Banner, breaks from a chute near the 1200m mark, and the field has about 350m to jockey for a good spot before re-joining the course proper. Recent trend shows a clear advantage for inside post positions.
With mostly dry conditions leading up to the weekend, and Moonee Valley’s great drainage system, this year’s Cox Plate Day would likely enjoy good track conditions.
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