Jockey Glen Boss has put forth the idea that both the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate could be run in the evening.
Elsewhere on Saturday, the current favourite Soulcombe disappointed over 1600m on Saturday while last year’s champ Gold Trip is nearing a return to the track.
Major Carnival Changes Could Be on the Way
Champion rider Glen Boss has spoken out this week about the possibility of major changes two Australia’s two biggest races.
Boss is well placed to speak on such issues too. He rode the great Makybe Diva to three Melbourne Cup wins in a row. He also landed the Cox Plate four times and now he’s advocating changes to both.
The two hugely important international races could be run at night according to Boss. The jockey made his comments at the All Star Mile launch, championing staging the iconic contests under the lights.
Plans are in the works already for the Cox Plate to be the grand final of the carnival. Racing Victoria are discussing holding the event after the Melbourne Cup, essentially replacing the Ballarat Cup.
If the move comes off, the Cox Plate will join the Melbourne Cup in being worth $8 million. Millions around the world already tune in to watch the Melbourne Cup live, with a change like this potentially better for international TV audiences.
Boss’s comments come as the favourite for this year’s Cup, Soulcombe, disappointed in Sydney over the weekend.
Soulcombe Only Sixth in Sydney
Though the drop in trip was always a worry, 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite Soulcombe’s sixth of 8 in the Drinkwise Mile on Saturday was a bitter let down.
Chris Waller’s horse just didn’t pick up on the Randwick straight after coming out of the gates slowly.
Sent off at just $3.60, a bigger run was expected. But the horse who shot to Cup favouritism after winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes lacked spark. The race was won instead by well backed $1.95 market leader Banju.
That run has meant a slight drift in his Melbourne Cup price. He is now a $15 joint-favourite in places, though remains as low as $13 with some firms.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s White Marlion is now challenging for favouritism, while the 2022’s winner’s plans are being finalised.
Barrier Trial for Gold Trip as Return Nears
2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip’s preparations are moving faster this week. He has run in a barrier trial first as his team look to plot his route to Flemington.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace went back to the scene of his recent jump-out, Cranbourne, as the horse went over 1550 metres in his trial.
He simply followed the others around first time up, but is now gearing up nicely. The Tancred Stakes on the 23rd of March was an initial target, but things have now changed. We may see the cup hero in the Ranvet instead.
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