Gallic Chieftain Wednesday’s Geelong Cup Favourite 

Spring Carnival Racing in Victoria isn’t confined to Melbourne. One of the major country cups comes up on Wednesday at Geelong Racecourse. The $300,000 Group 3 Geelong Cup, an open handicap over 2400m, is often a useful race at which to pick contenders for the Melbourne Cup that follows closely in November.

The favourite for this year’s race, at $3.20, is 5-year-old French stallion Gallic Chieftain. He ran third of 10 in the Gr. 2 Herbert Power Stakes, also over 2400m, at Caulfield on 14 October. The other possibilities in the field of 12 being offered at below $10.00 on online sports betting sites are Kellstorm and Wheal Leisure, both at $6.50, Berisha at $8.00 and Grey Lion at $9.00.

Moonee Valley Night Racing: Manikato Stakes

On the eve of Cox Plate Day, Moonee Valley hosts another night race that punters won’t want to miss: Friday’s million-dollar Gr. 1 Manikato Stakes. Favourite to win the 1200m weight-for-age sprint is currently 5-year-old David Hayes-trained gelding Vega Magic, at $2.60, fresh from his second place at The Everest.

In Her Time and Chautauqua, respectively at $6.00 and $7.00 in the betting, could also be contenders.

Exciting Card for Cox Plate Day

The $3-million Gr. 1 weight-for-age WS Cox Plate over 2040m will be Moonee Valley’s Saturday highlight. Last year’s winner, 6-year-old champion mare Winx, is back as the favourite, at $1.16, with the nearest contenders in the antepost betting, namely Folkswood, Gailo Chop and Happy Clapper, all at $17.00.

There’s a full and exciting card supporting the Cox Plate too, the biggest of which is the $300,000 Gr. 2 Moonee Valley Cup over 2500m, for 4-year-olds and older. There’s also the 1600m weight-for-age Gr. 2 Crystal Mile, the 2040m Gr. 2 AAMI Vase for 3-year-olds at set weights, and the Moonee Valley Oaks, a 1600m Gr. 2 race for 3-year-old fillies at set weights.

Then there’s the 1600m Gr. 2 Inglis Cup, for 4-year-old and older mares, and a testing sprint for the youngsters: the Gr. 3 Red Anchor Stakes over 1200m at set weights and penalties for 3-year-olds.