Speed is key here. They are going to go hard. (7) Land Legend comes across from barrier twelve and leads, while (2) Light Infantry Man and (12) Blind Raise also press forward from gates eleven and nine respectively. Land Legend and Light Infantry Man both love solid tempos, so expect a brutally run race.
Reckon ten of the twelve can win. Doubt (4) Attrition can, nor (8) Middle Earth, but not much would surprise with the Maher stable at the moment!
At odds, give chances to both Land Legend and Light Infantry Man on speed.
Land Legend has led three times in Australia for two track records and a total barbecuing courtesy of Joao Moreira in the 2025 Melbourne Cup! Leading and rolling at a high tempo could simply be the key to him, much like Pride Of Jenni, who adopted the role of aggressor later in life. Look, the Might And Power win might prove to be the aberration, but at 40/1 I’m happy to find out, because if he repeats that effort he will prove mighty hard to catch.
Light Infantry Man has won two Australian Cups at this track and trip, and I thought he was brave on speed in the Turnbull. He gets his ideal scenario chasing a bunny on Saturday, and that should see him get his chance. Again, he’s a big price at $29.
The three-year-olds are right in play. The Caulfield Guineas was run at a brutal tempo, as was the Golden Rose, providing the perfect platform for (11) Warwoven and (12) Blind Raise to get to 2000m. Three-year-olds have a good record in this race. You only have to go back to the 2021 Cox Plate, when Anamoe was arguably a good thing beaten. Shamus Award, So You Think and Savabeel have all won the race as three-year-olds this century. Miss Finland was luckless; Castelvecchio ran into a freak in Lys Gracieux; Yankee Rose finished third in 2016.
Blind Raise was mighty in the Guineas. He settled on a hot tempo and was brave late. The query is that he may have to go even faster here with so much pace in this year's edition, which could bring him undone.
Meanwhile, Warwoven is going to smoke the pipe in behind the speed from gate two and, provided Rachel King gets clean air late, he should be mighty hard to hold out.
Personally, I reckon (10) Aeliana is at her best at 2400m, and she would love some give in the ground (which she might get come this stage of the day). She was pretty dour in the Turnbull and, while she will no doubt strip fitter, I'm not sure she can beat a few of these if the track is fast and firm. I'd have her higher in calculations on a wet track, so all eyes on the sky.
There's no doubt (3) Sir Delius has the peak rating to win this. You only have to go back to his Queen Elizabeth win in the autumn to see that. He's third-up here; his two third-up runs in Australia have resulted in Turnbull and Queen Elizabeth wins, so this is the time in his campaign to strike. The little knock I have is that I'm not sure he's going as well this campaign. He will get every possible chance from gate five.
There's no doubt (1) Ceolwulf will relish the strong tempo, and he's had an excellent campaign. The query for mine might prove to be the end of a strongly run 2000m. He's an outstanding miler, but can he mix it with the best in a high-pressure 2040m Cox Plate?
And the race doesn't end there! (5) Cosmic Crusader and (6) Birdman both have claims.
Selections:
(2) Light Infantry Man
(7) Land Legend
(11) Warwoven
(12) Blind Raise
Suggested bet: Spending $50: $15 WIN Light Infantry Man, $10 WIN Land Legend and $25 WIN Warwoven
