| What | 2021 Moonee Valley Gold Cup |
| Where | Moonee Valley Racecourse – 1 McPherson St, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039 |
| When | Saturday, October 23, 2021 | 4:25pm AEDT | Race 8 |
| Prizemoney | $1,000,000 |
| Distance | 2500m |
| Status | Group 2 |
| Conditions | Set Weights & Penalties | Four-Year-Olds & Upwards |
| 2020 Winner | Miami Bound (5) | Jockey: Jamie Kah (54kg) | Trainer: Danny O’Brien |
| Watch Live | |
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Streaming Live at Sportsbet |
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The Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup is one of the marquee events on Cox Plate Day as part of the bumper 10-part card at The Valley on Saturday afternoon. With the prize pool recently increased to $1 million, a field of 13 is set to contest the 2500m race for the older horses under set weights and penalties. Floating Artist, who finished third in the Coongy Cup, is a $3.50 favourite, with the Robert Hickmott-trained Pondus a $3.90 second-elect.
Despite being left flat-footed in the Group 3 Coongy Cup, we anticipate the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Floating Artist can bounce back into the winner’s stall. Having been cuddled into the home straight by Teo Nugent on that day, the likes of Duais and Wentwood were able to build through their gears and finish over the top. He was sent around as a $1.60 favourite there and was expected to be a big chance to place in the Caulfield Cup had he won the ballot-exempt race. From barrier 10, look for Nugent to hunt for the rails, where he can go forward and dictate terms. Unlike in the Coongy Cup, he will look to get moving earlier and should prove too hard to run down.
The one at a double-figure price we’d want to be with in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup is the Grahame Begg-trained Lunar Flare. Having won the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic at Mornington on September 26 in impressive fashion, she looks perfectly suited to the step up to 2500m his deep into her campaign. Having settled in the second half of the field at Mornington, the six-year-old Fiorente mare produce a nice turn of foot in the home straight to go on and claim victory in soft fashion despite the 0.75-length margin. With a genuine tempo expected, look for Lunar Flare to be hitting the line with intent. She is already a winner The Valley and could provide a bit of a shock in the Group 2.
With proven staying quality in the race like Pondus, Harpo Marx and defending champ Miami Bound in the field, we should get a better price about Floating Artist as we get closer to the jump. But do not let the likely betting drift fool you; the favourite is the one to be with here.
Best bets for 2021 Moonee Valley Gold Cup
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $100 win | Floating Artist |