3 minute read

Local trainer Brian Cox has a strong team engaged on his home track of Wodonga today including two leading chances in the BMG Partners Wodonga Handicap (race 8).

Cox will saddle up both This Cat's Magic and Prussian Knockout and both mares look hard to beat in this fillies and mares RB68 handicap over a mile.

Prussian Knockout, a four-year-old daughter of King Of Prussia, had a big weight and wide gate over 1100m and found the trip too short.

Second-up she was a sharp improver over 1200m at Wagga, settling midfield before powering home for a three-quarter length third behind High Expectation in a hot form race.

Next start was to 1400m at Albury but after bombing the start she was forced to cover ground and failed to finish off, coming in last and was subsequently vetted.

Last start she was back to her best, tackling an RB62 over 1457m at Kilmore.

There she settled just off the speed form a good gate and powered home to score a 1.8 length win.

The mare meets a slightly stronger field here but drops in weight and returns to her home track where she has run well both times, including a win.

While she is yet to win on top of the ground, her only two good track runs where her “forget” effort at Albury two back and her slashing run at Wagga the start before.

From a good gate she is drawn for a similar run to last time and she should be hard to hold out again.

Stablemate This Cat's Magic has been racing well and looks nicely placed with the claim.

The mare ran on strongly four start back to place over a mile at Albury, then stepped up to 2000m in slow ground at Wangaratta but didn't finish it off.

Cox freshened her form that effort and dropped her back to mile at Wagga.

There she raced close to the speed and ran on strongly to score a 1.5 length win.

She then raced over the same trip at Albury and settled off the speed again but found the line well with a length fourth behind Cosmic Fury.

Today she returns to her home track in similar grade but she drops 1.5kg after the claim.

She has drawn the inside gate and should have a good run from there.

Rock Princess finished runner-up behind Prussian Knockout last time and meets her 2kg better this time.

The Chris Hyland-trained mare was a 1500m Cranbourne maiden winner four back on top of the ground then drew wide in town over 1700m in slow ground at Betfair Park Hillside and finished seventh.

She then stepped up to 2000m at Mornington and ran well below her best, finishing seventh in a disappointing effort.

Perhaps Hyland felt she didn't run the trip as he then gave her three week break between runs before dropping right back to 1457m at Kilmore.

There she settled midfield but got home well to finish runner-up.

She has drawn wide today but drops 2.5kg in the weights, can run the trip and should be hitting the line hard.

Jewel Of Johar is going better than her last couple suggest and will appreciate the 5kg weight drop to today's race.

The firmer footing also suits and she is expected to bounce back.

Perlight has been thereabouts in tougher grade recently over 1300m and will appreciate the extra trip here.

She has drawn for a good run close to the speed and should give a sight.