Value plays abound on tough Cox plate undercard

Race 2: Miss Steele (No. 10) was unlucky in the stretch last week in listed company at Caulfield and faces weaker today at a healthy 8/1 morning line. Rocky King (No. 1) has won two in a row at 6/1 while Straight Gold (No. 5) or Let"s Rock'n'roll (No. 7) should take the minor placing.
Suggested play: Win: 10; Stand-out exacta and trifecta: 10 over 1x5x7 boxed

Race 3: There's an over-played odds-on favorite here in No. 1 Lumosty, who drops in class but was still disappointing at Grade 1 level last start. Instead take no. 4 Tender off a 10/1 morning line - she closed well last start and the extra furlong should suit. Add No. 8 Kansas Sunflower at 20/1, who ran a good fourth last week, and put the favorite into boxed exotics.
Suggested play: Win: 4, 8. Boxed exacta: 4x8x1, Boxed trifecta 4x8x1


Race 5: Bomb-dropper alert here with Anudjawan (No. 8) at about 30/1 overnight. This horse ran third to the outstanding Who Shot Thebarman over this distance last start and looks ready here at a big price. The exacta play looks like 3/1 overnight favorite Opinion (No. 7) off an excellent Grade One effort last start.
Suggested play: Win, place and show: 8; Box exacta: 8x7; Box trifecta: 8x7 boxed over 4x5x9 boxed

Race 9: Another price shot in Precious Gem (No. 10) looks strong at a 10/1 morning line coming off a fast-finishing 6th at Grade 3 level last start at Caulfield, its first from a let-up. For the exotics, let's add long-shot Refer (No. 12) at 15/1 and Tango's Daughter (No. 2) at 7/2 with favorite Suavito (No. 4) at 2/1.
Suggested play: 10 win, place and show. Stand-out exacta and trifecta: 10 over 12x2x4 boxed.

Remember: Our handicapper RePete suggests that if you have the bankroll for it, box all of his picks in the exotics in each race tonight. At these prices, he notes, it could well be worth the extra outlay