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

Trust in a Gust a lock to key 5-for-5 show plays

We've already discussed the need for a little help in the Twinspires Australian 5-for-5 contests on Friday nights. Look to oustanding Melbourne prospect Trust in a Gust (No. 5) in Race 6, the Group 2 Schweppes Crystal Mile, to lock the play.

There's no value in 6-5 morning line about this horse but he is almost certain to hit the board after convincing wins at higher Grade in his last two starts. Plus he loves this track (3:2-1) and has an oustanding strike rate (17:10-4-1) so forget the tiny show payout and make him your lock 5-for-5 lock.

As well as Fawkner (No. 2) in the Cox Plate (R8), and Go Indy Go (no. 13) in the Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase (R7) to make it three, let's try to separate from the pack with a few price shots to make the five early on. In Race 2, No. 10 Miss Steele (8/1) should at least hit the board off an unlucky 8th place at Caulfield last week. Follow with another 8/1 pop in race 4, Greco (no. 6), who broke his maiden in Sydney stylishly and hails from an astute shipping stable. If you still need a fifth to wrap things up, try 10/1 shot No. 10 Precious Gem in race 9 off a fast-finishing fourth at Caulfield last week. Your 5-for-5 is set - good luck winning the $1,000.

Suggested 5-for-5 show play: R2 No.10 - R4 No.6 - R6 No.5 - R8 No.2 - R9 No.10

Go Indy Go is the best value bet on Cox Plate day

Adelaide filly Go Indy Go (No. 13) is the day's standout bet on the Cox Plate undercard race 7, the Dilmah Exceptional Teas Vase, over 1.25 miles at Moonee Valley tonight (1:50 a.m. U.S. EDT).

Go Indy Go was very unlucky last start at Grade One level at Caulfield when cut off several times in the home stretch and finishing only 3 lengths from the winner. She drops to Grade Two tonight and is well over the odds at the morning line quote of 5/1: she's a win play at anything near that price.

She will also be our stand-out exacta and trifecta play and our key to the Twinspires Australian 5-for-5 show contest picks. For the minor money, let's try to add a little value with two lightly-raced improvers: Sydney invader Gouldian (No. 8) at 15/1 overnight and 
Moonovermanhattan (No. 4) at 5/1. Toss in overnight favorite Chivalry (No. 2) at 5/2 to your trifectas.

Suggested play: Win: 13; Stand-out exacta: 13 over 8x4 boxed; Stand-out trifecta: 13 over 8x4x2 boxed.

Fawkner the key play for Cox Plate exotics value

Last year, classy galloper Fawkner was set for the Caulfield Cup by owner Lloyd Williams and Trainer Robert Hickmott. He duly won it. This year he looks to have been set for the Cox Plate, Australia's premier weight-for-age Grade 1 stakes race at Moonee Valley tonight (2:40 a.m. EDT Sat.). And we expect him to follow last year's pattern and take the prize.

This versatile galloper is more of a sprinter-miler than a true stayer but that's actually an advantage over the tight Moonee Valley mile-and-a-quarter circuit, where mid-race speed is the key to getting position before the short home stretch. The stable has never won this race and wants the monkey off its back. Fawkner (No. 2) is currently your race 8 favorite at 5/2 and that price should hold up.

But at that quote we suggest looking to juice the return a little, so let's stand Fawkner out in the exactas and trifectas with a few value plays. First on that list should be Sweynesse (No. 13) at a 20/1 morning line that could get better. He's the best of the three-year-olds, an age group that has a great record in this race. Add in Arlington Million minor placegetter Side Glance (No. 3) at 30-1 and Happy Trails (No. 4) at 7-1 for extra value.

Suggested play: Stand-out exacta and trifecta: 2 over 13x3x4 (boxed).