Fawkner (Aus) (Reset {Aus}), who has had the G1 Cox Plate in the crosshairs ever since running sixth in last year's G1 Melbourne Cup, remains the ante-post favorite at $4.20 (32-10) for Saturday's weight-for-age centerpiece at Moonee Valley after drawing snugly in gate four Tuesday morning.
The 7-year-old gave legendary co-owner Lloyd Williams his first victory in the G1 Caulfield Cup last October, will be making his third start this preparation, having finished a narrow runner-up to the now-sidelined Dissident (Aus) (Sebring {Aus}) in the G1 Makybe Diva S. Sept. 13 before defeating the running-on Criterion (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}, post six) and pacesetting Side Glance (GB) (Passing Glance {GB}) in the G1 Caulfield S. Oct. 11.
“He hasn't put a foot out of place,” Williams' son and part-owner, Nick Williams, told Australian Associated Press. “The horse is in perfect order. He's obviously the favourite for the race and we wouldn't swap him for anything. But the reality is that this is the best race in Australia and it takes some winning, as we know very well having tried many times and having never been able to pull it off.”
Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}, who travelled to the U.S. to annex the GI Secretariat S. in August, has made a favorable impression during his time at the Werribee quarantine facility and was generally second choice in the market until he drew stall 13 Tuesday. The Coolmore runner, most recently third in the G2 Prix Niel is now trading around $6.50 (11-2) third choice behind one-time favorite Sacred Falls (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), who is now a $6 (5-1) chance. Side Glance drew a cozy post in stall seven, but he is expected to have company on the front end in the form of The Cleaner (Aus) (Savoire Vivre {GB}). The 7-year-old has used his speed to rack up three straight, including the G3 JRA Cup over the Cox Plate course and distance, but will have his work cut out for him from the widest berth in 14 Saturday. The Cleaner was available in the low double digits following the draw.
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