It’s a Dundeel can deny European raiders in Cox Plate

The Cox Plate was thrown wide open this week when hot favourite Atlantic Jewel was withdrawn with a career-ending injury. Melbourne Cup candidates Fiorente and Puissance De Lune now share favouritism at 4-1 with Underwood Stakes winner It’s a Dundeel.

UK racing fans will be familiar with Fiorente who was formally trained by Sir Michael Stoute before joining Gai Waterhouse in Australia. He made a sensational start to his new career when finishing runner-up in the Melbourne Cup behind Green Moon and is being trained for the race again this season.

Fiorente has impressed in his trials and flew home to take fourth behind Happy Trails in the Turnbull Stakes last time out. He was drawn wide on that occasion and has been unlucky again here in stall 14.

The grey Puissance De Lune has been ante-post favourite for the Melbourne Cup for most of the year but has been beaten in his recent starts over this sort of trip. It’s A Dundeel has not raced since winning beating Atlantic Jewel owing to a foot abscess but is reported in top shape by Trainer Murray Baker.

Another familiar name to UK punters is that of Masked Marvel, the winner of the St Leger in 2011 for John Gosden. He now races in the famous Williams colours along with Seville and last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon.

Makybe Diva winner Foreteller is another leading contender and looks well drawn in barrier eight. There are two European raiders this year with Andrew Balding’s Side Glance and Jane Chapple-Hyam’s Mull Of Killough, drawn 1 and 4 respectively.

Craig Williams is an eye-catching booking for Side Glance who has finished fourth in the World Cup and third in the Arlington Million. Both will have plenty of each-way supporters at long odds but It’s A Dundeel looks the class act at this distance and will be difficult to beat if he gets the run of the race.