Racing and Sports' race analyst Simon Dinopoulos takes a look at the 2014 Cox Plate program from a statistical perspective.

The 2014 Cox Plate

Time Off Between Runs

In the last 30 years - 21 days is the longest break a horse has had between runs prior to winning the Cox Plate. Nine have won off a three week break.

This statistic is against both Adelaide (41 days) and The Cleaner (29 days) on Saturday.

Battle Of The Sexes

Mares have faired the better in the Cox Plate in recent times, having won five of the last 20 renewals — while providing just 18% of the participants.

2011 - Pinker Pinker

2005 - Makybe Diva

2000 - Sunline

1999 - Sunline

1997 - Dane Ripper

Battle Of The Ages

4YOs have been the most successful age bracket in the past 21 years.

In that time they have provided seven victors (33%) and have comprised of 33% of the participants — they have won their exact share.

3YOs Record

Since 1970, 131 x 3YO's have contested the W S Cox Plate with eight (19%) winning and a further 21 running 2nd or 3rd.

Abdul (1970), Surround (1976), Red Anchor (1984), Taj Rossi (1973), Octagonal (1995), Savabeel (2004) and So You Think (2009) and Shamus Award (2013) have all been successful in that time.

Since 1970 there have been 25 Caulfield Guineas winners to contest the Cox Plate in the same season and just two have been successful Surround (1976) and Red Anchor (1984).

In the last 21 years, 30 3YOs have contested the Cox Plate (12%) with four being successful (19%).

This Year:

Adelaide (Northern Hemisphere)

Almalad

Sweynesse

Wandjina

Fitness Levels - Fourth or Fifth Up Key

16 of the past 21 victors have won the Cox Plate either fourth or fifth up.

7/16 = 4U

9/16 = 5U

Third Up - Fawkner

In the last 21 years only one horse has won the Cox Plate third up - which was Fields Of Omagh in 2003 when he won his first Cox Plate.

Favourites Record

In the last 20 years - five favourites have won the Cox Plate, though only two in the last decade - So You Think and Makybe Diva

2010 - So You Think

2005 - Makybe Diva

2002 - Northerly (Eq. Fav)

2000 - Sunline

1998 - Might And Power

Six of the past 10 victors have won at double figure odds.

Historic Doubles:

ATC Derby - Cox Plate Double: Criterion

Hasn't been achieved since Bonecrusher in 1986 - 11 have tried since.

Kingston Town - 1980

Manfred - 1925

George Main Stakes - Cox Plate Double: Sacred Falls

Kingston Town is the only horse to complete the George Main Stakes - Cox Plate double; he achieved the feat twice in 1981 and 1982.

Doncaster - Cox Plate Double (In the same calendar year): Sacred Falls

This has only been achieved four times, with Sunline is the only horse to achieve the feat in the last 40 years.

1999 - Sunline

1967 - Tobin Bronze

1972 - Gunsynd

1934 - Chatham

Cox Plate Tip: Sacred Falls

Other Races On The Card:

Race 4 — Greco (6)

A promising galloper from the Hawkes camp who returned in great order at Warwick Farm last start when breaking through for his maiden win with ease.

Obviously tougher on Saturday, but displayed good ability at 2YRS and expect him to make that next step —

• Dwayne Dunn links aboard for the first time and is currently striking at 23% for the Hawkes camp

• The Hawkes stable is striking at 19% this season and overall strikes at 17% with gallopers racing second up

• This season the Hawkes stable is striking at 43% with favourites and have run at a POT of +19.5%

Greco should look to control the tempo from the outset and prove very hard to hold out.

Race 6 - Group 2 Crystal Mile - Trust In A Gust (5)

Talented galloper from the Darren Weir stable who has continued to make impressive ratings spikes this time in.

Fought very hard to edge out Dissident in the Rupert Clarke, before he simply proved too strong in the Toorak Handicap.

Now boasts 10 victories from 17 starts and has only missed the money twice in his career —

• Trust In A Gust has placed in both attempts at a mile and Brad Rawiller has placed in 10 of 11 attempts aboard the four-year-old

• Brad Rawiller strikes at just shy of 19% for the Darren Weir stable and overall the Darren Weir stable strikes at 17% at Moonee Valley

• Trust In A Gust has never missed the money at Moonee Valley and arguably should be unbeaten from three attempts, after he was only narrowly denied by Atlante second up

• Trust In A Gust is currently striking at 67% when priced between 1/1 - 5/1 ($2.00-$6.00) and has run at a POT of 121.8%

Should look to roll forward from the outset and prove very hard to beat.

Race 9 - Group 3 International Stakes - Suavito (4)

Was disappointed for a run at a crucial stage at Caulfield last start and with clear running she arguably should have won.

She still rates well off the back of that performance, and appears well placed in this line up.

• Only the three victories to her name, but has placed in six of her last nine starts and has never missed the money over the mile

• Damien Oliver sticks and has placed in four of six attempts and strikes at just shy of 20 per cent for the Nigel Blackiston stable

Drawn well and is expected to take plenty of beating on the quick back up.

Good luck and happy punting.