Racing: Dream billing for Cox clash

SYDNEY - It's the ultimate for race fans. A transtasman battle for honours in Australasia's biggest weight-for-age event, the A$3 million ($3.33 million) WS Cox Plate.

Three weeks out from the race, Australia's Makybe Diva and New Zealand's Xcellent on Saturday gave the Moonee Valley Racing Club a dream billing.

Xcellent picked himself up from a scrimmage at the back of the field in New Zealand's richest race, the $1 million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings, to power past his opposition.

Just over two hours later, dual Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva thundered past her rivals in the group one Turnbull Stakes at Flemington, a race in which she had the outside barrier draw and was considered vulnerable.

It was as if the queen wouldn't let a young prince take the limelight as she regained centre stage.

What is even more appetising for the pundits is that all going well in the Cox Plate, their battle should extend to the A$5m Melbourne Cup on November 1.

The fireworks have started.

Makybe Diva's trainer Lee Freedman has questioned Xcellent's Cox Plate credentials.

"He does look a Melbourne Cup horse - a Flemington horse," Freedman told The Age newspaper. "But I don't know about him taking her on in the Cox Plate."

Xcellent's trainer Mike Moroney had an opposing opinion today.

"We are thinking the other way. We are starting to think he is more of a Cox Plate horse than a Melbourne Cup horse."

That is based on Xcellent's record at 2000m, while he is unproven at the 3200m of the Melbourne Cup.

"Until they try it you never know, but he does relax and that is the big key to it and that gives him a chance of getting two miles.

"We realised this is going to be our only chance of a Melbourne Cup because he will be weighted out of it after this year," he told NZPA.

"But at 2000m he has won at weight-for-age twice now so we can't see any problem with it. We know that Moonee Valley is a tighter track than he has been racing on but if gets there in one piece it will be a very interesting race."

His confidence would have been boosted by Xcellent's quick recovery after losing his balance at the top of the straight on Saturday.

Moroney conceded that Makybe Diva has an edge over his younger horse in the Cox Plate.

"They look the two. She has an advantage over us, she has been around and won at the Valley and we haven't. That would be her little edge."

Her fans though won't see her beaten. She is accorded people's champion status in the same manner that New Zealand mare Sunline was.

"You've got to be delighted the way she's going," Freedman said after the Turnbull.

"She brings people through the gate and gives them a lot of enjoyment. She's just a great horse."

Her odds for the Cox Plate tightened in from $3 to $2.30 with some bookmakers, while she is a $5 favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

The bookies have also slashed Xcellent's odds. He has firmed from $12 into a $6 second favourite for the Cox, while he is an $8 second favourite with Plastered on Colin Tidy's betchoice book for the Cup.

The young Kiwi pretender is clearly a threat.

- NZPA