Racing: Worth more than a glance

Cox Plate hopeful Almalad (left) enjoys a day at Altona beach with Woodbine, Wandjina (also in the Cox) and The Offer yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Last year’s Mackinnon Stakes winner is very much the forgotten horse in the Cox Plate.

The well-travelled Side Glance is being overlooked in the Cox Plate, but the person closest to him in Australia believes he is poised to run better than his odds suggest.

The Andrew Balding-trained Side Glance finished sixth in last year's Cox Plate in his introduction to Australian racing and backed up to win the Mackinnon Stakes.

This time, Side Glance goes to Saturday's Cox Plate at the second start of his Australian campaign and Balding's travelling assistant Leanne Masterton expects that can make a difference in the A$3 million race.

"His form is so consistent and he has been regularly placed in group ones for the past two years," Masterton said, when asked if Side Glance was a forgotten horse in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

"I think he's certainly worth an each-way ticket."

Side Glance was third to Cox Plate favourite Fawkner and Criterion in the Caulfield Stakes but he is a $31 chance on Saturday.

The 8-year-old will be out to add to owner Sheikh Fahad Al Thani's previous group one spring carnival wins with Dunaden as well as Side Glance's Mackinnon win a year ago.

"I think it's probably benefited him having a race first this year," Masterton said. "He was a bit fresh last year, so he feels fantastic.

"He lost a few kilos in the Caulfield Stakes but put that straight back on and he feels really good."

Side Glance galloped at Werribee yesterday, pleasing Masterton, and will be ridden in the Cox Plate by his regular jockey Jamie Spencer.

"He's a horse you have to know because he's quite strong and can be a bit keen," Masterton said.

Side Glance led in the Caulfield Stakes but appears likely to take a trail with The Cleaner in the race, which Masterton says could suit him.

Another of the internationals, Guest Of Honour from the Marco Botti stable, is the $61 outsider after finishing unplaced in the Toorak Hcp.

Botti's travelling foreman Paul Francis said he had tightened up since that run and wouldn't discount the group two winner although the horse is unproven at the trip.

"We're going into the unknown. But I think it's worth a shot," Francis said.

Meanwhile, many jockeys struggle with their weight but Victorian Dean Yendall is an exception.

The natural lightweight began a diet on Tuesday to get down to ride Wandjina at 49.5kg in the Cox Plate. Yendall said he had lost 1kg and would have no trouble riding the Gai Waterhouse-trained 3-year-old at the allotted weight. Waterhouse will also line up fellow 3-year-old Almalad in the event.

Yendall said he walks around comfortably at 50kg and can eat and drink whatever he likes.

Cox Plate countdown

• Side Glance has the right credentials to be a sound each-way prospect.

• He is going into the race on the back of a run in the Caulfield Stakes.

• Dean Yendall is confident of making the weight for Wandjina.

- AAP