| Racecourse: Moonee Valley |
| Next Meeting: 10th February 2012 |
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| Track Rating: D4 |
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Moonee Valley Barriers Starting Positions:
1000m: Starts in a chute at the back of the course and crosses diagonally to meet the course proper at the 600m mark. There is a sharp corner heading in to the home straight, horses that are too far back will struggle to get in the finish.
1200m: Stalls are located in a short chute just off the course at the back of the track. Two corners before the home straight, inside barriers are an advantage, as is racing on the pace.
1500m & 1600m: Located just after the winning post, runners have the opportunity to improve their position around the back of the course, making it a reasonably fair start for all.
2040m: The Cox Plate start begins in the home straight in front of the grandstand, about 200m ahead of the winning post. There is a short run before the first turn, an inside barrier assists in gaining a good position early. Runners must make their bid for the lead before the home turn or wait for a lucky run wide or on the inside fence in the home straight.
2500m: With a straight run of 400m before the first turn, barriers are of little importance due to the distance involved.
3000m: The same start as for 1200m. Runners complete more than one and a half full circuits of the course, barriers are of little importance.
Circumference is 1805 metres, home straight is just 173 metres. A tight turning velodrome circuit, the Strathayr surface of grass on a sand base is usually on the softer side of Good, can become very soft after heavy rain although the sand base ensures the track is well drained. In general a good all-weather track. Racing is anti-clockwise.
Characteristics: there are four turns at Moonee Valley, but there are almost no straight runs at this track so runners race on a curve until they reach the home straight. As the straight is very short, there is little time to make up ground before the winning post - on pace runners and leaders always have a distinct advantage at the course, more so when the rail is out 3 metres or more. For this reason, it is a track for specialists.
Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne is a unique course in Australia, the only one to use Strathayr turf.
Most of the meetings at Moonee Valley are held on a Saturday or under lights on Friday nights during the summer months. Feature racing at the course includes the Australia Stakes in February and Australia's premier Weight for Age event, the Cox Plate, in October during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. For more information about the Cox Plate and racing at Moonee Valley, visit the official MVRC website www.mvrc.net.au.
This website is operated independently by Australian Racing Report and not by Moonee Valley Racing Club, which conducts the Cox Plate horse race, or any official racing organisation. For the official website of the Cox Plate & Moonee Valley racecourse, see www.mvrc.net.au. While care is taken to provide accurate information, Australian Racing Report accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions in the information at this website. Is gambling a problem for you? Call gamblers help on 1800 858 858 or contact your local gambling support services. © Australian Racing Report 2011.
Moonee Valley Scratchings & Track Conditions, updated on race day. Cox Plate Scratchings – the final scratchings for Cox Plate day 22nd October 2011 will be published here by 9am. Bet on Moonee Valley racing, including the Cox Plate. Free Moonee Valley racing form guides. Jockey Challenge Betting, Australian jockey profiles & Australian horse racing trainer profiles. Betting advice, how to bet on Australian racing including the Cox Plate, bet types explained, how to bet small and win big. Sign up for the free weekly newsletter with tips for Moonee Valley horse racing. Open an online betting account and get exclusive bonus bets. Racetrack Guide to Moonee Valley includes track bias indicators for all barrier start positions and Moonee Valley racecourse maps. Watch live Moonee Valley racing online. Listen to live racing radio online.
