Star colt Pierro remains favorite for the Cox Plate with Betstar despite his shock defeat in the Caulfield Guineas. He has eased from $2.20 to $3 but Betstar's Alan Eskander says Pierro was a sitting shot for the winner All Too Hard after being forced to work early to get his position in the race. "I'm not sacking him on that run," Eskander told PPD. "Things didn't fall his way and you've got to remember that was just his third run this time in. He's still got improvement in him a

Star colt Pierro remains favorite for the Cox Plate with Betstar despite his shock defeat in the Caulfield Guineas. He has eased from $2.20 to $3 but Betstar's Alan Eskander says Pierro was a sitting shot for the winner All Too Hard after being forced to work early to get his position in the race. "I'm not sacking him on that run," Eskander told PPD. "Things didn't fall his way and you've got to remember that was just his third run this time in. He's still got improvement in him and I think he can reverse today's result at Moonee Valley in a fortnight." ATH's price for the Cox Plate was slashed from $41 to $6 after his win and he now shares the third line of betting with Green Moon, who firmed from $8. Eskander says: "All Too Hard's been working up to that win but it's a matter now of whether he pushes on or not. That really was his grand final given his value as a stallion, so I'm not convinced they'll go on to the Cox Plate but we've got to keep him safe after that run."

French galloper Shahwardi was the big shortener from a Cups point of view after his dominant victory in the Herbert Power Stakes. Alan Eskander says the stablemate of Americain has "no weight" in the Cups and looks a real threat. "That was a very impressive Cups trial and the stable knows what it takes to win at Flemington. He was $51 for both Cups with us but we've now got him at $13 for the Caulfield Cup and $21 for the Melbourne Cup," says Eskander. The favorite Gatewood was luckless in the Herbert Power Stakes and Eskander reckons it was a total "forgive" run. He says: "He's still looking for a run and was very stiff. However we've kept him at $41 for the Melbourne Cup because he's still well down the order and will probably have to go to Geelong to try to qualify.

**SHAHWARDI $13.80 was PPD Club editor Brian Blackwell's tip for the Herbert Power Hdcp at Caulfield. BB declared outright for the French raider. BB followed up with the last-race winner at Caulfield, SERENE STAR $8.90 - another outright tip!

TAB - MAJOR MOVES AFTER CAULFIELD

Cox Plate: Pierro started the day as $2 favorite and had firmed to $1.85 before the start of the Caulfield Guineas. The Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old drifted back out to $2.80 following his first defeat at the hands of All Too Hard. All Too Hard ($51 into $8) has now come right into calculations for the WFA race.

Ocean Park ($7.50 into $6) firmed after beating Sincero ($21 into $17) in the Caulfield Stakes. More Joyous ($7.50 to $9) after failing under her big weight in the Toorak handicap. Green Moon ($9 into $6) is now on the equal second line of betting after Pierro drifted.

Caulfield Cup: Alcopop, who started favorite for this race two years ago, has been a huge move ($126 into $26) after a slashing second in the Caulfield Stakes. Imported runner Shahwardi is ($61 into $15) after taking out the Herbert Power Stakes, while Gatewood ($18 to $26) drifted after being well supported today in the same race. Excluded ($61 into $17) was also a notable firmer after finishing second in the Herbert Power.

Melbourne Cup: The three placegetters in the Herbert Power Stakes have all firmed significantly for the 3200m race. Today's winner, Shahwardi ($101 into $21), runner-up, Excluded ($71 into $51) and Exceptionally, who finished strongly for third, is ($51 onto $35). Red Cadeaux ($17 into $15) came in for attention with $8,100 at $17 and will be looking to go one better this year. Sanagas ($51) remains unchanged after one bet of $800.

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