I was quite amazed to hear that Sportsbet has already paid out on all bets taken on So You Think days BEFORE the WS Cox Plate is actually run. This is the same betting firm that paid out on all bets taken for AFL side Richmond to finish last (wooden spoon) earlier this year only to see Richmond perform a Lazarus and defy the odds by not coming last. Methinks this is just a marketing exercise for surely the history of horseracing decrees NO horse is a certainty to win anything although it would t

I was quite amazed to hear that Sportsbet has already paid out on all bets taken on So You Think days BEFORE the WS Cox Plate is actually run. This is the same betting firm that paid out on all bets taken for AFL side Richmond to finish last (wooden spoon) earlier this year only to see Richmond perform a Lazarus and defy the odds by not coming last. Methinks this is just a marketing exercise for surely the history of horseracing decrees NO horse is a certainty to win anything although it would take a brave punter to say So You Think cannot win.

However, before the WS Cox Plate keen punters, and quite a few nervous connections, are heading to Geelong tomorrow for the running of the Geelong Cup and what an interesting race it is. Last night I curled up in the cot, with the form guide, and found myself debating with myself on several levels on how to tackle the race.

Whatever you do the two overseas runners Americain and Drunken Sailor must enter deep into your thoughts based on past history and after the Caulfield Cup we know what Gai Waterhouse can do to improve a horse therefore Once Were Wild must be included. What do we do with Moudre? Based on raw facts can it be suggested he did not stay in the Herbert Power? At this stage I think it can.

Kerdem and Apprehend are not to be dismissed on their best form and nor can Exceptionally after his excellent second to Caulfield Cup placegetter Harris Tweed. Mr Charlie finished close up around Moudre and Apprehend behind Rainbow Styling and was shuffled back in the Metropolitan through no great fault of the jockey. We saw Ginga Dude win last Saturday off a run in the wfa Spring Stakes (formerly the Kelt: I wish they would stop changing the names) and Mr Hombre finished not too far off him in that race. He showed staying potential in Qld and with natural improvement must be considered as well.

Saint Encosta is 50/1 in the early betting but his two Group 1 runs in the AJC Derby and Mteropolitan had enough merit to consider him as THE roughie of the race. However, you have to ask what price would you have Descarado in this race? I suspect 3/1 would be snapped up fairly swiftly so why shouldn't we back Count Encosta in the Geelong Cup? Last campaign he beat Descarado, Maluckyday (won last Sat and is headed to the Melbourne Cup) and Gathering (won on Turnbull Stakes day) in the Tulloch Stakes at his fourth run in from a spell in similar track conditions as expected tomorrow. His run in the Metropolitan, beaten 3.9L, was his fourth up run and that was quite a task at 2400m in a Group 1 race. I know the form from THAT race was not stamped with authority in the Caulfield Cup but I am looking more to the fact that this horse is being set for this race and then onto the Melbourne Cup.

On this basis I have just backed Count Encosta in the Melbourne Cup at $220 for the win and $50 for the place and while I was there took $160 for the win and $50 for the place on Once Were Wild. In this strange world of punting you just never know what can happen.