The Cox Plate has been run and won by the great Northerly. Now the questions is "Will Northerly run??" The decision was no. My own feeling is that Northerly won the Caulfield Cup on default because the opposition was the weakest we have seen for some years. Northerly would have tried his heart out but he may not be a 3200 metre horse.

The run of Media Puzzle in the Geelong Cup was the best 2400 metre run since Might And Power was around and so he becomes the testing material. Of course, for the first time in ten years, there is a real chance that an overseas stayer can take out the Cup. And why not? It is expected that a third of the final acceptors will be internationals and Media Puzzle is on present form, the one to beat. He ran third in a 3200 metre race in 3 minutes 27.5, at least eight seconds slower than is expected for The Cup, but has obviously improved a lot, and the recent run under his belt won't hurt either.

Vinnie Roe is a good horse overseas but will be fresh for this assignment. Beekeeper ran fairly in the Caulfield event but will need to improve dramatically on that run, whilst Pugin will carry the hopes of all those that took the 70/1 early.

Thong Classic and Rain Guage are both locals with some chance although, Rain Gauge could not overhaul Thong Classic and was being left in the wake at the finish of last Saturday's Moonee Valley Cup.

Well, it is always a mystery but here are the latest odds.

$5.00	Media Puzzle
$6.50	Vinnie Roe
$7.50	Distinctly Secret
$8.00	Pugin
$10.00	Beekeeper
$13.00	Rain Gauge
$23.00	Pentastic, Jardine's Lookout
$26.00	Miss Meliss, Requiem
$34.00	Cyclades
$41.00	Daliapour, Helene Vitality, Prized Gem
$51.00	Sandmason, Hatha Anna, Hail, Thong Classic, Victory Smile,
$61.00	Mr. Prudent
$67.00	County Tyrone, Grey Song
$81.00	Freemason, Maguire