Melbourne Spring Carnival 2023: Gai Waterhouse plans all-out assault on one race she's never won
Champion trainer Gai Waterhouse has achieved just about everything throughout a decorated career in horse racing, but one iconic trophy eludes her - the Cox Plate.
The Hall of Fame Legend has therefore nominated 10 horses for this year's time-honoured weight-for-age race, to be run at Melbourne's Moonee Valley on October 28.
While most of those won't make the final field, there's one contender Waterhouse - and her training partner Adrian Bott - have high hopes for.
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"I would adore to be able to win the Cox Plate maybe with a horse like Alligator Blood," Waterhouse - who is a long-time Victoria Racing Club ambassador - told Wide World of Sports.
"And this year we've probably got our biggest representation in the Melbourne Cup, so I'm looking forward to that (too).
Damien Oliver riding Alligator Blood winning the Underwood Stakes on September 23, 2023. Getty
"Those are real goals for us to work towards."
Alligator Blood is a stable star at Waterhouse and Bott's famed Tuloch Lodge.
The seven-year-old gelding has amassed just shy of $7 million in prize money from 16 career wins, including six at Group 1 level.
A Cox Plate would be his biggest victory, but before then he will line up for the Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Alligator Blood is the $2.30 favourite to win that race, but stablemate Just Fine is breathing down his neck in the market.
Just Fine is considered a leading Melbourne Cup contender this year, too, and Waterhouse plans to launch her biggest ever assault on the "race that stops a nation".
She's won Australia's favourite race only once before, with Fiorente in 2013.
"I think we can (win the Melbourne Cup). This year we've got horses like Major Beel that runs in the St Ledger, we've taken him slightly sideways to go forward," Waterhouse explained.
Damien Oliver celebrates with Gai Waterhouse after riding Alligator Blood to Underwood Stakes victory. Getty
"We've got Hoo Ya Mal who ran second in the English Derby going to the Caulfield Cup. You've got Just Fine who came out of the King stable as a sort of benchmark horse, now a Group 1 horse... he's on target.
"And they've all got lots of owners, so that's really exciting."
Here's everything you need to know about the 2023 Melbourne Spring carnival.
MELBOURNE SPRING CARNIVAL 2023
Feature race dates and venues
Saturday, October 14: Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield
Saturday, October 21: Caulfield Cup at Caulfield
Saturday, October 28: Cox Plate at Moonee Valley
Saturday, November 4: Victoria Derby at Flemington
Tuesday, November 7: Melbourne Cup at Flemington
Thursday, October 9: VRC Oaks at Flemington
CAULFIELD GUINEAS 2023
Details: Group 1 for three year olds, at 5.10pm (AEDT) over 1600m, set weights (colts and geldings carry 57kg, fillies 55kg)
Prize money: $3 million (1st $1.8m, 2nd $540,000, 3rd $270,000) (a $1m bonus is on offer if the winner can also win the Cox Plate)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$2.60 Militarize
$4 Steparty
$9 King Colorado
$13 Scheelite
$14 Wolfy
$16 Veight
$19 Southern Tycoon, Scentify
$26 the field
Past five winners
2022 Golden Mile ($2.70)
2021 Anamoe ($2.10)
2020 Ole Kirk ($4.20)
2019 Super Seth ($7.50)
2018 The Autumn Sun ($1.70)
CAULFIELD CUP 2023
Details: Group 1 handicap, over 2400m
Prize money: $5 million (1st $3m, 2nd $700,000, 3rd $350,000)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$5 Soulcombe
$6 Gold Trip, West Wind Blows
$7 Without A Fight
$11 Breakup, Francesco Guardi
$13 Montefilia
$15 Hoo Ya Mal, Okita Soushi
$21 the field
Past five winners
2022 Durston ($18)
2021 Incentivise ($2.30)
2020 Verry Elleegant ($5)
2019 Mer De Glace ($8)
2018 Best Solution ($12)
Gold Trip ridden by Mark Zahra wins the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup. Racing Photos via Getty Images
COX PLATE 2023
Details: Group 1 weight-for-age, over 2040m
Prize money: $5 million (1st $3m, 2nd $700,000, 3rd $375,000)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$4.50 Romantic Warrior
$5 Amelia's Jewel
$6 Mr Brightside
$7 Gold Trip
$9 Militarize
$11 Victoria Road
$15 Alligator Blood, Light Infantry Man
$17 Steparty, Kovalica
$21 the field
Past five winners
2022 Anamoe ($2.40)
2021 State Of Rest ($7)
2020 Sir Dragonet ($7.50)
2019 Lys Gracieux ($2.50)
2018 Winx ($1.20)
VICTORIA DERBY 2023
Details: Group 1 at set weights for three year olds, over 2500m
Prize money: $2 million (1st $1.2m, 2nd $360,000, 3rd $180,000) (a $1 million bonus is on offer if the winner has also won any of the Neds Classic, Geelong Classic, or Drummond Golf Vase)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$2.80 Riff Rocket
$4.50 Militarize
$8 Tom Kitten, King Colorado
$11 Steparty
$15 Ambassadorial, Apulia, Gold Bullion, Medatsu, Ravello, Scheelite, Snowman, Sunsets, To Be Frank, Veight, Verdad
$17 the field
Past five winners
2022 Manzoice ($21)
2021 Hitotsu ($4)
2020 Johnny Get Angry ($21)
2019 Warning ($9.50)
2018 Extra Brut ($10)
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MELBOURNE CUP 2023
Details: Group 1 handicap, at 3pm (AEDT) over 3200m
Prize money: $8 million (1st $4.4m, 2nd $1.1m, 3rd $550,000)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$4.50 Vauban
$5 Gold Trip
$8 Just Fine, Soulcombe
$11 Francesco Guardi
$13 Breakup, Lunar Flare
$17 Absurde, Without A Fight
$21 First Immortal, Lastotchka
$26 the field
Past five winners
2022 Gold Trip ($23)
2021 Verry Elleegant ($18)
2020 Twilight Payment ($26)
2019 Vow And Declare ($11)
2018 Cross Counter ($9)
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VRC OAKS 2023
Details: Group 1 handicap for three-year-old fillies, over 2500m
Prize money: $1 million (1st $600,000, 2nd $180,000, 3rd $90,000)
2023 odds (courtesy of TAB, correct at time of publishing)
$5 Tropical Squall, Zardozi
$8 Miracle Of Love, Molly Bloom
$11 Tutta La Vita
$13 Basilinna
$15 Autumn Angel, Dolphin Skin, Ersa, Everlasting Kiss, Harlow Mist, Kimochi, Konasana, Served Cold
$17 the field
Past five winners
2022 She's Extreme ($2.30)
2021 Willowly ($3.70)
2020 Personal ($6)
2019 Miami Bound ($4.20)
2018 Aristia ($5.50)