Cox Plate - the facts and figures

TWISTED and turned to suit, the facts and figures from past Cox Plate results suggest that Whobegotyou is far from a certainty this year.
For a start no horse whose name starts with a W has won a Cox Plate.
Whittier ran second twice - 1923 and 1924 and Winfreux was runner-up in 1965 and 1966, while Wonderful World ran second in 2007.
The most successful initial has been S with 13 winners and will be represented this year by Scenic Shot, Sir Slick, Speed Gifted and So You Think.
Allowing for no scratchings, Whobetgotyou will start from barrier 10, which has supplied only four winners with the last being Bonecrusher in the 1986 “race of the century.”
The most successful barrier has been 6, Scenic Shot’s draw this year.
Whobegotyou will also carry saddlecloth 10 which has supplied just five winners over the years, the latest being Makybe Diva in 2005, with number 1 the standout with 19 winners.
Recent changes in the weight-for-age scale mean Whobetgotyou will carry 57.5kg, which is yet to supply a winner with 59kg (9st4lb) the most success weight with 32 winners.
The reigning favourite is one of only two chestnuts contesting the race this year (along with Rock Kingdom) and that colour horse has saluted 28 times, but none since Saintly in 1996.
The most prolific colour has been bay with 30 wins, including the last three years with Fields Of Omagh, El Segundo and Maldivian.
And the bays have the numbers on their side again as there are nine of them going around this time.
Presently Whobetgotyou is quoted $2.90, approximately 2-1, a price that has supplied five winners, the last 2-1 winner was Better Loosen Up in 1990.
The most prolific winning price is 4-1 with six winners.
Of course there a couple of details that tip the scales towards the pre-post favourite.
Whobegotyou is a gelding and horses that have faced the chop are the most prolific winners in the history of the race with 32 successess, including the last three years, which has eased them ahead of entires who have won 31 Cox Plates.
He is a four-year-old and they lead the way with 25 wins ahead of five-year-olds with 22.
Of course the numbers, colours and letters will count for  nothing once the starter says go.
Given his love of Moonee Valley, four starts for four wins, and with Damien Oliver doing the piloting, Whobegotyou is likely to claim his own place in Cox Plate history.