Criterion is at the head of affairs, with the majority of bookmakers, to win the Cox Plate after his impressive performance in winning the Caulfield Stakes on Saturday.

There were positives to come out of the win, his first start since the Juddmonde International at York seven weeks ago, and he only left the quarantine barn, at Werribee, on Saturday morning.

Michael Walker rode a well judged race on the chestnut entire, plotting a course three wide for most of the trip, making sure nothing was going to hamper him at any stage.

David Hayes was pretty excited about the win, he has been spruiking for quite some time now about the horse, it is now all coming to fruition.

Whether Criterion will gallop at Moonee Valley prior to the Cox Plate, is yet to be decided, he hasn’t worked there for two years when he was trained by David Payne.

Happy Trails gave a polished display, he has emerged again as a serious contender, this will be his third attempt to win the Cox Plate, he finished second two years ago to Shamus Award and sixth to Adelaide last year.

Fawkner was quite disappointing, he weakened right out of the race, maybe too much was asked of him early in the race.

The favourite, Kermadec, was last for much of the race; he was seen to be running on fairly without ever looking like a winner.

Pornichet didn’t do much, he began to drop out of the race at the half way stage, he may not be quite up to weight for age Company and will cop plenty of weight when he returns to Sydney.

Contributor was giving ground at the end of the race, surely not a good sign, he didn’t bring his autumn form to Melbourne, he never looked a chance at any stage of the race.

However, that was not the case with Mongolian Khan, he looked a picture, easily the pick of the yard and performed accordingly, three runs in this time in, he is ready to fire.

He is a Derby winner and coming to hand nicely under the care of Murray Baker, he could win either Cup without surprising.

Criterion - Now favourite for the Cox Plate