Moonlight Spirit came under the care of the Westwood Beach-based pair after a game second behind the classy Speights Girl at Forbury Park last week.
The McArdle mare stayed down south after her previous trainer, Dave Anderson, of Prebbleton, waved the white flag as the stars began to emerge in Canterbury.
''Dave Anderson rang me last week and said it's just too tough racing the [Mark] Purdon [horses] up in Canterbury,'' Cox said.
''I said it's not that easy coming down here as well, but she's got a win in her - it just depends where.''
Cox and Hoffman have chosen well for the 5yr-old's first start in Southland, as the 1700m maiden field is a mixture of first starters, and horses who have ability but are yet to put the full package together on race day.
One exception is the Brendon McLellan-trained Leigh Major, a winner at 2, but Cox hopes Moonlight Spirit's barrier draw of 1 and her manners will help her.
''She's pretty basic - she's a lovely wee filly and does everything right.
''She's got a wee bit of gate speed which is going to help. Amber drove her down the beach and quite liked her, so we'll have to wait and see.''
Cox has no complaints about Caesars Gamble ahead of her tough assignment against the Nathan Williamson-trained Onedin Mach in a one-win pace.
''Nathan's one is pretty smart, and something would drastically have to go wrong for him to get beat,'' he said.
''But she went good last start so if she ran in the money again, we'll be happy.''
Cox is sticking with Homeforabubbly as his drive in race 0, in which the 5yr-old gelding and another new addition to the stable, Sunny Two Shoes, take on the smart pacer Ted West.
''It's a step up in grade for him, but he'll be thereabouts at the finish. He's a typical old Holmes Hanover - he usually gets money every week and he enjoys racing at the moment.''
Sunny Two Shoes has drawn well at barrier 3, but Cox expects the Live Or Die mare to be better at Winton next weekend.
Cox and Hoffman will be busy this weekend, with three meetings to attend - Addington tonight, Gore tomorrow, and the Winton gallops on Sunday, where Hoffman has last-start winner Enchanter in a rating 65 1400m.
Jaccka Justy will be tackling the top trotters again in the group 3 Canterbury Park Trotting Cup, and will be starting off the unruly mark from a 10m handicap.
Cox has no complaints with his preparation.
''He came through that run good a couple of weeks ago.
''He doesn't do a lot of work between races, but what he has done has been good.''
''Most of the field are inside or in front of us, but he's definitely capable of matching it with them.''
