Moonee Valleys Amphitheatre Of Adrenalin
Story By by Wayne Bristow
Saturday, 25 October 2008:  | | Northerly |
Initially the Cox Plate was the Moonee Valley Cup's sideshow but it is now elevated to mainstream folklore. Is it possible that we can find another Dulcify or see another Bonecrusher/Our Waverley Star duel?
2002 NORTHERLY 6g (Serheed x North Bell) ($4 eq fav)
Jockey: Patrick Payne, Trainer: Fred Kersley
Barrier: 5, Weight: 58.0kg
Gross Time: 2:06.27, 600m Sectional: 36.57
Margin: 1L, Track: Good, Starters: 9
2nd: Defier (58.0kg), 3rd: Grandera (58.0kg)
Let's set aside how great a horse Northerly was. Here we had one of the most decorated fields in a Cox Plate and most were in fantastic form. Added to all the hype, there was the fact Sunline was having her final start and all the appropriate adulation associated with her finale. For Northerly, even Bart questioned his ability to come back into such a star-studded field and down from 2400m. Before the jump, Beadman was yelling wait, wait but the gates flew and Lonhro was tardy, missing an opportunity to race in a forward position as he did in the Yalumba. Sunline led, naturally, with 3yo Bel Esprit 2nd and Northerly outside him. When Childs added some heat at the 1000 it got most off the bit but rounding the bend and that effort told on the mare when she was ready to be gathered up. With Defier trying his best and Godolphin's Grandera making ground despite a dipsy doodle with 150m to go, Northerly hardly missed a beat as Patrick Payne had time to enjoy his first ride in the Plate. His win saw him join Tobin Bronze, Rising Fast and Tranquil Star as a Cox Plate winner following a Caulfield Cup triumph. He also became the 11th horse to win more than one Plate. Back to back wins saw him join the likes of Sunline, Kingston Town, Tobin Bronze, Flight and Phar Lap amongst others. Would Fred be moved enough to run in the Cup with 60kg? sadly no.
2003 FIELDS OF OMAGH 6g (Rubiton x Finneto) ($17)
Jockey: Steven King, Trainer: Tony McEvoy
Barrier: 6, Weight: 58.0kg
Gross Time: 2:07.61, 600m Sectional: 38.48
Margin: 0.3L, Track: Good, Starters: 8
2nd: Defier (58.0kg), 3rd: Lonhro (58.0kg)
It is recognised that horses who have the fortune of a Prophet's thumbprint, the mark on the side or neck of the horse at birth, are lucky. The theory goes that it is a sign of quality and loyalty. Fields of Omagh was certainly lucky for his connections, especially racecaller Bryan Martin who had the tough task of calling his horse then riding the emotional roller coaster afterwards. It started to rain very heavily before the Plate and without a natural leader, nobody wanted it. So ex-South African mare Paraca took it up and went like last week's pay. No jockey was keen to cart the field up but Shower of Roses and Fields of Omagh were left to do the donkey work. With 800 to go FOO was 3L away but Defier was seven and Lonhro nine behind. In the toughest of arenas, gathering back that ground was too hard when making long, sustained runs. Lonhro looked the winner on the turn but for some reason he was gone 50m later. Tony McEvoy deserves a good deal of credit for this win.
2004 SAVABEEL 3c (Zabeel x Savannah Success) ($15)
Jockey: Chris Munce, Trainer: Graeme Rogerson
Barrier: 6, Weight: 48.5kg
Gross Time: 2:06.88, 600m Sectional: 35.98
Margin: 1L, Track: Good, Starters: 13
2nd: Fields of Omagh (58.0kg), 3rd: Starcraft (56.5kg)
When asked prior to the race if $10m could buy the colt, Graeme Rogerson is rumoured to have said Which leg? Rogey's sales pitch was completely missed by the media and the punting public as Savabeel went around at very appetising odds. He'd shown good staying potential in the Gloaming and Spring Champion where he sat on the pace to win. But this was a far different scenario. Regal Roller and Miss Potential took up the lead and Munce was happy to tag them along. As the field contained quite a few horses not previously adept at 2000, it was important to avoid any pockets. And while Starcraft was buried away, Grand Armee was back and Elvstroem as well, Munce rode the perfect WFA race, rolling on the turn with enough staying pedigree to outstay the resilient FOO and Starcraft. Savabeel was now every bit as valuable as Rogerson had said and he took on the Derby. But like the last 3yo Plate winner Octagonal, he found one better on the day in the form of Plastered.
2005 MAKYBE DIVA 7m (Desert King x Tugela) ($2 fav)
Jockey: Glen Boss, Trainer: Lee Freedman
Barrier: 4, Weight: 55.5kg
Gross Time: 2:09.27, 600m Sectional: 36.17
Margin: 1.3L, Track: Slow, Starters: 14
2nd: Lotteria (54.0kg), 3rd: Fields of Omagh (58.0kg)
Have you ever seen a vision like the wall of equine flesh which surged past the school in 2005. It was like every jockey dared the one outside to go and they took up the gauntlet. Makybe Diva had to overcome some modern day hoodoos, the worst of which may have been that no horse trained essentially in Victoria had won a Cox Plate since Super Impose in 1992. But breaking records was her modus operandi and she handled the pressure to perfection. 3yo Hotel Grand led but he was making up the numbers and Desert War was unsuited to the tight MV circuit. When the 800m mark arrived the itchy fingers began with God's Own and Xcellent starting the momentum and all inside pushed up much like the Tour de France peleton struggling with the high winds entering the Pyrenees mountain range. The only horse that missed the boat was Lad of the Manor but by the final bend there was only one jockey looking left and looking right and travelling on the bit. Glen Boss was giggling and Makybe put the issue beyond doubt while Lotteria and amazingly Fields of Omagh filled the placings. If this wasn't historic enough, the next trip to the races would bring a nation to tears.
2006 FIELDS OF OMAGH 9g (Rubiton x Finneto) ($21)
Jockey: Craig Williams, Trainer: David Hayes
Barrier: 7, Weight: 58.0kg
Gross Time: 2:06.89, 600m Sectional: 35.59
Margin: 0.1L, Track: Good, Starters: 12
2nd: El Segundo (58.0kg), 3rd: Pompeii Ruler (56.5kg)
Please examine the record of this remarkable horse. He started in 5 Cox Plates with finishing positions 5th, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 1st. When you consider he'd hardly be regarded as an all time great, Fields of Omagh should at the very least be recognised for this wonderful achievement. As the only horse David Hayes still trained that his late brother Peter put the collar over, there was a poignant attachment here. Again the non stayers like Apache Cat & Red Dazzler took it up with Aqua D'Amore and Pompeii Ruler following. Sydney's glamour horse Racing to Win was given the short, back and sides, racing wide and injuring himself and 3yo filly Miss Finland was ridden, let's say, without conviction. Craig Newitt pounced on the turn with Pompeii Ruler but he may gone a fraction early as both El Segundo and then Fields of Omagh made wide runs to challenge. With blinkers on, FOO bobbed right on the post nabbing his rival and causing mayhem for his connections who had announced his retirement during the week. He became the 12th horse to win more than once.
2007 EL SEGUNDO 6g (Pins x Palos Verdes) ($7)
Jockey: Luke Nolen, Trainer: Colin Little
Barrier: 7, Weight: 59.0kg
Gross Time: 2:06.33, 600m Sectional: 34.13
Margin: 2L, Track: Good, Starters: 13
2nd: Wonderful World (57.5kg), 3rd: Haradasun (57.5kg)
The word redemption was so apt for all concerned with El Segundo. This ever improving horse was desperately unlucky to miss the bob of the head the previous year in FOO's swansong. But as we've seen in recent history, horses have a habit of coming back after being placed the year prior eg Our Poetic Prince, Super Impose, Solvit and Fields of Omagh. Devil Moon got fired up, swishing the tail and Miss Finland worked forward but with Oliver caught three wide, he took Haradasun to the lead in what was an unconventional role for him. With Wonderful World in front of him, El Segundo was put into the race by Luke Nolen, riding him more aggressively than usual but did it work beautifully. Just as Wonderful World looked to heading for a massive upset, Nolen unleased El Segundo's renowned 250m sprint and gave those inside him a cold. He surprised Nolen by ducking in under the whip and inside the final 50m he cleaned up WW but it made not a skerrick of difference to the result. To this day, El Segundo has not started again injuring his tendon.
RACE PROFILE
o You'd think in the smallish fields that the Cox Plate is confined to, that barriers would have little impact but there haven't been too many double figure draws to succeed.
o Moonee Valley specialists are suited with all but Savabeel a regular quality performer in the Cox Plate and the Dato Tan Chin Nam.
o Don't want to give away too much ground as most winners have been in the first six settling down although two of last three were rearward.
o The last six Cox Plate winning jockeys were first timers.
o Only four mare winners in the last 25 years (Makybe Diva, Sunline x 2 & Dane Ripper).
o In the last 25 years only Red Anchor ('84), Octagonal ('95) & Savabeel ('04) have won as a 3yo.
o Only one 3yo filly has ever won Surround ('76).
o You'd think in such a quality WFA field that favourites would dominate but recently double figure winners have been common.
o Last 15 Years Memsie Stks / Cox Plate double Sunline ('00)
o Last 15 Years Craiglee Stks / Cox Plate double Northerly ('02)
o Last 15 Years Dato Tan Chin Nam Stks / Cox Plate double Sunline ('00), Northerly ('01), El Segundo ('07)
o Last 15 Years Underwood Stks / Cox Plate double Northerly ('01), Northerly ('02)
o Last 15 Years Spring Champion Stks / Cox Plate double Savabeel ('04)
o Last 15 Years Turnbull Stks / Cox Plate double The Phantom Chance ('93), Northerly ('02), Makybe Diva ('05)
o Last 15 Years Yalumba Stks / Cox Plate double Might & Power ('98), Northerly ('01)
o Last 15 Years Caulfield Cup / Cox Plate double Northerly ('02)
SUMMARY & SELECTIONS
It is not often you can say this without being derided but the Cox Plate of 2008 is a disappointing affair. Having said that something like Samantha Miss will break all records as a 3yo filly or Princess Coup will come from last on the turn and make those statements look ridiculous.
The obvious pace in the race is Maldivian. Those horses not noted at their best at this distance but who are regular on-pacers include Epsom champ Theseo, Cameron Hcp winner Raheeb and possibly the Chelmsford Stks winner Gallant Tess. Maybe the other go forward runner is dual G1 mare Zarita.
Toorak winner Alamosa looks to take the trail behind these and then you've got all the favourites following. Every one of them will be fighting to be the one to get last shot at the leaders. It will be like a cycling stage where you never want to be the lead out rider, always looking for the slipstream in the final sprint.
All this gets thrown up in the air if rain were to intervene and despite some predicted showers early in the week, there isn't much in the lead up to Saturday.
Let's establish firstly that Samantha Miss has some big historical obstacles to overcome. We concede no filly apart from Surround has won and that was over 30 years ago while barely a 3yo colt has served up success. She has never run over the distance and has only ever had 9 starts. Also, she loses her rider Hugh Bowman with whom she has had a remarkable combination.
But her positives are so impressive. Her only defeats were in unsuitable sprints as a 2yo. She is the only horse to beat the undefeated 2yo champion Sebring. She can handle it wet or dry, slow or fast, sit on the speed or come from last and has won two G1s over a mile. Sam is a big strong filly, superbly bred by a wonder in Redoute's Choice out of Cronus' sister and commands herself in a field. Their possible intention to take up a slightly more forward position was shown when they chose barrier two in the Kentucky Derby style barrier draw system.
Zipping is a horse who at least brings a degree of MV form to the table and was good on the line in the Turnbull. After the Caulfield Cup we might be questioning just how strong that reference really is but this is a completely different race.
His stablemate C'est La Guerre could be a knockout. Something at big odds often jags a placing and the swap to the Plate by Team Williams suggests he thinks it winnable.
Selection: Samantha Miss
Hardest to Beat: Zipping
Best Roughie: C'est La Guerre
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