The expertise of Chris Waller and power of James McDonald with Via Sistina gave Saturday’s the Cox Plate on the Moonee Valley, a circuit of memories, the ending it deserved.
Had stablemate, Buckeroo, getting the full power and authority of Mark Zahra found another nose it would have been an ante-climax: adding to Waller’s record of the longshot of his team upsetting the favourite.
But now it is etched with a great finish, rating with the best of a remarkable race which, for over 123 years, has been the battle ground of the greats, studded with champions.
Yes it was the final chapter on hallowed ground, for the last time due to renovations.
Like the modern top events, the Cox Plate was a triumph for promotion. When I kicked off in the 1960’s it was very much the program’s second string to the Moonee Valley Cup, then a stepping stone to the Melbourne Cup.
Champions, most at prohibitive odds, gave the weight-for-age event some appeal but it lagged in public and press interest to the Big One at Flemington where the final field and what qualified was vital.
Now, run on the Friday night, the Moonee Valley Cup still has some traction but the imports have taken much thunder from the locals. Onesmoothoperator, a slow coach from North Yorkshire, scored on Friday night.
The Cox Plate hit prominence when Ian McEwan, the livewire CEO of Moonee Valley Racing Club, supported by chairman Bill Stutt, lifted it to the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, subsequently involving invaders.
McEwan produced enthusiasm and promotion in the category of Rosehill’s Golden Slipper and The Everest at Randwick.
The Golden Slipper for two-year-olds started as a prelim on the Rosehill program in 1957, and changed the face of the Australian turf under the drive of George Ryder and The Everest was just a good sprint a few years back but with a marketing budget that would make Donald Trump shudder it put youth attendance into Sydney racing like never before.
Some felt the Cox Plate would be better placed at Flemington, more spacious for horse and human, rather than the circular goat track that brings the best out of the greats enjoyed for the final time last Saturday. Better than GOOD.
BAD, though, was Antino, expected to be a worthy rival for Via Sistina but the gelding never got hot, toiling away in last place. No abnormalities, according the steward’s report. Maybe something will sprout. Blake Shinn was kind to Antino in the running but could not kindle a spurt from him.
Jockeys in Sydney as well as Melbourne were in the firing line. Zahra, so active handling Buckeroo, earlier was fined $1500 failing to ride Observer out in the Golf Vale. The jockey appeared to have a peek over his shoulder at the TV in the centre on the inside of the track, and Providence, inconvenienced early in the straight, leapt over the last couple of strides. While Observer’s triumph was described by Matt Hill, the course broadcaster, as “arrogant” the Waller-tuned Province will have supporters in a return bout.
Nash Rawiller, who makes less saddle mistakes than most, was roasted for two Randwick efforts – Rivellino in the Callender-Presnell, and going too quick on Shangri La Boy (Spring Champion.)
Rivellino was downed a rapidly diminishing half-length by Ohope after being held up between the 400 metres and 200 metres while Shangri Lar Boy looked home before Attica, under Adam Hyeronimus, nailed him in the last two strides. Should Rawiller have waited a tad longer before cutting Shang Ri Lar Boy loose?
Under the Joe Pride regime Attica could be top class, and the jockey is no Hypo when it comes to wide barriers, so often a drawback to other navigators.
Attica launched from 11 and Hypo scored the previous Saturday on Kerguelen at Randwick from 13. Maybe he doesn’t get tied down with dumb instructions which often eventuates in the downright UGLY, a situation that confronts me.
Due to changing stables (moving house), I have around 100 racing magazines, Turf Monthly, Racetrack and overseas publications destined for land fill. Already I have donated nine boxes of racing books to the Australian Turf Club. Alas they have no room for the magazines. Anybody interested?
Horse sense: “The romance is slowly being sucked out of racing and a little more of it will dry up when Moonee Valley receives it’s big, fancy facelift. Hopefully the Cox Plate will continue to hold it mystique but you fear it will never be the same again,” Andrew Webster, The Australian.
How far would Sir Delius have won the Cox Plate by? RV vets are jumping at shadows. The redevelopment of The Valley comes not a moment too soon. If you weren’t in the first two on straightening you had little hope on Saturday. PVL has stuffed spring racing. 6 in the Craven Plate, less than 10 in two of the other features-there just aren’t the horses. And only four in the Caulfield Stakes.
Peter,
I don’t now about the Cox Plate, hardly an impressive chapter on figures, but Sir Delius would not have had much difficultly taking the Melbourne Cup. RV vets? Well I’ve written previously about Melbourne Cup winners who would not have been given a vet clearance. It’s a different era now. Soft European stayers, and Sir Delius is in the category, have put the spotlight on Melbourne Cup break-downs and the Big One, in the current climate, cannot afford any more. Moonee Valley has always been a goat track but rarely hindered a top liner. I am too rusted into the past and memories to think the renovations will help. The move by Cox Plate winners has usually become before the turn at the Valley. In a re-run I wouldn’t want to be on any of those who finished behind Via Sistina and Buckaroo.
Cheers
Max P