Australasian racing’s championship event has a wall of honour. Pity the famous, human and horse, many an all time great, are not emblazoned on it.
For this fearsome obstruction drains the courage from the equine elite, tuned to perfection by what is usually the best of the best.
The Cox Plate is like no-other. The track, Monee Valley, is stand-a-lone. The Ben Hur of amphitheatres and to think they want to rebuild the famed test-of-honesty.
On Saturday the gruelling two-minuter will be played out and, as usual, it is like no other. Have a look at this edition.
- Gai Waterhouse (Promoter’s Dream)
- Aidan O’Brien (Ireland’s real Harry Potter)
- Lloyd Williams (Racing’s money pit)
- David Payne (South African champion trainer)
- John O’Shea (Proud Queenslander, now part of global racing machine)
- Chris Waller (Australasian racing’s version of Aidan O’Brien, sorry Harry Potter)
Haven’t even mentioned a thoroughbred or New Zealander. Or, the fairytale, trainer Mick Burles and he’s Tasmanian cheapie, The Cleaner.
No, other internationals, Aussies and jockeys from the world over. How do you rank them when you’ve had the bus fare home on the last “gooooooood thing” and he/she has slaughtered it?
Anyway, this instalment of the ultimate test on the Australasian racing scene goes something like this.
The Promoter’s Dream has a couple of three-year-olds in Almalad and Wandjina. What are they doing in the race?
The proud Queenslander, now in charge of Shiek Mohammed’s Godolphin juggernaut (formerly Darley) has a three-year-old in Swaynesse. To be ridden by last year’s story, the youngster, Chad Schofield.
Harry Potter has the mystery runner in Adelaide. Last time Harry was Down Under he made headlines when his three fancied runners tailed off in a Melbourne Cup.
This time round he arrives and Adelaide is listed as a four-year-old. In European terms he is three. He will carry 56kg while the Promoter’s Dream and the Proud Queenslander’s money burners will carry 49.5kg.
Now Australasian’s version of Harry Porter, who just happes to be a Kiwi, saddles up Sacred Falls, Foreteller and Royal Descent.
Delve into their form and ask – can they win? You bet because the Kiwi sorcerer is rewriting the history books and we’re talking TJ Smith and JB Cummings.
Those two surely made a motza and Racing’s money pit now doubt helped out. This one time construction giant, casino Tsar, always a racing authoritarian, historian, is hoping Fawkner can complete his Grand Slam.
Having paid the bills for Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Golden Slipper winners the money pit needs the Cox Plate to round out sport’s ultimate homer.
Fawkner, last year’s Caulfield Cup winner goes into the RACE as a last start winner of the Caulfield Stakes. There have been 15 winners of that feature to go on to win this race.
And Fawkner beat Criterion in the lead-up. Yes the money pit man’s pony was too good for the autumn’s Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby winner.
Criterion just happens to be trained by the one time champion South African trainer, who has had one race in mind.
So when the going gets lung sapping in this Cox Plate who is going to be there at the end? When the 14 horse field sweeps down the back straight, past the school, you’ll not be sure how your investment is going.
For, at this point, it is up hill and the wall of honour is on the outside of the home bend. Concrete, it may be covered in flowers, it may be green, it is where the best of the best thoroughbreds can give in.
Have something on the South African, a good guy called David Payne, for Criterion has been set for one race.
COX PLATE TIPS:
CRITERION
Fawkner
Silent Achiever
BEST BET ON THE DAY
TRUST IN A GUST (Race 6, No 5) [Late Scratching]
By Craig Young
