3 minute read
The weather in Melbourne was awful as the flying horsebox touched down and we felt like turning around and going home!
However there was such good racing in store that we added another horse rug and set off for Moonee Valley.
The program started with the Inglis Banner for the 2yos and we watched them parade with the proud owners of Encountabull who ran a creditable fourth. The winner was Ideas Man by Brazen Beau. And another Brazen Beau was to win the Australia Stakes G3!
Much excitement in the third race when Fascino (Mark Zahra) and Falaise (Ben Melham) dead-heated. Zahra had already won the first race so does that give him to point or 1.5 in the jockeys' champs? Ben went on to win another race but it wasn't enough.
Top woman jockey Jamie Kah won the G3 Australia Stakes on Sartorial Splendor – she would go on and become equal winner of the jockeys' comp which was over the two days of racing at the Valley. Called "Stars of the Saddle" Jamie had to share with Dwayne Dunn the cash but the each got a silver whip.
There was a nice tribute to Winx with the connections being driven round to a spot in front of the winning post with Winx's 4 Cox Plates on display. Everyone was feeling a bit of nostalgia for the Winx days. The owners said that while it had sounded fantastic to think of a 5th Cox Plate they all felt they had done the right things by retiring her when they did.
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup saw the emergence of the overseas runners and they did not disappoint as two sons of Camelot took out the first and third spots – Hunting Horn who gets into the Melbourne Cup field and Downdraft with the nicest toenails. (We saw him getting them painted prior to the race). And they were trained by the O'Briens – Hunting Horn by father Aidan and Downdraft by son Joseph to keep it all in the family.
A bit of a surprise when the unsung Chief Ironside (great name – by Lawman) at 25/1 won the Crystal Mile for French/English trainer David Menuisier and jockey Jamie Spencer. Australian Bloodstock have bought into the horse so he may well be staying here especially after this win.
And then it was time for the big one – showers kept passing over as the horses paraded round the mounting yard but then they went away and the horses headed off to the start and the race with excitement building. Lys Gracieux had drawn wide so Damian Lane kept her ticking over at the back of the field until it was time to make a move around the field and as they came into the straight he said "go" and away they went, with the first win of the Cox Plate for Japan. This also meant she got an extra million on top of the first prize for an overseas winner of the Cox Plate International Bonus. All our Japanese friends were so happy, with this adding to the joy of last week's Caulfield Cup win by Mer de Glace and no doubt a drain on Melbourne's Sake supplies.
A big thamk you to Alistair and all the MV peeps for your great organisation - we'll be back for the 100th!
