Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
History will be made in the Cox Plate
With the G1 Cox Plate being held at Flemington rather than its iconic home ground of Moonee Valley, historians may eventually say that any records set in 2026 don’t really count. Or the change of venue might fade into obscurity as the records become what matters. But what is really at stake for the 12 runners?
History.
Jockey James McDonald has won the iconic race four years in a row; on Anamoe, Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) and then twice in succession with Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock). This year, he teams up with Chris Waller-trained Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio).
James McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Waller is also chasing a record. His six wins – four with Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) and two with Via Sistina – take him within one of equalling legendary trainer TJ Smith’s record of seven.
“Everyone wants to win a Cox Plate. It’s the weight-for-age champion race of Australia,” Waller told racing.com.
“It’s just theatre. It’s just two minutes of pure adrenaline.”
“It’s just theatre. It’s just two minutes of pure adrenaline.” - Chris Waller
McDonald agreed. “Whenever you mention Cox Plate, it gives me goosebumps. It sits high up on the agenda and we’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of luck in the race.
“It’s a bit unique this year being at Flemington, but it won’t lose its flair. It’ll still be the Cox Plate and it’ll be there to win.”
And as for Aeliana’s chances, Waller was fairly bullish.
Aeliana | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“There’ll be no excuses. She’s a mature horse now, as a 5-year-old. We’ve looked after her to some degree. She’ll get her chance, especially at Flemington in a tough 2000.
“It’ll be a different type of 2000 metre weight-for-age race at Flemington. It’ll be a different scenario to the Champions 2000-metre race on the last day, just because of pressure and what pressure brings to grand finals.”
Waller also has Birdman (Ire) (Free Eagle {Ire})) in the race.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A Spring Champion Stakes for the ages
Owner Max Whitby won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes and G1 Cox Plate with Savabeel, back when they weren’t programmed on the same day. This year, he has Scarole (Ole Kirk) running in the Spring Champion.
“I'll never forget (Savabeel’s debut). There's a lot of things I've forgotten in life, but I never forget that,” Whitby told racenet.com.au.
“I'll never forget (Savabeel’s debut). There's a lot of things I've forgotten in life, but I never forget that.” - Max Whitby
“It was a Saturday, he went over 1000m and won by nearly five-lengths. I walked back in and all my mates were there on the drink as usual and I said ‘Shit, I might have something here' and they all said ‘yeah, good on ya.
“I don't think he gets near enough acknowledgement for that Cox Plate win which used to get in my craw. Come Cox Plate day and they do all the replays, it's not uncommon for them to skip his win. I think there is a little bit of sarcasm directed his way because of the 48.5 kilos we got in the weights.
Max Whitby | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I used to love going to Moonee Valley. They had these glass doors and they had all the names of the Cox Plate winners embossed and right on the handle where you had to push out for the main door, was Savabeel. It was full length and it gave me a little bit of a chuckle for many years.
“I would have loved to have bought the door when they pulled it apart.”
Scarole, trained by Ciaron Maher, comes off a last start third in the G3 Gloaming Stakes and was a winner at Caulfield three starts ago.
“He’s got a bit of a touchy mouth, so you just have to go with him,” Jo Gerard-Dubord said.
“Nash had to go to Plan B last start, but he settled well and actually ran really well, so that gave us some options as to how we ride him. Nash has had a sit on him and knows him now, which I think will be a big thing.”
Scarole | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Rival Mindgames (Maurice {Jpn}) hasn’t had a typical preparation for the G1 Spring Champion Stakes, having won his first two starts at Wyong and Goulburn before a last start second at Newcastle. The perception of a weaker field has trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton ready to give him a go at the elite level.
“We had the race in mind for him after his debut win but he had a foot abscess when he came back in for the spring that cost him a week or two,” co-trainer Tom Charlton told racingnsw.com.au.
“His runs back have been really good. He wasn’t afforded a fair crack at things last Saturday and it afforded us the chance to consider this race I potentially not a vintage year.
“He will enjoy the trip and win, lose, or draw we have these types of races planned for him in the autumn.”
Mindgames | Image courtesy of Wyong Race Club
In form Crescent King to step up to stakes class
Trainer Peter Snowden’s 3-year-old colt Crescent King (Written Tycoon) is unbeaten in two starts this campaign and steps into black type on Saturday in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes. He was also placed at two.
“He came in very late, he always showed good talent but was in a hurry to do everything,” Snowden told racingnsw.com.au.
Crescent King | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“This time in he’s been much better, the benefit of that first prep has helped him a lot. He’s been more focused and more relaxed in his work and that’s shining through in both starts he’s had. It’s a big jump to stakes class but they’re all in the same boat.
“Both his wins have been good, I’ve liked what I’ve seen. He’s always been a nice horse but he seems to have come back a bit better this time in. You’d think 1200m would be ideal for him.”
He won twice in Sydney over 1100 metres this time in.
“It’s probably going to come up too soon for him in Melbourne and if he does happen to win on Saturday I’d put him out anyway. He could just have a freshen up and come back for the Magic Millions or we can sit back and think he could win a decent race through the autumn.”
Peter Snowden | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Unbeaten Punxsutawney Phil (Ole Kirk) looks the main challenger in the race, and he is also stepping up in the Listed class for the first time. The other unbeaten horse in the race is debutant winner Revolina (Russian Revolution).
Impressive debutant winner Aroused steps into Listed class
The Listed William Crockett Stakes at Flemington for 3-year-old fillies is headlined by $5.6 million filly Chayan (I Am Invincible) who is coming two mid-field efforts in her two starts this time in. The G2 Percy Sykes winner was the top lot at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale earlier this year.
A pair of debutant winners will make the big step up in class. Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin-trained Avery Anna (The Autumn Sun) won on debut at Geelong, and Grahame Begg-trained Aroused (Snitzel) won impressively at Ballarat on debut.
Chayan | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It's pretty bold placement you could say, but she could not have been more impressive than what she was when she won her maiden,” Begg said.
“There aren't many races that we can run her in, and we feel that she will be very well suited up the straight. She jumps, she travels, she does whatever you want her to do, and she puts herself in a position where she can travel through her gears.
“She might get exposed going up the straight for the first time through lack of experience, but we think she's a pretty nice horse in the making. If she can run well on Saturday, there's the Thoroughbred Club Stakes at Sandown on November 14.
“It's a $1 million race for 3-year-olds, so that would be the race she would go to, all being well, after Saturday and then we'd look to the autumn.”
Grahame Begg | Image courtesy of Grahame Begg Racing
