Moonee Valley

Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Group 1)

HONG Kong has claimed a historic first Cox Plate win with the Irish-bred Romantic Warrior. The Danny Shum-trained Acclamation gelding, bred by the Egan family’s Corduff Stud and Tim Rooney, was sent out as favourite in the 2,040 metre A$5 million Group 1 with the services of James McDonald, who won the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Sha Tin on Romantic Warrior in April.

Three-deep out of the first turn and just behind the leading pair, McDonald was ideally placed to take advantage of the tempo as it slowed through the back of the course. Approaching the final bend with Mr Brightside to his inside, Romantic Warrior went wide to go around Zaaki and Alligator Blood, who hit the front at the 200 metre mark.

Craig Williams on Mr Brightside found a way along the inside and went after Alligator Blood, overhauling him with 50 metres left as Romantic Warrior continued to inch closer.

In literally the final stride, Romantic Warrior broke the hearts of the Hayes camp who thought they had won the race. Third went to the All Too Hard gelding Alligator Blood, who was right on his distance limit.

Means so much

“I can’t believe I’ve won the Cox Plate. This means so much to me, but I thought I got beaten,” said James McDonald.

“This horse is pretty special to me. I mentioned if he came to a Cox Plate, he’d be a suitable horse.

“I meant what I said and credit to (owner) Peter (Lau) and Danny (Shum), it takes a hell of a lot of balls to come out of Hong Kong with all the prize money. It is one of the best racing jurisdictions in the world and they come here and showcase their boy.”

The win was McDonald’s second in a row having won on Anamoe the previous year. Aidan O’Brien’s Victoria Road didn’t get involved finishing ninth of the 12 runners.

For Shum the win vindicates the faith he had in his horse’s ability. “This has a big meaning for me. I couldn’t be happier,” said Shum. “I was confident he would run a good race.

“He overcame all of the challenges and the difficulties. James McDonald gave me a very good report.”

The win was Shum’s second international success having taken out the 2012 King’s Stand Stakes with Little Bridge. Romantic Warrior will now return to Hong Kong to prepare for the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup over 2,000 metres at Sha Tin on December 10th.

Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes (Group 1)

OPIE Bosson declared Imperatriz the best horse he has ridden after she obliterated another sprint field at Moonee Valley, to claim her third group race in succession at the track in the Manikato Stakes.

The Mark Walker-trained I Am Invincible mare went to the front and dedicated the race. Applying the pressure from halfway in the 1,200 metre contest, Imperatriz had broken clear rounding the bend, gapping the field.

Eased down, she won by three lengths from another I Am Invincible mare, I Am Me, with the Cable Bay gelding Uncommon James third.

“It is great for the ownership who have been so understanding about not going to Sydney,” said trainer Mark Walker on the decision not to challenge for the A$20 million Everest two weeks earlier. We were thinking about her longevity and it is a big thrill.”

The win is her second successive Group 1 with the chance of a third to come on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

“I’ve never won a race in a straight line so we’ll both be first timers,” said Bosson of the Champions Sprint.

“It is a lot easier on horses like this. She just does it for me, really. She’s something special. She’s the best I’ve ever ridden, by far. I’ve never ridden a horse that can just switch off and then go bang when you want it.”

Randwick

Spring Champion Stakes (Group 1)

THE James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten, by the Irish-bred stallion Harry Angel, has put on ‘a clinic’ to crush his 11 rivals in winning the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick by four lengths.

Towering over his rivals as he burst down the middle of the track, Tom Kitten went to the line untroubled. Second was the Snitzel colt Cap Ferrat with the Maurice colt Ganbare third.

“He’s a gentle giant, but he’s got so much ability,” said jockey Adam Hyeronimus after his third career Group 1. “I don’t think they’ve got to the bottom of him, I think he’ll be better next preparation.”

Cummings is now the third generation of his family to win the race after his grandfather Bart and father Anthony.

“He’s a very interesting horse,” said Cummings. “He’s from a quick family but he is inbred to Machiavellian, the sire of Street Cry, and the horse has a classic style about him. He looks like he will eat up 2,500 metres and the VRC Derby is a time-honoured race.

“It’s certainly worthwhile thinking about, but whatever we do will revolve around how well Tom Kitten is and that’s the bottom line.

THE 3,200 metre A$8.4 million Lexus Melbourne Cup is just three days away and, with the field due to be finalised on Saturday afternoon, the Willie Mullins-trained Vabuan remains the $4 favourite on local markets.

Last year’s winner Gold Trip is now second favourite after his strong Cox Plate run, while the Caulfield Cup winner What A Fight is on the third line of betting ahead of Soulcombe at $8.

On Monday, Vabuan and Absurde travelled to Flemington to work on the course proper with assistant trainer David Casey on Vauban.

The pair worked over 1,600 metres, clocking a sharp 23.49 seconds for the final 400 metres as Vauban put four lengths into Absurde on the line.

Mick Price, who had his Cup runner Lastotchka at Flemington having also cleared quarantine, was impressed by the work.

“It was like SAS out there for that horse,” said Price. “That’s a lot of work. I felt tired looking at it.

Well-trod path

For Casey, it’s a path they have trod with past Mullins Cup runners, giving their horses a sight of Flemington before the big day.

“Everything seems good, we’re having a ball,” offered Casey. “The horse has been very relaxed, taken it all in, done everything we’ve asked. Great to get a morning like this morning to come to Flemington and see something different.”

Asked what a win would mean to the stable Casey replied: “It’d be huge, it’d be extra special. Probably our biggest flat achievement, to come this far across the world and to take home the race would be absolutely brilliant.”

THE former Joseph O’Brien-trained Cleveland won last Friday night’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup over 2,500 metres to ensure his place in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup field.

Trained by Kris Lees and raced in the Williams family colours, the Camelot horse won by three-quarters of a length over the 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.

Third was the British-bred Future History who will be ridden by Hollie Doyle on Tuesday in the Cup at 50kgs.

1 Gold Trip (Fr) Ciaron Maher/David Eustace 9st 3lb

2 Alenquer (Fr) Michael Moroney 8st 13lb

3 Without A Fight (IRE) Anthony/Sam Freedman 8st 13lb

4 Breakup (Jpn) Tatsuya Yoshioka 8st 9lb

5 Vauban (Fr) Willie Mullins 8st 9lb

6 Soulcombe (GB) Chris Waller 8st 6lb

7 Absurde (Fr) Willie Mullins 8st 5lb

8 Right You Are Ciaron Maher/David Eustace 8st 5lb

9 Vow And Declare Danny O’Brien 8st 5lb

10 Cleveland (IRE) Kris Lees 8st 3lb

11 Ashrun (Fr) Ciaron Maher/David Eustace 8st 2lb

12 Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) Phillip Stokes 8st 2lb

13 Okita Soushi (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 8st 2lb

14 Sheraz (Fr) Chris Waller 8st 2lb

15 King Frankel (IRE) Annabel Neasham 8st

16 Lastotchka (Fr) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 8st

17 Magical Lagoon (IRE ) Chris Waller 8st

18 Military Mission (IRE) Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott 8st

19 Serpentine (IRE) Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott 8st

20 Virtuous Circle (NZ) Liam Howley 8st

21 Future History (GB) Ciaron Maher/David Eustace 7st 12lb

22 More Felons (IRE) Chris Waller 7st 13lb

23 True Marvel (FR) Matthew Smith 7sts 12lb

24 Valiant King (GB) Joseph O’Brien 7st 12lb

25 Ladies Man (NZ) Allan Sharrock 7st 12lb

26 Athabascan (Fr) John O’Shea 7st 12lb

27 United Nations (IRE) Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace 7st 12lb

28 Fancy Man (IRE) Annabel Neasham 7st 12lb

29 Hasta La War Sue Murphy 7st 12lb

30 Kalapour (IRE) Kris Lees 7st 12lb

31 Interpretation (IRE) Ciaron Maher/Dave Eustace 7st 12lb

32 Mostly Cloudy (IRE) Trent Busuttin/Natalie Young 7st 12lb