WITH a winner’s purse of over £1.7 million, the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley over the weekend was a great racing highlight. For many, it is Australia’s most prestigious race, while the Melbourne Cup is the most famous.

The dozen starters contained many household names, but in a blanket finish it was one of the three Irish-bred horses in the line-up who prevailed by a whisker. The five-year-old Romantic Warrior won for the 11th time in 16 starts, and took his career winnings to a breath-taking €9,775,837.