Source : the age
Good vibe at Flemington for Cox Plate day – a sentence we would not have imagined writing 10 years ago, considering the race has been synonymous with Moonee Valley.
There are dots of rain, but it is warm and at times muggy.
If the weather holds, as expected, the track will retain its good rating and every horse will have their chance.
Plenty of room to move for punters for those still considering to head to the track.
Caddington came from the pack to win the Crockett Stakes.
It looked like Aroused was going to win the day but jockey Billy Egan urged his horse on at the perfect moment and Caddington took off bolted over the line.
Trainer Liam Howley was a little choked up about the win and he likes the future for Caddington.
“This is a really important win for us as a stable,” Howley told Seven.
Race 4 Symal Crockett Stakes
Self-confessed “battler” Harry Coffey will live out a long-held dream when he steers Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man in the $6 million Cox Plate.
The 31-year-old jockey, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at six weeks old, always hoped he would secure a ride in the nation’s weight-for-age championship.
Light Infantry Man defeats Declan Bates riding Pride of Jenni in Race 8, the Tab Australian Cup.Getty Images
But it falls against a strange backdrop, with Saturday’s Group 1 feature to be run at Flemington while its traditional home at Moonee Valley undergoes a major redevelopment.
“It’s going to be unusual to be part of such a great event and my first time riding in it, but it not be where you grow up seeing it,” Coffey said.
In a sea of well-dressed punters, Dylan “Honky” Nicholson and his friend Matt Notman stand out in the crowd.
The duo, who are at Notman’s buck’s day, are wearing custom-made suits.
Nicholson, known by his mates as Honky, wore a white suit dotted with images of Victoria Bitter stubbies and palm trees.
True Rebel has scored an impressive win in the Vase with Blake Shinn guiding his charge to the lead inside the last 100m before he sprinted over the line.
That was just his fourth start and trainer Danny O’Brien loved what he saw and he’s keen to race True Rebel in one of the races at Flemington next week.
“It’s going to be hard not to,” O’Brien told Seven.
Race 3 Drummond Golf Vase
About 9am on Monday, Gai Waterhouse, trainer of Cox Plate favourite Sir Delius, answered the phone while having her nails done at the You Day Spa near the Paris end of Collins Street.
The gregarious septuagenarian admitted to being a bit sleepy as she had already been up for six hours, having attended to her horses at Flemington before returning for the nails appointment near the Spring Street abode that Waterhouse and her husband Rob call home during the spring racing carnival.
“I am having a little bit of beauty treatment and while it’s happening I can feel myself disappearing into another realm,” Waterhouse said.
The exchange is classic Waterhouse who is not only known as an extraordinary trainer but is also racing’s most effervescent personality, needing just a 10-minute power nap to recharge for what lies ahead.
Will Papas was already a winner after the first race of the day.
Papas said he placed a bet of $7.50 on thoroughbred horse Stokke, who stormed home to win race one amid elated cheers from the crowd.
“The beers are on me,” Papas told his group of excited mates.
Craig Williams has powered Buggsy to a win in the Red Anchor Stakes. He gave his horse a perfect late kick along the rail and just finished in front by a nose.
The Speed Machine and Valaroso were close to pinching a win but Buggsy prevailed.
Trainer Mick Price said he was planning to put Buggsy in the paddock but was convinced by the ownership to run this race.
“Now he’s a group 3 winner,” Price told Seven.
For over a decade, Patrick Cripps could not have done more to lift his Carlton mates to glory in September. It turns out the Blues captain has also been integral to some of them chasing their dreams in October and November.
Unlike his feats on the football field, Cripps is an unwitting contributor in this tale of the turf, which starts before he was even born, takes a twist at a hotel bar in Bali two years ago and is set for its climax at Flemington.
Cripps is one of several current and former Blues in the Baggers Naggers syndicate, managed by former Carlton assistant coach John Barker, that has a share in leading Cox Plate contender Birdman.
Also in the ownership are former captains Chris Judd, Marc Murphy and Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering, Will Setterfield and Paddy Dow.
We have an updating gallery with the colour, fun and action from Cox Plate day at Flemington today.
It will be updated during the day, so check back for more pictures later on.
Click here for the full gallery.
