source : the age
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.
Adelaide couple Matt Scott and his wife Carolyn Scott have been coming to the Cox Plate with their friends Michelle Paues and Kane Paues for 29 years.
The couples decided by chance to go to the Cox Plate on their way back from a trip from Bathurst in 1997 and have made it a tradition to come to Melbourne every year for the race day since.
“We just love it,” Matt Scott said, as the crowds cheered in the background for the beginning of the first race of the day.
Stokke has won a cracking sprint to open the day at Flemington in a four horse finish.
Jockey Jett Stanley had Stokke on the rails and the horse managed to just stretch over the line ahead of some fast finishers. Trainer Patrick Ryan jnr will love that win.
“We were hoping to get back on top of the ground and get a return to form and that’s happened today,” Ryan told Seven.
“She loves Flemington.”
The Cox Plate might have moved away from its traditional home of Moonee Valley, but the running of the race at Flemington adds another level of intrigue.
There are no international raiders in this year’s edition, but the field of locally trained horses is stacked. Of them, Sir Delius is the real deal.
Ignore the recent betting drift and any pessimistic chatter out of Melbourne – Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott don’t target weight-for-age grand finals unless they have the firepower to execute on race day.
This elite imported son of Frankel has the tactical gears to break hearts, and a high-pressure 2040m test at Flemington is right in his sweet spot.
Jane Middlebrook and her husband Carson Thomas left their home in Tocumwal in NSW at 5am this morning to get to the Cox Plate at Flemington Racetrack.
Their horse Avery Anna is scheduled to run in race four.
Middlebrook has spent hours making her headpiece, which is a collection of handmade pink, orange and red fabric flowers and pearls to match her dress.
Grey skies and light rain did not deter crowds of people from flocking to the Cox Plate this morning.
When the gates opened at 10.30am there was already a big line snaking outside the main gates full of eager racegoers huddled under umbrellas.
Among them was Jahn Wallace and Jess Lockens who were some of the first punters to step into the Flemington Racetrack.
Wallace said he was putting his money on favourite Warwoven to take out the Cox Plate.
Lockens laughed and said she “had no idea” who was racing, but was excited to having a drink with her friends, who had all travelled in from Sunbury for the day.
“We mostly just looking forward to hanging out with mates and hopefully the weather is alright, but we will see how we go,” Wallace said.
Our photographer Justin McManus has captured some lovely pre-race pictures as Flemington opens for the day.
Click here to see our updating gallery.
