The Group 1 Cox Plate has been run for 2014. The 2040m race, worth $3,000,000, is the final big-money race in the lead-up to this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Here’s our runner-by-runner analysis of the race.
Sacred Falls (9) – Began ok but settled back to third last on the rail. Was still a long way back turning and was very disappointing up the straight and crossed the line in 11th place. Maybe heading to the paddock after that run.
Fawkner (4) – Began well and settled in behind the speed, two off the fence with cover. Moved up to third turning and laid down a good run in the straight, just found one better and was beaten by a long head. Was a good run but had the run of the race and just found the winner too good. Second.
Side Glance (7) – Began well and pushed forward to settle on the speed, one off the fence. Was overtaken mid-race and went in behind the speed on the rail, found a gap at the end of the turn and burst through with a good run in the straight to grab fourth on the line.
Happy Trails (2) – Was the slowest out of the barriers but still managed to worked up to fourth last on the rail. Was midfield, four wide turning and took a while to get going in the straight but hit the line pretty well in the end finishing sixth.
Foreteller (1) – Began well and settled midfield on the rail, was still mid-field turning, inside Happy Trails but was blocked for a run, kept fighting hard up the straight looking for a run but it never really came, probably the bad luck story of the race, could of finished closer than fifth.
The Cleaner (14) – Began ok and worked forward from the wide barrier, was trapped four wide for what seemed an eternity and finally pushed forward to lead on the rail. Was still leading at the turn but his run died and was overtaken at around the 100 meter mark and trailed off to finish ninth.
Guest Of Honour (10) – Began well and settled four wide with cover behind the speed outside of Fawkner. Pulled up when approaching the turn and was passed by the entire field, and failed to finish.
Criterion (6) – was slow to begin and settled near the rear outside of Happy Trails. Was first to make a move before the bend and moved up to track Adelaide into the race. Was very wide turning and seemed to take a while to get going but hit the line pretty well for seventh.
Silent Achiever (11) – Began ok and settled mid-field, one off the fence outside of Fawkner, was still there turning and laid down a good run in the straight to be just beaten for second by Fawkner. Good run, third.
Royal Descent (3) – Began well and settled mid-field, one off the fence outside of Foreteller. Pulled out really wide turning just inside Adelaide and offered nothing when coming into the straight so Boss stopped riding and he finished 12th.
Adelaide (13) – Was slowish to begin and settled last. Started pushing forward mid-race when all the runner had settled and rounded half the field to sit five deep, mid-field. Was the widest runner turning and laid down a huge run to go past them all at the 100 metre mark and won by a long head. Was a huge run considering nothing went his way. First.
Almalad (8) – Began well and settled on the speed three wide outside of Side Glance. Dropped off before the bend and disappeared to finish second last.
Sweyness (12) – Slowish to begin and settled second last outside of Sacred Falls, still near the back of the field at the turn, still outside Sacred Falls. Made a good run up the straight and finished off nicely for eighth, looks to have a big future.
Wandjina (5) – Began well and pushed forward for the lead on the rail. Was overtaken after not long and ended up settling fourth inside Fawkner. Moved up to be 2nd turning but run died at the 100 meter mark and trailed off to finish 10th.
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michael steel
Guest
I'm saying the rise from a 5 year old benchmark 89 horse to a 7 year old winning the Caulfield Stakes is what dreams are made of. I wasn't knocking you Williams, the training or the horse or anything for that matter. It's only two weeks ago that II praised Williams for his methods and had got smashed for that too.
andrew
Guest
on the total contrary, his career reads like owned by a person who understand horses need time to and fill into their frame, be taken through the grades, build confidence, learn race smarts, learn to settle and relax in races.... and then...and only then......be asked to compete at the highest level when they are physically and mentally ready. if only more owners/trainers were prepared to be paitent with their horse instead of chasing the next magic millions inglis bonus diamond slipper race or whatever it is, only to then if they win rush off to stud, or if they lose race on to find out their horse has had enough by time they are 4yo. it is precisely this why our locals struggle in the big cups races, as international racing has a different culture. llyod can afford to sit a horse like fawkener in the paddock as a 2yo, 3yo and then bring him along, many other owners cant (or wont). they did the same thing with zipping and reaped he rewards. fields of omagh and makybe diva are also examples. fakwner has never got injured, never pulled up sore, has perfect racing manners, never misses the start, he is a complete package. i would be very suprised if he didnt pick up another group 1 next spring as an 8yo and also again as a 9yo (noting he will only have 1 run each autumn and 4 or 5 each spring).
michael steel
Guest
Fawkner's career reads more like a battler's horse than a billionaire's horse. He's 7 years old with 25 starts. His eleventh start was winning a benchmark 89 ( his fifth win) before winning to two listed races and a Group 3. He's been in 10 group 1 races in his last eleven stats which is amazing looking back on that early form in benchmark races. As great as it is to win a Caulfield Cup his best win was two weeks ago in the Caulfield Stakes and his 2nd in the Cox Plate was a great effort. At 7 years old he seems to be getting better each run.
andrew
Guest
fawkner 'often finds one better' is an interesting comment on a horse that has won 10 races from 25 starts, and had 8 placings. I think you are incredibly harsh on him. he has run, by my calculations, the 3rd fastest ever time around the 2040m at MV. two ways of looking at the run he had. yours is one. the other is he was very close to pace and had to make his own run (like the winner did) at the 600m and he was one that was exposed early. he was the one that was a sitting shot for a swooper on the turn, hitting the front in fast run race. I do not at all take anything away from the winner, who is top shelf and deserved the win, but to take anything away from fawkner is very harsh.
michael steel
Guest
I would have Almalad in the field only because it's a group 1 winner, but not the other two.
ray
Guest
Halls ride on fawkner was perfect, but as ive stated before, he's got a limited sprint. At the 100, it was his race to loose, had the run of the race, often finds one better. Costly to some concidering the price he often goes around. He's a very good horse, but champions put the enemy out of reach. All concidered about this years Plate, bunched finish, a few hard luck stories. Pre-race tatics, & smart ride by Moore, in high pressure up-front, gave Adelaide victory. The best horse won.
Will Sinclair
Roar Guru
Seriously, Gai's two should never have been in the field, should they? (Even Sweyness shouldn't have been there I reckon, regardless of running well.)