Cox Plate-Your Memories

[sethlad]

Was listening to 927 this morning as they replayed Better Loosen Up's stirring Cox Plate win & 2 thoughts crossed my mind.

1.How is this great horse remembered?
2.What are your Cox Plate memories?


1. My reason for the question is, I'd hate to think that BLU would be remembered for his brave but battling efforts toward the end of his incredible career
Make no mistake,this horse was a freak.When he burst onto the scene, Vo Rogue was taking all before him.
Within a few months,not only had he surpassed the previously unstoppable Vo,he quickly went on to the campaign successfully at the highest level.
His Japan Cup win was breathtaking,sheer will to win.And this was a seriously world class field.He was frighteningly good.

2. Everyone talks about Kingston Town & Bonecrusher but for me the win that I could never forget was Dulcify.
Maybe because I was young & impressionable but that performance was the most dominant I've ever seen.
You never saw wins like that at the old Valley.
True, Sunline has destroyed her rivals in a similar vein but Dulcify basically pulled himself to the front at the 800 & that was that.
What a horse,the best I've seen.

Seth.

 

[Mocca]

Better Loosen Up - criminal - stole Sydeston's Cox Plate (Still an unashamed Sydeston fan, even after all these years).

In the preceeding six months, Sydeston had won four major Group Ones, three at WFA - the Queen Elizabeth, the Tancred/BMW (Sydney's best WFA) and the Caulfied Stakes - and the Caulfield Cup. The 1990 field also had the likes of Vo Rogue, Dr Grace, Horlicks and Stylish Century. Yet Better Loosen Up won, coming from behind, in a then-course record.

BLU's legacy for mine is the 1991 Australian Cup - the only time he destroyed a field. Vo Rogue had won the last two Australian Cups, but BLU absolutely thrashed him. It was after that he broke down.

Excellent horse.

Cox Plate memories. First time I went was in 1987, and I found $20 in the mounting yard after race 6 (a lot of money for an eleven year old). Backed the Rubiton/Our Poetic Prince quinella and it started me off on a life on the punt.

1990 - gutted.

1992 - originally gutted, but roared Super home. Superb race.

1994 - denied a very handy collect by Redding wobbling around the home turn. Certainty beaten.

1996 - a great, and forgotten, race. Saintly, Filante, All Our Mob and Juggler all crossing the line within a neck of each other. Handy bloke by the name of Octagonal behind them, so it's clear to me that the 1996 race is one of the better ones of the modern era.

2000 - Bryan Martin said it best - "This is awesome!". Everyone wanted to pot her that day, and she just destoyed them.

I won't be having a bet on that race, but I hope she wins tomorrow. Go Sunline!

 

[Davo75]

"He's got it Dulcify"

What a Call from the Great Bill Collins!!!!!

He was certainly a special horse!!!!!

BLU was a champion! I know the Australian Cup isnt the Greatest Race on our Racing Calendar but the way that this horse won the Australian Cup was one of the easiest victories I have ever seen!

To win the Cox Plate as an 8 Year Old! Super Impose stamped himself as a champion, not that he hadnt beforehand! BTW - BLU probably should have won this race also!

1996 was one of the best Races I have ever seen!

1998 to see Might and Power win like he was expected to was fantastic, even better was the fact that he soundly defeated the bloody horse that Shane Dye rode that by the day of the race I was sick and tired of hearing about - Tycoon Lil.

1999 A Miracle - I got 8/1 Sunline the night before the race! An absolute Steal!

This is the greatest race in Australasia, WFA Racing is the Ultimate Test!

For what its worth, I believe Lonhro will win........ but if you can fall in love with a horse IMO Northerly fits the bill! Would love to see him win it again! If Sunline gets up I'll also be happy, A Great Finale to a Stellar Career.
Im unsure if I'll have a bet or not! If I do I will be going with my heart and stack up on the West Australian Marvel!

 

[Deej]

If Northerly can win this race again, I think I'll be more stoked than for any other win since the day Rubiton won his Cox.

To win at caulfield the way he did, then to come out and roll em again at the valley, will be the mark of a true out and out champion.

Up until the Caulfield Cup I thought Northerly was a great horse, but not champion. If he wins the Cox I think I'll pronounce him one of the all time greatest.

I wonder what would've happened with Northerly vs Might and Power over 2400...the two best horses I've seen since Naturalism.

 

[k.t.frog]

rubitons win, was it '87? was my first decent bet & i almost lost the plot as he tried his best to fall over coming round the home turn, but im thinking we will see a race tomorrow

 

[AlfAndrews]

I was standing in the betting ring at Cheltenham (S.A.) as Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star cleared out from the pack to slog it out in 1986. I have NEVER heard a crowd go so crazy about an interstate race.

1996 was memorable ... particularly seeing as I backed Saintly. Didn't like his chances as he staggered around the turn, but what a horse.

I've only seen three Cox Plates live in person ... Dane Ripper was a big upset. She was the first horse I ruled out when I did the form. For me the highlight of the day was my spirited heckling of Jeff Kennett as he presented the prize. I enjoyed Might And Power's win immensely. I had a sizeable bet on him at 9 to 10 when I arrived, which I considered great value because I thought he was an absolute monty. Yelled myself hoarse as he led them down the straight. I also managed to get on Sunline in 1999. That was nice. But I really wish I'd been there the next year when she completely brained them.

 

[Slax]

Kingston Town winning his third straight was a great moment and a great horse.

i always remember Better Loosen up for his mannerisms before and after the race. He was a horse when you looked at him you would swear was the rank outside because he looked so lazy in the mounting yard. He also never won by much throughout his career, he knew where the post was and would do enough to win. I will remember is Japan Cup longer than the W.S. Cox Plate victory.