THE PETLEY REPORT: BOSS WINS HIS FOURTH COX PLATE

By Jack Petley | Sunday, October 25, 2020

It hasn't been the best two weeks for champion Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien in his Australian campaign. Firstly, the stable lost Whichita with a leg injury. Then, during the past week Magic Wand developed a hoof problem, was vetted late in the week and withdrawn from the Cox Plate. Armory, too, was vetted but he finally passed the vet test … and then, to add further salt to the wound Armory turned in a gallant second in the Cox Plate at the Valley with the winner being a former O'Brien trained galloper, Sir Dragonet, now owned in Australia and trained locally by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, an Englishman with a great racing background in the UK.

Sir Dragonet was ridden with great judgement by Glen Boss and that gave him his fourth Cox Plate. Boss’s previous three Cox Plate winners were Makybe Diva, So You Think and Ocean Park. Armory looked likely to win the Cox when heading Russian Camelot inside the last 100 metres, but then Boss brought his mount with a wonderfully timed finish and the race was in the bag. And when assessing the winner's prospects in the Melbourne Cup take heed of Boss’s comment after the Cox Plate: "He was only getting warm," said the ace. "He might just go a little better in the Melbourne Cup, I am telling you." Boss only gained the ride on Sir Dragonet when Hugh Bowman was suspended after the Caulfield Guineas.

That win has now placed the son of Camelot at $9-1 for the Melbourne Cup with Tiger Moth still the favourite at $6. Others … $10 Surprise Baby, $11 Anthony Van Dyke, Verry Eleeegant, $15 Prince of Arran, Russian Camelot, $21 Finche.

Miami Bound, by Reliable Man, revelled in the rain affected footing to run down heavily backed Shared Ambition and Oceanex in the Moonee Valley Cup … and the mare has her place in the Cup on 51kgs due to a win in the Ramsden earlier in the year. Oceanex is also assured of a Cup run.

NZ bred Young Werther was a late withdrawal from the Vase and that paved the way for the Patrick Payne trained Cherry Tortoni to take the race after a hard battle with Khoekhoe. But Young Werther still retains favouritism for the Derby at $ 4.20 ahead of Cherry Tortoni.

Homesman looked impressive when winning the Crystal Mile from Ace of Chivalry and Kings Will Dream, while another impressive winner at the Valley was Sovereign Award for Danny O'Brien in the hands of Jamie Kah, who is riding in superb form at present.

In Sydney Gerald Ryan's Peltzer was far too good for his rivals in the $1m Bondi Stakes and Ryan has the view that the son of So You Think is headed for even greater things. “He has a big future," said Ryan.

Winona Costin was in fine form riding a double on Proven Class and Knights Order for the Waterhouse-Bott stable in the Tattersalls City Cup. Costin showed rare judgement on Knights Order out in front, kicked clear off the home bend and won ever so well from Rondinella, who showed her best form for John O'Shea since transferring from NZ.

Jason Collett showed again his coolness in a race when he brought the handsomely bred two-year-old Tiger of Malay home late for a strong win in the Kirkham Plate for Team Freedman. Jason Collett was offered the Melbourne Cup ride on Ashrun earlier in the week but he declined saying that he thought it best to stay in Sydney where, of course, he will ride Gytrash in the upcoming Yes Yes Yes Stakes.

The Kris Lees trained The Bopper made short work of his rivals in the Brian Crowley going to the front early for Josh Parr and holding on ever so easily to beat Tommy Gold.

And that was a good win by Cuba over 1400 metres.

In NZ, versatile galloper William Wallace outstayed his many younger rivals in the Spring Classic over 2000 metres at Riccarton and that took his record to seven wins from 34 starts and just over $200,000 in stakes.

At Te Rapa, the Jamie Richards three-year-old Need I say More ran out an easy winner of the James and Annie Sarten Memorial. Need I Say More cost David Ellis $130,000 at Karaka and he has now won four of his five starts and $145,800 in stake-money. Richards went close in the other feature of the day, the Soliloquy with his filly Kahma Lass being narrowly beaten by the Rogerson trained filly, Da La Terre.

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