ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ม.ค. 2025
- This is a celebration of the 100th running of the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s signature event the WS (William Samuel) Cox Plate in 2020.
The WS Cox Plate is recognised as the Weight For Age championship of Australasia. The roll call of winners includes 28 Hall of Fame horses who’ve accumulated 39 victories in the race, four horses in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame participated in the 1992 race. A fifth, Rough Habit is in the New Zealand Hall of Fame. The 100th edition of the Cox Plate provides pause to celebrate the milestone and acknowledge the wonderful horses to have their name on the honour roll.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club distinguishes itself by hosting all four of their Group 1 races at Weight For Age or Set Weights. Races under WFA conditions traditionally attracts elite competition and the MVRC committee has discretionary power to limit fields.
The 1992 Cox Plate field of 14 contained 13 Group 1-winning horses with the 14th, Muirfield Village runner up in a Group 1 at his previous start.
The Cox Plate has been described as the “Best two minutes in Australian sport.” The atmosphere is aided by the proximity of the crowd to participants.
The 1992 Cox Plate came in a ‘golden era’ as the race pitted a number of aspiring stars, Naturalism, Slight Chance, Coronation Day against established gallopers, Let’s Elope, Better Loosen Up, Rough Habit and Super Impose.
The race captured the spirit of the sport with numerous storylines unfolding - most weren’t in the script - highlighted by the midrace carnage where ‘even money’ favourite Naturalism fell.
In a unique twist the favourite and eventual winner were both prepared by Lee Freedman.
Correct weight would be delayed due to the multiple scrimmages that took place in the concluding stages.
The story is intended to elevate this race, as the pinnacle of the 99 editions, having the participants share their individual experiences, both of hardship and joy from the day.
