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Exciting Cox Plate Looms
The Group one Cox Plate is generally considered
to be the best and most prestigious race in Australia. And the 2002
edition promises to be the best of the best in the history of the
race which dates back to 1922.
While the Melbourne Cup may be better known
worldwide it is the Cox Plate which holds top billing, for racing
purists, in Australia.
The Cox Plate, run at Moonee Valley over
the 'championship' middle distance of 2040 metres is run under weight-for-age
conditions unlike the Melbourne Cup which is a handicap.
The Moonee Valley Racing club prides it
itself on the fact that only champions, with few exceptions, win
the Cox Plate and there is unlikely to be any deviation from that
theme this year.
After last Saturday's racing in Australia,
there now looks to be six genuine Group one stars to contest the
Cox Plate and each with a legitimate winning chance.
They are reigning champion Northerly;
the great mare Sunline who won in 1999 and 2000; Lonhro
who beat Sunline last Saturday; Defier who has beaten
both Lonhro and Sunline this campaign; the emerging
Fields Of Omagh and the Godolphin contender Grandera.
The anticipation towards this year's Cox
Plate certainly grew after last Saturday's Gr. 1 Yalumba Stakes
(2000m) at Caulfield.
The race was won by Lonhro, whose
sire Octagonal won the 1995 Cox Plate, who gradually wore
down Sunline to win by a long neck. The two horses had the
race to themselves from the home turn and staged a stirring battle.
While Sunline was beaten it was
only her third run of this campaign and the effort was good enough
to convince her fans that she will again be a worthy Cox Plate contender.
"She is going to be improved
by that run," said regular jockey Greg Childs, "people
were starting to doubt her but she's still right up there with the
best. They'll know she's in the race at Moonee Valley."
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As
the Class 4 1200m race has been split and ten local races
have been programmed for this Saturday's meeting at Happy
Valley, the Cox Plate originally scheduled to be simulcast
from Moonee Valley will now be shown on-course at both
Happy Valley and Sha Tin shortly after Race 2 for viewing
entertainment only. |
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TV Broadcast
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The event
will also be broadcast on ATV and Cable TV during their
live racing programme. |
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