A new Cox Plate legend is born as James McDonald surges home on Romantic Warrior in photo finish in Damien Oliver’s final race
- The Hong Kong horse Romantic Warrior wins Cox Plate
- Won to win in the end
- Pipped Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood
James McDonald has claimed one of the most exciting Cox Plate titles in history after defeating the Danny Shum-trained champion Romantic Warrior.
McDonald, who confirmed his victory last year aboard Hong Kong’s leading middle-distance galloper Anamoe, did his best to win Australasia’s weight-for-age championship by a nose.
It was a furious finish down the straight as Mr Brightside tried to hold off the late wave of Pre-face favorite Romantic Warrior and Alligator Blood.
It was a photo finish, but Hong Kong product Romantic Warrior won by a nose.
‘This means so much. I have so much confidence in this horse and oh my god. I thought we were beaten,” an emotional McDonald said after the race.
“When the camera didn’t follow me and I just went… I can’t tell you what I said.
‘I can’t believe we won the Cox Plate.’
The final 200 meters of the Cox Plate was one of the most exciting in history, with Romantic Warrior winning a photo finish from Mr Brightside and the Gai Waterhouse-trained Alligator Blood.
James McDonald celebrates winning his second Cox Plate in a row after a last-second lunge to set up Mr Brightside
Shum was just as emotional on the sidelines, thanking all his connections in Australia and Hong Kong.
‘I’m very happy, I don’t know how to tell you how happy I am. “I’m very, very happy,” he said.
“It will be really big for the city, I want to thank Peter, James McDonald, the whole team, all the Hong Kong fans, my wife Kristy and my son Aaron.
“I was confident he would run a strong race.”
It was the 22nd and final Cox Plate for veteran jockey Damien Oliver who finished fourth with outsider Duais.
Veteran race caller Bruce McAvaney said McDonald’s win over Romantic Warrior was a changing of the guard.
“I feel like the baton has been passed by Damien,” he said.
‘Oliver to James McDonald today in many ways. Olly is the greatest of all time, we know that, but in many ways I think the baton is being changed today, on the day that Olly rides in his 22nd Cox Plate and last Cox Plate, we recognize here, I think, a genius. ‘
MORE TO FOLLOW
Opie Bosson rides Imperatriz to win Race 8, the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes, during Melbourne Racing at Moonee Valley Racecourse
Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott watch intently during race three in Mooney Valley
A huge crowd turned up for the Cox Plate and a full day of racing at Mooney Valley Racecourse
Trainer Mitchell Freedman poses with his daughter after Skybird won the 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic
It was another big weekend in Moonee Valley, with the 140th running of the Gold Cup on Friday evening, and the Manikato Stakes immediately ahead of the Cox Plate.
Short-priced favorite Imperatriz claimed the $2 million Manikato Stakes with a dominant performance for trainer Mark Walker and jockey Opie Bosson.
The star Kiwi mare led from start to finish in her seventh Group 1 victory, with I Am Me and Uncommon James filling the minor places.
2023 COX PLATE FIELD
- 1 – Romantic Warrior (Barrier 7)
- 2 – Zaaki (12)3 – Mr Brightside (2)
- 4 – Alligator blood (5)
- 5 – Golden journey (8)
- 6 – My Oberon (4)
- 7 – Pinstripe (11)
- 8 – Fangirl (9)
- 9 – Duais (1)
- 10 – Victoriaweg (6)
- 11 – Militarize (3)
- 12 – King Colorado (10)