High-class European import Sir Dragonet (IRE) provided Glen Boss with his fourth winner of the $5 million Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
A patented Glen Boss celebration (Pat Scala/Racing Photos)
Having not won a race since earning favouritism for the Epsom Derby with an eight length romp in the Group III Chester Vase in May last year, Sir Dragonet (IRE) threaded the needle between his former stablemate Armory (IRE) and Russian Camelot (IRE) to claim the WFA championship by one and a quarter lengths.
Galileo’s son Armory (IRE), a 3yo to northern hemisphere time, was a meritorious second, three-quarters of a length in front of the courageous Russian Camelot, also a 3yo in the northern hemisphere, who hung on bravely after being made to work from an outside barrier.
Now in the stable of Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, Sir Dragonet (IRE) is likely to start in the Melbourne Cup, that is if Glen Boss has a say.
The flamboyant jockey got the call-up to ride Sir Dragonet (IRE) following the suspension of Hugh Bowman.
"I feel sorry for Hughi," Boss said.
"I got the call up, and Hughie was part of that. They put up a few names and Hughie backed me. He said 'put Bossy on'. And thank God I got the job.
“He might just go a little bit better in a Melbourne Cup because he was actually just starting to get warmed up towards the line.
"There's so many people I've got to thank., Ozzie (Kheir) and all the boys and James Winks. I've been in constant contact with James, He is an incredible judge and he's going to be very good on TV when he gets going because he's got so much to bring. He's very intelligent and articulate and he never minced words with this horse..
A celebration worthy of a crowd of 50,000 (Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher thanked everyone including a sister that he does not have.
"It is unbelievable, there’s no bigger race,The Cox Plate is the race you dream to just have a runner in let alone win it. Just having a horse good enough to run in the race,". Maher said.
“You don’t see that sort of form in this part of the world that much. I just can’t thank them (the owners) enough. Ozzie (Kheir), Phil (Mehrten) and John O'Neill and all of the rest of the owners, Brae (Sokolski), I've probably missed a few. enough. They made the right call on the jockey and he did a great job.
"Also Dave's brother Harry and his father James. They looked after him at Newmarket.
“I've looked after the horse for a bit over two weeks. He never missed an oat and I was always very confident with his fitness."
The 100th Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet (Brett Holburt/Racing Photos)
Runner-up to the superstar Magical at his most recent start in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, Sir Dragonet (IRE) is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Group III-placed Oasis Dream mare Sparrow who is a daughter of the superbly-bred Group III winner and Group 1 Epsom Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful (Sadler’s Wells) who is a sister to breed-shaper Galileo and Black Same Bellamy and a half-sister to Sea The Stars, My Typhoo, Urban Ocean, Born To Sea and Melikah.
Epsom Derby hero Camelot (IRE) shuttled to Australia for one season however the success from his imported sons has been extraordinary.
First and third by Camelot (Mark Smith)
