Chief Ironside Adds to the International Flavour on Cox Plate Day

Mark Smith - Saturday October 26

It was a United Nations Cox Plate day at Moonee Valley with the British-bred, Australian-owned Chief Ironside (GB), trained by French-born UK-based David Menuisier, playing his part with a hard-fought success in the $500,000 Group II Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m).

At his first start in Australia, the Australian Bloodstock import finished a troubled 13th in the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 12.

With champion British-based jockey Jamie Spencer in the saddle, Chief Ironside (Lawman) scored by a short-head from the gallant Cliff's Edge (Canford Cliffs) with Best Of Days (Azamour) the same margin away third.Chief Ironside arrives In the nick of time - image Grant Courtney

"We felt that he should've been in the frame, or won (at Caulfield)," Menuisier said.

"I was a little bit frustrated as the horse had done nothing wrong.

"It was just the circumstances so we thought 'let's roll the dice' and carry a bit more weight and put Jamie back on him, plus he's been training great since.

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"We will look at the program and consider our options.

A son of the French Derby winner Lawman, Chief Ironside (GB) had three Group III placings to his credit in England but he was winning for the first time since a handicap at Newmarket in June last year.

He is one of two winners out of the stakes-placed Moment of Time (Rainbow Quest) a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 French Oaks runner-up Time Ahead (Spectrum) and a half-sister to the Group II York Musidora Stakes winner Time Away (Darshaan) the dam of  Group II Saint-Cloud Prix de Malleret winner Time On (Sadler’s Wells) who in turn is the dam of the Group III Newmarket Oh So Sharp Stakes winner Mot Juste (Distorted Humor).

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Race Result - Schweppes Crystal Mile Gr2 1600m

Moonee Valley Track: Good(4) Time: 1:35.46
1
Chief Ironside
- 5h Lawman (FR) x Moment Of Time (GB) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Tnr: David Menuisier Rdr: J P Spencer 59
2
0.1
Cliff's Edge
- 5h Canford Cliffs (IRE) x Simulation (AUS) (Snaadee (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: John Allen 59
3
0.2
Best Of Days
- 6g Azamour (IRE) x Baisse (GB) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 59
4
0.6
Pacodali
- 7g Paco Boy (IRE) x Dont Dili Dali (GB) (Dansili (GB))
Tnr: L Smith Rdr: D Yendall 59
5
0.7
Dreamforce
- 7g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Eskimo Queen (NZ) (Shinko King (IRE))
Tnr: John Thompson Rdr: N Rawiller 59
6
0.9
Sikandarabad
- 7g Dr Fong (USA) x Sindiyma (IRE) (Kalanisi (IRE))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: M Zahra 59
7
1.0
Debt Agent
- 7g Thorn Park (AUS) x Prompt Payment (IRE) (In The Wings (GB))
Tnr: J T Conlan Rdr: M Rodd 59
8
1.4
Madison County
- 4g Pins (AUS) x Red Delicious (NZ) (No Excuse Needed (GB))
Tnr: M Baker & A Forsman Rdr: Damian Lane 58.5
9
4.4
Gailo Chop
- 9g Deportivo (GB) x Grenoble (FR) (Marignan (USA))
Tnr: M J Williams Rdr: D Oliver 59
10
12.4
Pounamu
- 8g Authorized (IRE) x Tangiwai (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: Craig Williams 59
11
14.4
Dream Castle
- 6g Frankel (GB) x Sand Vixen (GB) (Dubawi (IRE))
Tnr: Saeed Bin Suroor Rdr: Pat Cosgrave 59
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