G1 AU$5,000,000 Turf, 2040M
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Prize Money
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The Cox Plate is almost a sprint race run over 2040m. They get running from the top of the track then many take off by the school 800m out. From there only the toughest survive. It is basically the greats of the Australian turf that are winners and so many have won the race multiple times. What stands out, is that it took until 1982 for a horse to take three Plates. In his third attempt KINGSTON TOWN looked gone and the great race caller Bill Collins said he thought he couldn’t win. But once he got clear he flashed home to make it a memorable day. That KINGSTON TOWN record stood until only recently when another of the all-timers WINX made it four on the bounce. The Valley roared as she beat international horses on several occasions. It was part of her 33 race winning streak.
Hong Kong superstar ROMANTIC WARRIOR has narrowly won the AUD$5million G1 Cox Plate in a thrilling finish at Moonee Valley. The Danny Shum-trained race favourite was given a beautiful ride by leading jockey James McDonald who settled the gelding in fourth position, one off the fence and stalking the lead pair of KING COLORADO and ZAAKI. ROMANTIC WARRIOR peeled out into the clear around the home turn and produced a sustained run to win the Cox Plate in a photo finish over the locally-trained MR BRIGHTSIDE.Cox Plate Day (28 OCT 2023)
Cox Plate Results
The three-time HK G1 winner became just the fourth northern hemisphere-trained horse to win the Cox Plate in the race’s 101-year history, following in the footsteps of the Aidan O’Brien-trained ADELAIDE (2014), LYS GRACIEUX for Japan’s Yoshito Yahagi in 2019 and Joseph O’Brien’s STATE OF REST in 2021.
ROMANTIC WARRIOR has now won 11 of his 16 career starts. Four of those wins have been recorded at G1 level. The best middle distance horse in Hong Kong will seek his second LONGINES Hong Kong Cup in the coming December.
