Sir Dragonet slays Cox rivals
Sir Dragonet, purchased from Europe with the specific aim of winning the $5.5m Cox Plate, delivered in style yesterday.
Giving jockey Glen Boss a fourth Cox Plate triumph, Sir Dragonet defeated Armory and Russian Camelot in the famous 2040m weight- for- age race at Moonee Valley.
Kiwi-trained mare Probabeel enjoyed a nice run in the trail, but only battled into seventh 4.5 lengths away.
Sir Dragonet raced out of Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering Irish stable until a mid-year sale to the Australian operation of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
In a race decided on testing ground because of rain, Sir Dragonet ($8.90) burst onto the scene between horses and in a cruel twist for his former yard, gathered in the O’Brien-trained Armory ($ 7.50) to win by 11⁄
4 lengths. Armory was being hailed the winner at the 200m until Boss drove Sir Dragonet through after Russian Camelot hit the front at the top of the straight.
Russian Camelot ($3.50) ran a brave race as favourite, finishing three-quarters of a length behind Armory.
For Boss, the win came at the expense of Hugh Bowman who had the ride before earning a suspension out of Caulfield Guineas day.
A three-time Melbourne Cupwinning jockey thanks to the legendary exploits of Makybe Diva, Boss could hardly believe his good fortune as he added to his Cox Plate collection. ‘‘ I feel sorry for Hughie. Sorry, mate,’’ Boss told AAP.
Sir Dragonet was rated a horse of such promise in the northern hemisphere that he was favourite to win last year’s English Derby.