In the Cox Plate, the sound comes in waves from the stands that will soon be no more, as do the horses from the famous school.
It is pressure unmatched in racing as was the roar that greeted Via Sistina in victory.
It was at the 700m mark where Via Sistina began her surge on Saturday, but when James McDonald got to the top of the Moonee Valley straight, the 173m looked more like a kilometre.
The defending champ rounded the turn with her crown slightly tilted as she hit the front.
At 100m, McDonald could feel the waves of sounds from the punters. but doubted he could deliver for them. He could feel his star was all out. Was there anymore left?.
“I thought she was done,” McDonald said when Buckaroo got to his girth.
“I don’t know how she did that – she just lifted. She wasn’t going to lose.”
Chris Waller watched as his two horses charged to the line.
“I never gave up on her, but she was in trouble,” he said. “That’s what the best do.”
Mark Zahra on Buckaroo felt a chance come but could never quiet grab it on Buckaroo.
“He was courageous, followed the winner everywhere, but I just never got in front at any stage,” Zahra said. “She just finds a head the minute you come up to her.”
It wasn’t Via Sistina’s 2024 victory by eight lengths, this was grit and courage.
Via Sistina looked every bit her eight years. A champ past her best but still good enough.
She dug in enough to have a half head to spare from Buckaroo with Treasurethe Moment 1-1/2 lengths back in third.
To be the best you have to beat the best, and that’s what the Cox Plate has been about for more than 100 years and Via Sistina was the best again on Saturday.
Only 15 horses have won it more than once.
Phar Lap and Tobin Bronze went back-to-back before the race became the Australian championship.
Kingstown Town had its trilogy in the 1980s and in the last 30 years, Sunline, Northerly, and So You Think were multiple winners and all champions.
Before Winx took the race to rare air with four wins for Waller.
However, the champion trainer hadn’t had his family there before with wife Stephanie, son Tyler and daughter Nikita sharing this moment.
“That makes it more special to see them here,” Waller said.
They experienced a build-up like no other with the crowd led by Daryl Braithwaite belting out Horses in rock concert fashion.
The race had its rockstar and she delivered in memorable fashion that brought the crowd to a crescendo to match the final race at Moonee Valley. It was more of a grand final roar.
“A classic Cox Plate. James had to get going early [on Via Sistina] and everyone could see him. He was five wide turning for home,” Waller said immediately after the race.
“She was great and Treasurethe Moment was awesome and gave it something to chase.”
“And Buckaroo that was… I’m glad Via won and Buckaroo, he’s run out of his skin.”
The stands were echoes of the past, the lights were on to add an extra sense of occasion but the apartment building near the start gave a hint to the future.
McDonald noted how special it was after his fourth consecutive win in the Cox Plate on the old track.
“You know what? I’m just rapt that it was a proper run Cox Plate. That’s what Cox Plates are all about,” McDonald said.
“Best horse shone through and she deserves all she gets.”
“It’s going to be sad next year [not at Moonee Valley], but in saying that, the Cox Plate is still on and it is going to be run and won.”
“I just hope I’m on as good a mare as I was today to ride in the race next year.”
“Just so many sentimental things. Last Valley under this circumference, four-in-a-row, three champion racehorses. God, I’m blessed. I’m so lucky.”
