One of the country’s finest trainers will set foot on the vast green lawns at Flemington on Saturday with a serious Cox Plate chance and mixed emotions.
asserted
One → set → chance
For most of his adult life, Joe Pride has dreamed of winning the country’s weight-for-age championship, and believes he can with Ceolwulf, but he always thought it would be at Moonee Valley.
asserted
it → dream → Valley
Victory in the coveted race, and a $4 million first-prize share of its $6 million purse, will be achieved for the first time at Flemington – a shift in venue to accommodate Moonee Valley’s 21-month closure and $250 million rebuild.
asserted
share → achieve → closure
“It’s such an iconic race, and it belongs at Moonee Valley.
asserted
it → ’ → Valley
Everyone knows that,” Pride said before flying to Melbourne this week.
asserted
Pride → know → Melbourne
“The race is still 2040 metres, but it doesn’t matter.
asserted
it → matter → ?
If it were shifted full-time to Flemington, it’s the Mackinnon Stakes mark II, isn’t it?
asserted
it → shift → Flemington
It’s not the Cox Plate any more.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Pride is not the only one who will be feeling some melancholy for the past this weekend as one of the jewels in Victorian racing’s crown is played out away from its spiritual home – the tight-turning amphitheatre of Moonee Valley that has hosted many of racing’s most enthralling title fights.
asserted
that → feel → fights
Fans still get misty eyed talking about Bonecrusher’s lionhearted 1986 victory over unlikely challenger Our Waverley Star, or the heart-stopping finish of 1992 when Super Impose exploded late to triumph over a bunch of equine superstars.
asserted
Impose → get → superstars
“Bonecrusher-Our Waverley Star, it could only happen around Mooney Valley that sort of contest.
uncertain
it → happen → contest
That’s the race I grew up wanting to win,” Pride said.
asserted
Pride → ’ → ?
“But if I win on Saturday, I’m not going to be worried.
asserted
I → win → Saturday
And as it turns out, Flemington is more likely a better track for my horse.
asserted
Flemington → turn → horse
“So it’s still the Cox Plate, but I think the Cox Plate belongs at Moonee Valley.
asserted
Plate → ’ → Valley
I don’t think anyone disagrees with that.”
asserted
anyone → think → that
Flemington has three imposing grandstands and kilometres of rose-lined walkways.
asserted
Flemington → have → walkways
In comparison, the Valley was a saucer-like venue that amplified a din so loud you could barely hear yourself think.
uncertain
yourself → amplify → din
But some things will never change; singer-songwriter Michael Paynter will belt out a rendition of Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses as the competitors make their way onto the track.
“We’re trying to replicate some of that Valley experience at Flemington,” Valley chairman Adam Lennen told this masthead.
asserted
Lennen → change → masthead
The Cox Plate will also remain a racing purists’ day, with Olympics swimmer and race ambassador Sam Williamson and his Swedish partner Linnea Lindberg to be among a scattering of celebrities on course.
asserted
Williamson → remain → course
It took months of spirited negotiations between Moonee Valley Racing Club and the Victorian Racing Club, which governs Flemington, before a deal to host this year’s race was finally struck.
asserted
deal → take → race
Big bookie Ladbrokes (Moonee Valley) and Gillon McLachlan’s Tabcorp (VRC) agreed to split on-track signage as major partners for the day, while the Valley will pay VRC staff to cater for the crowd.
asserted
Valley → agree → crowd
Flemington will operate at half capacity.
asserted
Flemington → operate → capacity
Key zones such as the Birdcage, the rails, and the Nursery are being kept closed in preparation for the Melbourne Cup crowds of 100,000.
asserted
zones → keep → 100,000
But Lennen believed that worked in the race’s favour.
asserted
that → believe → favour
“I suspect that even with a 35,000 or 40,000 crowd, a lot of those are going to be on the lawn, weather permitting, and I think actually that may mean the atmosphere is more akin to the old Valley, with the Valley roar, as opposed to having that crowd dispersed over the whole complex,” Lennen says.
uncertain
Lennen → suspect → complex
Early predictions of 50,000 to 60,000 people swarming to Flemington are unlikely to materialise, in part due to a minimal take-up from VRC members, who have to register online for a free ticket into the track.
asserted
who → swarm → track
Valley members will be able to swipe their cards at the gate.
asserted
members → swipe → gate
Not for the nine races on Cox Plate day, but for what comes next – the leviathan of Melbourne Cup week.
asserted
what → come → week
“It’s certainly going to be a challenge,” Flemington track manager Liam O’Keeffe told this masthead.
asserted
O’Keeffe → go → masthead
“You walk away from any meeting, and you have damage.
asserted
you → walk → damage
So we’ve got to make sure we’ve got the track in as good a nick as possible.
asserted
track → get → nick
It’s been racing really well.
asserted
It → race → ?
This will be the first time in 15 years O’Keeffe has not been enjoying a drink with friends as a spectator at Moonee Valley.
asserted
O’Keeffe → enjoy → Valley
“I’ll be here at five in the morning and working the whole day, but it’s only for one year, and then we’ll be back there [at the Valley] next year, hopefully.
asserted
we → work → Valley
It’ll be a different experience, I’m sure.”
asserted
I → ’m → ?
Returning to the Valley next year has been a controversial talking point.
asserted
Returning → return → Valley
Furthermore, this masthead reported in August that the club would not get the Cox Plate back unless its rebuild met strict industry standards.
asserted
rebuild → report → standards
But Lennen said work on the new track, with a longer and wider straight, was ahead of schedule, while they were already war gaming the use of temporary infrastructure to host a crowd.
asserted
they → say → crowd
“We’re working closely with Racing Victoria to get racing back at the Valley, ideally for grand final eve next year.
asserted
We → work → eve
…and 25 more, not listed.
The Aporia
