Racing To Win Sounds Cox Plate Warning

Tuesday, 06 September 1616 00:00

John O'Shea's grey dynamo Racing To Win sent shivers thundering through stakeholder's of fellow WS Cox Plate aspirants when recording an explosive victory in the $200,000 G2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens today.

Competing against top quality gallopers that included G1 winner's Paratroopers, Regal Cheer and Undue, Racing To Win vindicated the support of punters on track who installed the four-year-old as a raging $2.30 favourite ahead of Paratroopers ($3.40) by scoring a contemptuous win which was well within his keeping as far out as the 300m mark.

The official winning margin was 1 ½ lengths with New Edge running home well for second ahead of Regal Cheer which fought on strongly for third whilst the highly fancied Paratroopers was "disappointing" according to regular jockey Darren Beadman.

However, a post-race veterinary inspection of Paratroopers revealed a cut to his off-hind leg which may explain his below-par effort.

As the field swung for home champion jockey Glen Boss had last year's Doncaster hero idling and he simply sat quietly and allowed Racing To Win to cruise to leaders Paratroopers and Regal Cheer at the 300m before accelerating and lengthening powerfully to leave all those who witnessed the display in awe.

The stunning performance reminded everyone of the flawless credentials of arguably Sydney's premier Cox Plate contender.

"I thought it was an awesome win," commented a normally nonchalant trainer John O'Shea who admitted his emotions had got the better of him.

"I usually don't get excited like this," he revealed.

"I thought the Warwick Stakes form was very strong and he ran enormous that day as he ran past a fair horse in Eremein."

"He just did it so easy with the 58 ½ [kilograms]."

"I am very happy with him at this stage of his Cox Plate preparation."

Glen Boss was also buzzing with the performance and summed it up with one superlative - "sensational!"

"I'd like to know what his furlong from the 400-200m was....he must have broke 10 [seconds]," exclaimed an excited Boss who incidentally received a $1,000 fine from stewards' after standing in the irons fifty metres from the winning post.

"I actually thought I got there too soon that's how easy he won," he continued.

"To my surprise he just cantered up to them."

"He's just an awesome horse and he's got so much ahead of him."

Racing To Win is by Coolmore Australia's highest priced stallion Encosta de Lago from Surrealist, a daughter of Kenny's Best Pal which fell to the bid of Coolmore's Tom Magnier at this year's Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for a record $1.6 million.

From 11 lifetime starts Racing To Win has now won on 7 of those occasions and has amassed an amazing $2,176,585 in stakes.

O'Shea will start Racing To Win next in the $400,000 G1 George Main Stakes at Randwick on October 30 with the $600,000 G1 Epsom Handicap on October 7 likely to follow before venturing to Melbourne in readiness for his Cox Plate tilt.

Leading bookmaker Michael Eskander immediately wound Racing To Win's Cox Plate price in from $11 - $7 after today's win. 

The weight-for-age championship of Australasia at Moonee Valley on October 28 is shaping as a vintage year with the outstanding son of Encosta de Lago being joined by spring heavyweights Eremein, El Segundo, Haradasun, Lad Of The Manor, Primus and Pompeii Ruler.

Pics - Sportpix