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Cox Plate 2019: Japanese star Lys Gracieux storms to victory

Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracieux has lived up to her reputation by running away with our coveted weight-for-age race as colourful Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi bagged his Holy Grail - and he'll be back. You can bet his hat on it!     

Gilbert GardinerGilbert Gardiner
@gilbertgardiner
3 min read
October 26, 2019 - 7:57PM
Lys Gracieux was dominant in her Cox Plate win.
Lys Gracieux was dominant in her Cox Plate win.

THE official Cox Plate carnival hashtag reads: LOVETHEVALLEY. And how could we not.

From another rousing rendition of rock anthem ‘Horses’, sans Daryl Braithwaite this year, to a hush then roar of a near-capacity crowd as the gates crash open to begin the best two minutes in sport.

SCROLL DOWN TO RELIVE OUR COVERAGE

Not even pesky droplets of rain, which descended on the Valley three minutes before advertised start time, thwarted racegoers enthusiasm before Japanese raider and Cox Plate favourite made one of the stronger weight-for-age fields in recent memory appear second-rate.

Not unlike Winx actually, during the turf legend's four-year Valley reign.

Trainer Yoshito after is seen after Lys Gracieux won race 9, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate
Trainer Yoshito after is seen after Lys Gracieux won race 9, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate

Lys Gracieux was ridden like the best horse in the field that she was, and duly saluted to give racing-mad Japan two legs of Melbourne's spring slam.

Ironic isn't it, when you consider most Victorian racing officials expected counterparts in Sydney to be the biggest threat to Melbourne's spring calendar.

We should have known, when the Japanese owners and trainers of Cox Plate winner Lys Gracieux and Caulfield Cup champion Mer De Glace landed in Melbourne last month.

The Japanese don't just bring horses to Australia, they often bring winners and while Lys Gracieux will not be coming back to defend her crown next year our spring carnival is that much richer for the international contingent.

Damian Lane combines with Japanese stayer Lys Gracieux to take out the Cox Plate.
Damian Lane combines with Japanese stayer Lys Gracieux to take out the Cox Plate.

And writing was on the wall early, with Irish import Hunting Horn, Frenchman-trained English galloper Chief Ironside winning the Cox Plate lead-up races.

For all of her dominance, Lys Gracieux did give trainer Yoshito Yahagi a few nervous moments, settling back and needing an ounce of luck on turning to mow down plucky three year-old Castelvecchio.

New Zealand visitor Te Akau Shark savaged the line to finish third ahead of Aiden O'Brien's Magic Wand, who hung on stoutly after making the early pace.

MORE NEWS

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Cox Plate: Where your horse finished

Melbourne Cup: Everything you need to know

For colourful trainer Yahagi, one of Japan's leading handlers famous for big race wins and striking headware, the Cox Plate is the Holy Grail.

Yahagi watched Kingston Town win the 1982 Cox Plate at the Valley and on Saturday had his mare and surname added to the coveted honour board.

"For me, personally, this is the best race," Yahagi said via an interpreter.

Damian Lane and Lys Gracieux return to scale much to the joy of favourite backers.
Damian Lane and Lys Gracieux return to scale much to the joy of favourite backers.

“It’s been over 30 years (since Kingston Town’s 1982 win), so I finally came back home.

“To win a Cox Plate meant a lot to me.”

Just as the legend Winx did previously, Lys Gracieux never looked like losing the Cox Plate as a crowd of 24,648 roared louder with every bound of the 2040m weight-for-age classic.

Lys Gracieux was the 11th horse onto the track from the mounting yard and the first past the winning post.

Tough Tassie mare Mystic Journey, a one-time Cox Plate favourite, who did get the biggest cheer walking onto the track proper, and Kings Will Dream were game in defeat but never a genuine winning chance.

The Valley belonged to Lys Gracieux, Yahagi, jockey Damian Lane and an ecstatic Japanese supporters in hugging and kissing each other in the mounting yard.

Like with the most recent renewals of the Cox Plate, the mare and favourite, never looked like getting beat.

Yahagi knew.

Damian Lane celebrates his second major success in a week as his claims the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.
Damian Lane celebrates his second major success in a week as his claims the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.

“I was confident because she’s been really, really thriving since she arrived in Australia, she’s actually feeling better than what she was in Japan,” Yahagi said.

Lys Gracieux will return to Japan to contest the Group 1 Arima Kiren next.

But Yahagi wants to return next year, with a different horse “probably”, and a suitcase full of hats.

Yahagi sported a Crocodile Dundee inspired hat at last Tuesday’s important barrier draw.

Saturday’s lid, however, was a much more demure black number with a dark red print trim.

“First time I put this hat on,” Yahagi said.

“So, lucky hat.”

Damian Lane and trainer Yoshito Yahagi with the star of the show, Lys Gracieux.
Damian Lane and trainer Yoshito Yahagi with the star of the show, Lys Gracieux.

Updates

That concludes our coverage of Cox Plate Day where we heralded the arrival of a new star in Lys Gracieux, who was simply far superior to her rivals as she charged home for a decisive victory in the $5 million Australasian weight-for-age championship.

But despite the heroIcs of the Japanese stayer, the day really belonged to star jockey Damian Lane, who claimed the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.

The win puts Lane in the running to become the first jockey in history to complete Australian racing's 'Grand Slam' in a calendar year.

Lane won the the Golden Slipper on Kiamichi in March before winning the Caulfield Cup on Mer De Glace and now has the Cox Plate in his keeping.

He will be reunited with Mer De Glace in the Melbourne Cup in his quest to win the fourth major.

Join us again next week when we return for our coverage of Derby Day from Flemington racecourse.

THE WINNERS

For all our SuperCoach enthusiasts, here are the placings for all races from The Valley.

RACE 10

1st – AMANGIRI

2nd – SEEWHATSHEBRINGS

3rd – GIRL TUESDAY

RACE 9

1st – LYS GRACIEUX

2nd – CASTELVECCIO

3rd – TE AKUA SHARK

RACE 8

1st – CHIEF IRONSIDE

2nd – CLIFF'S EDGE

3rd – BEST OF DAYS

RACE 7

1st – HUNTING HORN

2nd – MR QUICKIE

3rd – DOWNDRAFT

RACE 6

1st – SOUL PATCH

2nd – MOONLIGHT MAID

3rd – SERIOUS LIASON

RACE 5

1st – SARTORIAL SPLENDOR

2nd – CONDO'S EXPRESS

3rd – THREE BEANS

RACE 4

1st – BROADWAYANDFOURTH

2nd – NICCOVI

3rd – VILLAMI

RACE 3

1st – FASCINO (deadheat)

1st – LA FALAISE

3rd – NUDGE

RACE 2

1st – FINE DANE

2nd – ESPERANCE

3rd- MAKAHU BOY

RACE 1

1st – IDEAS MAN

2nd – BELLA NIPOTINA

3rd- ARTIC ICE

Thanks for joining us

Simon Moy

That concludes our coverage of Cox Plate Day where we heralded the arrival of a new star in Lys Gracieux, who was simply far superior to her rivals as she charged home for a decisive victory in the $5 million Australasian weight-for-age championship.

But despite the heroIcs of the Japanese stayer, the day really belonged to star jockey Damian Lane, who claimed the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.

The win puts Lane in the running to become the first jockey in history to complete Australian racing's 'Grand Slam' in a calendar year.

Lane won the the Golden Slipper on Kiamichi in March before winning the Caulfield Cup on Mer De Glace and now has the Cox Plate in his keeping.

He will be reunited with Mer De Glace in the Melbourne Cup in his quest to win the fourth major.

Join us again next week when we return for our coverage of Derby Day from Flemington racecourse.

THE WINNERS

For all our SuperCoach enthusiasts, here are the placings for all races from The Valley.

RACE 10

1st – AMANGIRI

2nd – SEEWHATSHEBRINGS

3rd – GIRL TUESDAY

RACE 9

1st – LYS GRACIEUX

2nd – CASTELVECCIO

3rd – TE AKUA SHARK

RACE 8

1st – CHIEF IRONSIDE

2nd – CLIFF'S EDGE

3rd – BEST OF DAYS

RACE 7

1st – HUNTING HORN

2nd – MR QUICKIE

3rd – DOWNDRAFT

RACE 6

1st – SOUL PATCH

2nd – MOONLIGHT MAID

3rd – SERIOUS LIASON

RACE 5

1st – SARTORIAL SPLENDOR

2nd – CONDO'S EXPRESS

3rd – THREE BEANS

RACE 4

1st – BROADWAYANDFOURTH

2nd – NICCOVI

3rd – VILLAMI

RACE 3

1st – FASCINO (deadheat)

1st – LA FALAISE

3rd – NUDGE

RACE 2

1st – FINE DANE

2nd – ESPERANCE

3rd- MAKAHU BOY

RACE 1

1st – IDEAS MAN

2nd – BELLA NIPOTINA

3rd- ARTIC ICE

Winners and losers

Simon Moy

WINNERS

$12,500 @ $1.55 on Open Minded (Yarra Valley Race 2)

$11,000 Bundle Bet @ $1.32 on Girl Tuesday, Music Bay or Amangiri (Moonee Valley Race 10 – Amangiri won)

$10,080 @ $2.25 on Tambo’s Mate (Eagle Farm Race 8)

$10,000 @ $2.60 on The Mobot (Morphettville Parks Race 1)

$10,000 @ $2.40 on Amangiri (Moonee Valley Race 10)  ** two separate bets

$10,000 @ $2.25 on Tambo’s Mate (Eagle Farm Race 8)

$10,000 @ $2.20 on Master Of Wine (Randwick Race 6)

$8,000 @ $3.80 on Kubrick (Randwick Race 7)

$7,500 Bundle Bet @ $1.30 on Esperance or Fine Dane (Moonee Valley Race 2 – Fine Dane won)

$5,630 @ $2 on Greyworm (Randwick Race 4)

$5,500 @ $2.50 on Amangiri (Moonee Valley Race 10)

$5,000 @ $3.80 on Kubrick (Randwick Race 7)

$5,000 @ $3.20 on Diamond Thunder (Randwick Race 3)

$5,000 @ $3.20 on Lys Gracieux (Cox Plate)  ** two separate bets

$5,000 @ $3.10 on Lys Gracieux (Cox Plate)

$5,000 @ $3 on Lys Gracieux (Cox Plate)

$5,000 @ $2.90 on Lys Gracieux (Cox Plate)

$5,000 @ $2.60 on Amangiri (Moonee Valley Race 10)

$4,000 @ $6 on Hunting Horn (Moonee Valley Race 7)

$3,000 @ $23 on Chief Ironside (Moonee Valley Race 8)

LOSERS

$20,000 @ $2.50 on Mystic Journey to place (Cox Plate)

$15,000 @ $2.40 on Posied To Strike (Randwick Race 8 – Third)

$14,000 @ $1.75 on Sure Knee to place (Randwick Race 9)

$10,500 @ $1.75 on Ascensus (Gold Coast Race 6 – Third)

$10,400 Bundle Bet @ $1.23 on Wayupinthesky, Villami or Don’ttelltheboss (Moonee Valley Race 4 – Broadwayandfourth won)

$10,000 @ $1.95 on Starla (Kembla Grange Race 7 – Second)

$10,000 @ $1.85 on Villami (Moonee Valley Race 4 – Third)

$9,000 @ $5 on Cape Of Good Hope to place (Cox Plate)

$9,000 @ $1.95 on Esperance (Moonee Valley Race 2 – Second)

$8,000 @ $2.20 on Starla (Kembla Grange Race 7 – Second)

$7,000 @ $3.80 on Mr Quickie (Moonee Valley Race 7 – Second)

$6,500 @ $2.50 on Time Stamp (Kembla Grange Race 1 – Third)

$6,200 @ $1.80 on Esperance (Moonee Valley Race 2 – Second)

$6,000 each-way @ $4.40/$1.65 on Bottega (Randwick Race 7 – Unplaced)

$6,000 @ $4.20 on Dreamforce (Moonee Valley Race 8 – Unplaced)

$6,000 @ $2.60 on Meet Mr Taylor (Eagle Farm Race 9 – Second)

$6,000 @ $2.40 on Faretti (Randwick Race 3 – Unplaced)

$6,000 @ $1.75 on Villami (Moonee Valley Race 4 – Third)

$5,000 @ $4.40 on Attention Run (Randwick Race 6 – Unplaced)

$5,000 @ $4.40 on Dreamforce (Moonee Valley Race 8 – Unplaced)

** All bets with TAB

1st – AMANGIRI

2nd – SEEWHATSHEBRINGS

3rd – GIRL TUESDAY

Team Hawkes makes sure its part of Cox Plate Day with race favourite Amangari digging in for a fighting win in the final race.

Jockey Dwayne Dunn didn't panic to get the result despite Seewhatshebrings appearing late on scene.

RACE 10 RESULTS

Simon Moy

1st – AMANGIRI

2nd – SEEWHATSHEBRINGS

3rd – GIRL TUESDAY

Team Hawkes makes sure its part of Cox Plate Day with race favourite Amangari digging in for a fighting win in the final race.

Jockey Dwayne Dunn didn't panic to get the result despite Seewhatshebrings appearing late on scene.

GILBERT GARDINER reports…

Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracieux romped to an emphatic win at the Valley, surging past rivals to clinch the $5 million weight-for-age classic.

In doing so, the Japanese raider, who qualified for the Plate by winning Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin earlier in the year, pocketed a $2m bonus.

Craig Williams made the winner earn the weight-for-age crown, booting three year-old colt Castelvecchio clear on the turn but the bold surge was in vain.

Once the Japanese mare Lys Gracieux got into clear air exiting the home turn she never looked like losing, as star jockey Damian Lane claimed the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.

Lane, who remains aboard Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace in the Melbourne Cup, could become the first jockey in history to complete Melbourne's spring slam on the first Tuesday in November.

Elated Lys Gracieux's trainer Yoshito Yahagi admitted to being nervous in the run with the mare settling towards of the tail of the capacity 14-horse field.

"I honestly (thought) she's not going to make it from there," Yahagi said.

"I was here when Kingston Town won back in 1982, it's been over 30 years so I finally came back 'home'.

"To win a Cox Plate meant a lot to me.

"Thanks very much to Lys Gracieux, connections and to the Australian people. It's my home town."

Lane was instrumental in convincing connections of Lys Gracieux and Mer De Glace to bring the Japanese raiders to Australia, specifically for the Cups and Plate.

“Unbelievable,” Lane said.

“To grow up as a racing fan watching this race and watching my idols win this race, to now be on the honour roll is such a privilege.”

Lane had to be patient on the mare but rode her like the best horse in the race that she was.

“The pace was a lot stronger than I thought it would be to the first corner,” he said.

“I just rode her back. She got a bit keen when the pace came out of the race but gee I was confident once I got her out down the straight.

“She probably didn’t get around the track too well but was just too good anyway.”

Victory Lane: Lys Gracieux earns $2 million bonus

Simon Moy

GILBERT GARDINER reports…

Cox Plate favourite Lys Gracieux romped to an emphatic win at the Valley, surging past rivals to clinch the $5 million weight-for-age classic.

In doing so, the Japanese raider, who qualified for the Plate by winning Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at Hanshin earlier in the year, pocketed a $2m bonus.

Craig Williams made the winner earn the weight-for-age crown, booting three year-old colt Castelvecchio clear on the turn but the bold surge was in vain.

Once the Japanese mare Lys Gracieux got into clear air exiting the home turn she never looked like losing, as star jockey Damian Lane claimed the Cox Plate seven days after winning the Caulfield Cup.

Lane, who remains aboard Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace in the Melbourne Cup, could become the first jockey in history to complete Melbourne's spring slam on the first Tuesday in November.

Elated Lys Gracieux's trainer Yoshito Yahagi admitted to being nervous in the run with the mare settling towards of the tail of the capacity 14-horse field.

"I honestly (thought) she's not going to make it from there," Yahagi said.

"I was here when Kingston Town won back in 1982, it's been over 30 years so I finally came back 'home'.

"To win a Cox Plate meant a lot to me.

"Thanks very much to Lys Gracieux, connections and to the Australian people. It's my home town."

Lane was instrumental in convincing connections of Lys Gracieux and Mer De Glace to bring the Japanese raiders to Australia, specifically for the Cups and Plate.

“Unbelievable,” Lane said.

“To grow up as a racing fan watching this race and watching my idols win this race, to now be on the honour roll is such a privilege.”

Lane had to be patient on the mare but rode her like the best horse in the race that she was.

“The pace was a lot stronger than I thought it would be to the first corner,” he said.

“I just rode her back. She got a bit keen when the pace came out of the race but gee I was confident once I got her out down the straight.

“She probably didn’t get around the track too well but was just too good anyway.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/superracing/cox-plate-2019-follow-all-the-action-from-the-valley/live-coverage/3301c4058330ae8329e5c2f1e6e64c72