Australia goes nuts as State of Rest wins Cox Plate thriller

With the two favourites scratched from the great race, the Cox Plate has produced a race for the ages that took an age to decide.

It doesn't get any closer. Photo: Channel 7

State Of Rest has won the 2021 Cox Plate in a stunning race that was ultimately decided in the stewards room.

State Of Rest was the first horse across the line in a classic Cox Plate but the final result took an age to decide after the winning horse was seen veering across and contacting second-placed finisher Anamoe, who appeared to be romping home.

But ultimately the case was dismissed, much to the shock of commentators as Australia was split over which way it would go.

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Channel 7’s Bruce McAvaney quickly revealed he saw State Of Rest move across into Anamoe’s racing line as the race went down to the wire and felt a protest would be coming.

“I’m not sure there will be a protest but I wouldn’t be surprised,” McAvaney said.

STATE OF REST WINS THE COX PLATE FOR IRELAND AND @JosephOBrien2. @bluebetaupic.twitter.com/k9aMwsXLKT

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 23, 2021

Champion jockey Michelle Payne said that State Of Rest had moved across “three quarters” as it was revealed that a protest would be upheld.

Anamoe jockey Craig Williams did ultimately protest the result.

State Of Rest ran into Anamoe. Photo: Channel 7

While McAvaney said that he couldn’t remember another protest being upheld, in the race, Payne said that she believed it would be overturned.

“I think the key factor is that Anamoe was making up the ground until he actually got bumped and then it stopped his momentum from picking up the ground he was making before that interference occurred,” she said. “It crowds his whip space, which I think Anamoe’s – we’re in the final stages of a race and he’s definitely, you know, shifted in. It’s against the rules of racing. Definitely makes contact and puts him off his course. So I’m leaning towards it being upheld.”

The longer it took, McAvaney came around to the argument that it should be upheld.

But as the decision was revealed that the protest had been dismissed, McAvaney said that the result would continue to be debated for years to come.

“It will be talked about forever, it was such a close call,” he said.

“It’s one for the ages in so many ways. One of the greatest contests we’ve seen in a Cox Plate. We’ve seen so many over the years it has had the most controversial and divisive ending to any Cox Plate that I’ve ever witnessed. One that will be talked about forever and ever.”

This is where the uninitiated gallops fans need to remember it has to be be quite the interference to get a protest upheld. Interference - sure, but it was more laying in than a massive bump. Williams definitely done the right thing by connections to protest #CoxPlate

— QUENTIN HULL (@QuentinHull) October 23, 2021

The right decision. The best horse on the day has won. Nature is healing. #CoxPlate

— Shane Anderson (@Globalgallop) October 23, 2021

Even despite all of these new pop-up races, it is amazing how those races that have stood the test of time continue to deliver year after year. If there were a similar protest in the Golden Eagle, doubt it carries the weight that the Cox Plate protest did. Drama at its finest.

— Andrew Hawkins 🇦🇺💛💚 (@AndrewNJHawkins) October 23, 2021

It doesn't get any closer. Photo: Channel 7

It continued an insanely dramatic Cox Plate that saw favourites Gold Trip and Zaaki scratched from the race.

On Saturday morning, trainer Annabel Neesham confirmed British horse Zaaki would not take part in the event.

“Absolutely devastated to report that Zaaki had been scratched from the Cox Plate due to an elevated temperature. Gutted for connections and James McDonald,” she said in a statement.

TAB bookmakers were so confident Zaaki would take out the Cox Plate, they paid out the triumph last month.

Earlier on Friday, Gold Trip was scratched from the weight-for-age race due to lameness in its legs.

So disappointing for all concerned with Zaaki with his scratching from the Cox Plate due to elevated temperature. Feel for the owners, Annabel Neasham and James McDonald. https://t.co/wWbfvVdNwC

— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) October 22, 2021

Zaaki out of the cox plate! That sucks!

— David Polkinghorne (@Super_Couch) October 22, 2021

Huge news.. Long time favourite Zaaki scratched on the morning of the Cox Plate with an elevated temperature #CoxPlate101

— Caty Price (@caty_price) October 22, 2021

Cox Plate Day Results

Race 1 (12:15pm) – Restricted Listed $400,000 Inglis Banner (1000m)

1st: Semillion

2nd:Lady Harlem

3rd: Nobel

4th: Equivocal

Race 2 (12:50pm) – $130,000 Ladbrokes Handicap (1000m)

1st: Dexlation

2nd: Mossman Gorge

3rd: Starry Legend

4th: Ranting

Race 3 (1:25pm) – Listed $175,000 PFD Food Services Crockett Stakes (1200m)

1st: Dream Queen

2nd: Our Heidi

3rd: New York Baby

4th: Robodira

Race 4 (2:00pm) – Group 3 $200,000 Tandem Building Group Red Anchor Stakes (1200m)

1st: Generation

2nd: Scissor Step

3rd: Sudoko

4th: Athelric

Race 5 (2:35pm) – Group 2 $300,000 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic (1600m)

1st: Mokulua

2nd: Whatafox

3rd: Maracana

4th: Heresy

Race 6 (3:10pm) – Group 2 $300,000 Schweppes Crystal Mile (1600m)

1st: Just Folk

2nd: Begood Toya Mother

3rd: Elephant

4th: Impecunious

Race 7 (3:45pm) – Group 2 $300,000 Drummond Golf Vase (2040m)

1st: Forgot You

2nd: Commander Harry

3rd: Jungle Magnate

4th: Akihiro

Race 8 (4:25pm) – Group 2 $1,000,000 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)

1st: Lunar Flare

2nd: Floating Artist

3rd: Sound

4th: Pondus

Race 9 (5:10pm) – Group 1 $5,000,000 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m)

1st: State Of Rest

2nd: Anamoe

3rd: Verry Elleegant

4th: Mo’unga

Race 10 (5:50pm) – Group 3 $200,000 Powerflow Solutions Tesio Stakes (1600m)

1st: Flying Mascot

2nd: Starelle

3rd: Annavisto

4th: Princess Jenni