Racing: Cheers and tears at dramatic last hurrah

Fields of Omagh (outside) comes home to defeat El Segundo and Pompeii Ruler at Moonee Valley. Mark Dadswell / Getty Images

MELBOURNE - David Hayes thought it was fate, Colin Little hoped otherwise, and Fields of Omagh just did what he has always done best to win the Cox Plate at his final racetrack appearance.

The nine-year-old marvel won the weight-for-age championship in 2003 and was contesting the race for the fifth and final time.

The Moonee Valley crowd, swelled by Fields Of Omagh's huge contingent of owners, went wild when he chased after El Segundo to nail him on the line.

Trainer David Hayes is an old hand at group one wins but even he admitted that perhaps it was just meant to be.

"I don't believe in destiny or fate - until now," Hayes said.

"There is something to it, fate. What a great way for this horse to go out."

When Fields Of Omagh won the 2003 Cox Plate, Tony McEvoy was his trainer.

Hayes was based in Hong Kong and appointed McEvoy to head the Lindsay Park operation when his brother Peter was killed in a plane crash.

"Fields Of Omagh is the only horse Peter used to train that I still train," he said.

"It makes it very emotional."

Fields Of Omagh became the oldest horse to win the Cox Plate and his earnings of more than A$6.56 million ($7.71 million) place him fourth on the Australasian money list behind Makybe Diva, Sunline and Northerly, all Cox Plate winners.

The race didn't pan out quite as Hayes and jockey Craig Williams expected with Fields Of Omagh missing the start and Apache Cat setting a slower tempo than many expected.

Pompeii Ruler took up the running rounding the turn and looked as if he might steal the race but El Segundo and Fields Of Omagh had plenty left.

The margin between Fields Of Omagh and El Segundo was a nose with a long head to Pompeii Ruler.

Racing To Win (A$3.80 favourite) was the disappointment of the race, failing to run on and beating only one home.

The one he beat was even more disappointing with Grey Swallow struggling in last and proving an expensive failure for his owners, who paid a reported A$4 million for the former Irish horse.

Little, who trains El Segundo who was the A$4 second elect, was philosophical in defeat.

"I wasn't sure, I thought he might have got there and he almost did," he said.

"I am very proud of him.

"At least we don't have to worry about the winner next year."

Racing To Win's trainer John O'Shea prefers not to make statements in the heat of defeat, and said he would study the replay before making any comment.

Miss Finland's mission to become just the second three-year-old filly since Surround 30 years ago to win the race didn't end in glory but didn't end in disgrace.

The filly finished sixth with jockey Lisa Cropp saying she had done well.

"She came out slowly and couldn't go with them early but she finished the race off well," Cropp said.

"She pulled up great."

But not as good as Fields Of Omagh who will now live out his days at Lindsay Park in a paddock with another great, Better Loosen Up.

- AAP