Racing: Cropp told don't get pocketed

MELBOURNE - Brent Thomson has one main tip for top New Zealand jockey Lisa Cropp ahead of today's A$3 million ($3.4 million) WS Cox Plate.

"Don't be pocketed at the school."

It might sound like prefects' talk but translated from jockeyspeak at the Moonee Valley track, it means don't be hemmed in at the 600m mark, adjacent to the old school, or you won't win.

Cropp is riding Miss Finland in Australasia's weight-for-age championship and on Thursday walked the course for the first time with Thomson, a former champion New Zealand apprentice who became one of the world's best riders.

He had four wins in the Cox Plate in five years in the late 1970s. His advice is keenly sought by today's jockeys, with Irish champion Kieren Fallon walking the track with him yesterday.

The turning Moonee Valley track is cambered differently from when Thomson was in action, but the layout is the same and Cropp shouldn't have too many problems with it, he said.

"The Valley is not a hard course to ride and she has ridden on courses far tighter than it."

Thomson's advice centred on Cropp doing her best to get a clear run as the pressure went on at the 600-metre mark.

"The race really does start outside the school at the 600m there, it's the vital part of the race not to be pocketed.

"You just want to peel out and have an uninterrupted run after travelling close to the fence for the first three parts of the [2040m] race.

"It's only a short straight, so being held up on the corner is no help to you. You want to be in the position of creeping closer to the leaders and not getting your run interrupted."

He said Miss Finland's good barrier draw of four was important to Cropp's chances of becoming the first female to win the race.

"That hopefully means the filly will settle and give her every possible chance to ride the trip out."

Thomson, 48, was the first jockey in Australian racing whose mounts earned A$1 million in a season. He landed more than 3000 winners in 27 years in the saddle and often rode for the Queen when based in England.

But he was only 17 and from Wanganui when he rode his first Cox Plate winner, aboard the New Zealand Derby winner Fury's Order. It was his first ride at Moonee Valley and heavy rain turned the track into a big pond.

"It was like survival of the fittest, but any horse that wins the Cox Plate is obviously high-class anyway."

He won on Family Of Man (1977) and So Called (1978) before a magnificent triumph the following year on Dulcify.

Thomson's confidence was such that he let Dulcify go at the 600m mark and the horse cruised in by seven lengths.

"Dulcify was the best of them ... without a doubt."

Tragically, Dulcify was galloped on in the Melbourne Cup 10 days later and had to be put down.

Thomson thinks Miss Finland's chances have to be respected today in her attempt to become the first filly since Surround 30 years ago to win the Cox Plate.

"She is a high-class filly with a light weight due to the weight-for-age standard.

"David Hayes and her owners are obviously happy to pitch her against the older horses."

Thomson, who these days is New Zealand Bloodstock's Australian representative, said she had the pedigree to get 2000m and the barrier draw gave her a chance to relax.

But he thinks the horse to beat will be El Segundo, who has impressed him with his acceleration.

"He missed a little bit of work prior to his previous run, and certainly he did not run badly and he just failed to finish it right off.

"If that is all sorted out now, I think he is an enormous chance. He looks a worthy favourite."

And as for Cropp, Thomson says she's not awed by the occasion.

"She's not fazed about it. She's raced in plenty of big races and is a strong-natured person."

He agreed it would be great to see another Kiwi jockey triumph, but had a caution for those back home: "It's a very hard race to win."

- NZPA