Racing: El Segundo gains reward

El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA
Luke Nolan celebrates El Segundo's win in the Cox Plate yesterday, a race in which he was beaten a nose by Fields Of Omagh last year. Photos: GETTY IMAGES

Racing: El Segundo gains reward



El Segundo left his rivals with no excuses and Waikato thoroughbred breeders with plenty to celebrate with his Cox Plate demolition at Moonee Valley yesterday.

The son of Waikato Stud's sire Pins made amends for his narrow defeat to Fields Of Omagh a year ago with a 2 1/2-length win over the Bart Cummings-trained Wonderful World in the A$3 million weight-for-age epic (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

It also brought up a notable double for Waikato Stud, a week after another of its sires, O'Reilly, produced Caulfield Cup winner, and Melbourne Cup favourite, Master O'Reilly.

New Zealand mare Eskimo Queen ran a gallant sixth - a week after her disastrous late scratching from the Caulfield Cup - to earn her owners A$100,000, while the other Kiwi raider Magic Cape tailed the field home after settling last in the running on a slow pace.

It was the Colin Little-trained El Segundo's fourth Group One victory.

The gelding was bred at Ancroft Stud in Matamata by Philip Brown and his late father, Bill, who also bred El Segundo's dam Palos Verdes.

Caulfield-based Little, who trained Palos Verdes, paid A$140,000 for El Segundo at the 2003 Premier Yearling Sales at Karaka.

"We felt we had a better preparation this time and a stronger horse. We really went into the race fairly confident," Little said.

"An hour after last year's race when defeat had set in we started to think about this year."

The heavily-backed second-favourite Haradasun was third after setting the pace, with the favourite, Miss Finland, fourth after settling in the trail.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained mare Devil Moon just beat Eskimo Queen for fifth.

Eskimo Queen's trans-Tasman trainer Mike Moroney was happy with the run but undecided about the mare's next start.

"It was a very good run. We're in the Melbourne Cup still, we'll just sit down and work it out with the owners," he said.

"Eskimo Queen ended up following Miss Finland and getting a good run.

"When they sprinted at the 700m she got a little bit flat-footed but ran to the line really well."

He said Eskimo Queen, who shortened from $35 to $21 with bookmakers yesterday, showed no ill-effects from her barrier drama a week ago and looked relaxed before the race in front of a big crowd.

It seemed an excellent Melbourne Cup trial, with bookmaker Michael Eskander shortening her odds to A$17 for the big race on November 6.

Said jockey Craig Newitt: "The way the race was run made it tough. They held up then left her a bit flat footed. At the end she was grinding away well."

However, Moroney has previously said he was uncertain of Eskimo Queen's ability to run a strong 3200m. Other options are next Saturday's Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington and the Sandown Classic (2400m) on November 17.

There was no fairytale for Magic Cape's trainer Shaune Ritchie, based at Cambridge, who was the strapper for Bonecrusher's memorable win here in 1986.

The plan was for jockey Blake Shinn to settle last in the running but the slow early speed gave Magic Cape, backed in from $101 to $51, no chance of running on.

El Segundo settled fourth in a perfect position handy to the pace and when Wonderful World took off at the 500m he was always in his sights.

"I was confident of winning at about the 1600m," Nolen said.

"Anyone in that jockeys' room, given the opportunity, could have won on that horse. That's the hardest part, getting on them in the first place."

Wonderful World, one of the outsiders of the 13-horse field, put up a gallant run for second after shooting to the lead.

- NZPA