Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Group 1)

“SHE’S a weapon,” said Damien Lane following the win of the Japanese-trained Lys Gracieux in the A$5 million Cox Plate over Moonee Valley’s idiosyncratic 2,040 metres. Asked if he had asked too much over her by going back and travelling wide into the race, Lane replied, “No, I didn’t.”

A last-start Group 1 winner at Hanshin in Japan with Damien Lane in the saddle, Lys Gracieux always looked the superior horse on paper, which was reflected in the six-year-old Heart’s Cry mare’s starting price of $2.50.

Trained by Yoshito Yahagi, Lys Gracieux is owned by Carrot Farm, giving them the chance of sweeping the spring features should Mer De Glace complete the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday.

Turn of foot

“The speed was solid going to the first corner,” said Lane. “I didn’t want to get into a battle that would empty her. I rode her cold and she just let go with a great turn of foot.

“She’s one of the best, if not the best horse I’ve sat on. 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.”

Settled in the back half of the field as Magic Wand took up the running, the moves all came in the final 800 metres as the field stacked up into the final bend.

Bursting clear of the pack, the Richard Litt-trained son of Dundeel, Castelvecchio, the only colt in the race found himself in a winning position on straightening.

Blitzing the final furlong, the pendulum quickly swung to Lys Gracieux as she shot to a length-and-a-half winning margin. Castelvecchio kept second, three-and-a-half lengths clear of the Rip Van Winkle gelding Te Akau Shark, leader in the ‘merchandise stakes’ with his themed shark hats popular on-course items. Magic Wand held on gamely for fourth.

DAVID Menuisier, while disappointed with the last place of Danceteria in the Cox Plate – “he travelled like it was a skating rink,” said Jamie Spencer – was delighted with the performance of Chief Ironside.

Owned by an Australian Bloodstock-led syndicate the Lawman horse landed the A$500,000 Group 2 Crystal Mile after a perfectly timed run by Jamie Spencer, erasing the disappointment of his debut in the Toorak Handicap two weeks earlier.

Menuisier said: “The boys bought the horse about two-and-a-half months ago with the view to come to Australia, and we said that we could improve the horse on his previous form. I was a little bit frustrated (with the Toorak Handicap). It was just the circumstances so we thought ‘let’s roll the dice’ and carry a bit more weight and put Jamie back on him. Jamie is a genius.”

Chief Ironside now heads back to handicap conditions in today’s Cantala Stakes over the same distance, though with 53kg, Stephen Baster will take the ride.

“Last night he was full of himself when he was being led out on the track, he was kicking and bucking and rearing. He’s back to handicap company this time, so he looks really well in,” said Menuisier. “I don’t think he will be too fussed about the track really.”