On Track - Summer 2019-20

4 Like many champions before him, the plucky three- year-old, under the guidance of the brilliant and meticulous Craig Williams, took off at school. Three wide and out in clear space with just a feather on his back, it seemed around the famous tight Valley turn that Castelvecchio was off and gone for all money. Another Group 1 for Williams was seemingly in the bag and a life changing result for 30-year-old NSW trainer Richard Litt, whose heart must have been nearly beating out of his chest. His rising star was about to etch his name into the history books and earn his connections a massive windfall, not only in prizemoney but his residual value as a colt. But in the blink of an eye it was over. Enter Lys Gracieux. The LEGENDARY race had its second international winner after Adelaide’s triumph in 2014 and the power and might of Japan, giants dominating the racing landscape the world over, had claimed another Group 1 just a week after Mer De Glace took out the Caulfield Cup. Lys Gracieux, the horse with a number of different pronunciations and even more fans both local and abroad, was now entered into the folklore that makes up ‘The Race Where Legends Are Made’. While October 26, 2019 will be long remembered by many as the date their conquering queen from the dominant Carrot Club syndicate and Northern Farm stamped herself as one of the best we have ever seen on our shores, there is another date that won’t stick long in the memory bank of many, but was just as important. August 20, 2019, a mere 67 days before the gates would crash back open in the 99th running of the W.S. Cox Plate and after years of negotiations between the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and Racing Victoria, Lys Gracieux was granted an exemption to travel to Australia after having competed in Hong Kong earlier that year, requiring a break of 180 days before travelling to Australia. The Moonee Valley Racing Club had secured its big name international raider and to top it off, major partner Ladbrokes had just launched the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series Bonus, significant given Lys Gracieux had won the eligible Group 1 Takaruzuka Kinen in Japan over 2200 metres in June, meaning an extra $2M bonus on top of the $3M first prizemoney pool was on offer if she was to be successful. While the local trainers were nervous about her arrival, Ladbrokes started to see an avalanche of money hit their bag that saw her ultimately start a short priced $2.50 favourite on the day. HISTORY CREATED FROM THE LAND OF THE RISING SUN By Alastair Dwyer, Media & Communications Manager