“There’s a third Cox Plate up in smoke.” That’s what went through the mind of James McDonald four days out from last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate. Thankfully, 96 hours is a long time in racing, and for James McDonald, he went from thinking he wouldn’t have a shot at winning a third straight Ladbrokes Cox Plate, to dominating ‘Australia’s Best Race’. “I said to Katelyn (partner) – I am stuffed, I won’t be having a Cox Plate ride this year,” after Via Sistina dumped him at Tuesday’s Breakfast with the Best. “It was traumatic laying on the track watching her galloping off.” While the Ladbrokes Cox Plate has delivered a golden run for McDonald the past three years, the Kiwi isn’t immune to its cruel twists and turns. Dundeel had let him down in the race as favourite in 2013, while Criterion finished midfield as second favourite a year later. Hartnell had come off second best to Winx in a match race that ended up more like a trouncing, while even Verry Elleegant proved she could have an off day in 2019. Then there was Zaaki, withdrawn on race morning as a red-hot favourite two years later. So, by the time Anamoe’s turn had come in 2022, McDonald had a full appreciation of how hard the race could be to win.
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