Racing Victoria chief steward Terry Bailey will have the best seat in the house as Winx attempts a record-equalling third Cox Plate success.
Bailey sits up high in the stewards’ tower at the point where the horses enter the track after doing their pre-parade behind the grandstand.
He remembers his early days in Rockhampton when Kingston Town won three Cox Plates during the 1980s and admits there is an extra buzz as the field gathers for the Cox Plate.
“The crowd makes a difference,” Bailey said.
“The buzz and the coliseum effect at Moonee Valley adds that extra theatre.”
On Saturday, Winx will be attempting to stretch her winning sequence to 22 which includes the past two Cox Plates.
Bailey remembers them well.
“Hugh (Bowman) got up on the fence on her to win the first one and that clearly sticks in my mind, but there have been many great Cox Plates,” he said.
“I was a kid growing up in Rockhampton and go back to Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star and Kingston Town in his three wins.
“Then there was Makybe Diva who took off down the side with 800 (metres) to go.
“It’s been a great race.”
Bailey says he’s been lucky to see three great mares since moving to Victoria.
He saw Makybe Diva win three Melbourne Cups, Black Caviar go undefeated through 25 race starts while Winx continues shooting for a third Cox Plate.
He’s loath to label the best.
“We’ve been lucky to have seen three great mares in a short period of time,” Bailey said.
“Makybe Diva the stayer, Winx the middle distance and Black Caviar the sprinter.
“Three different specialities that we’ve been lucky enough to see in our lifetime.”
