Jockey of the moment Craig Williams won his second Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday courtesy of a perfect ride which got the Greg Eurell-trained mare Pinker Pinker home first in the $3 million feature.
Williams, fresh from his wins on Southern Speed in last week’s Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup contender Dunaden in Wednesday’s Geelong Cup, was at his daring best on Pinker Pinker, taking inside runs from the 800 metres in the 2040m weight-for-age championship and dashing her clear in the run to the line.
Pinker Pinker winning the Tatts Cox Plate (Group 1) at Moonee Valley - photo by Race Horse Photos Australia
The four-year-old daughter of Reset did the rest, bounding away to beat New Zealand star Jimmy Choux who looked the winner when he got the better of the leader Helmet at the top of the straight.
Rekindled Interest ran his usual honest race to finish third while Helmet failed to run the distance.
The win was Pinker Pinker’s sixth from 16 starts which have also yielded four placings for prize money just shy of $2.5 million.
“It was fantastic,” a jubilant Williams said.
“Basically I just trusted her and took the runs when they came.
“When I gave her a smack she just lifted.
“She’s just so tough and honest.
“To win a race like this, the Cox Plate, it’s just fantastic.”
Eurell appeared taken aback by his mare’s success.
“It’s taking a bit to absorb at the moment,” he said.
“She’s been the ultimate professional all the way through.
“And Craig’s the ultimate professional – he executed perfectly.”
Williams scored his first Cox Plate victory on grand campaigner Fields Of Omagh in 2006.
