Shamus Award’s record breaking 2013 Cox Plate win has resulted in an unbelievable trifecta of firsts for all parties involved.
The win was the first Cox Plate title for trainer Danny O’Brien, who was at the track to witness Shamus Award’s impressive victory.
While O’Brien scored a Caulfield Cup win with Master O’Reilly in 2007, it was the only time he had come up trumps in the weight-for-age classic.
Shamus Award was only guaranteed a run in the race after Atlantic Jewel’s dramatic scratching from the race, as he was allocated saddle cloth 15 in a 14 horses field.
“We were first emergency and certainly we had a bit of good fortune there,” O’Brien said.
Shamus Award has broken his maiden in the 2013 Cox Plate. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
“The last seven days it’s really gathered momentum and here we are.”
While a first Cox Plate is exciting enough, apprentice jockey Chad Schofield had never even won a Group 1 race before today.
And what a way to do it, with his first ever victory at the world’s top level of racing being in the $3 million Cox Plate.
“It hasn’t really sunk in yet but it’s a fantastic feeling,” Schofield said.
“I wanted to get a Group 1 really badly.
“With the scratching of the great mare we secured a place in the field.
“I thank Danny O’Brien for the ride. I’m so happy I can repay them for that.”
And that brings us to the most amazing first in the entire race, with Shamus Award breaking his maiden to win the Cox Plate.
Having never before won a start, Shamus Award managed to salute in the world’s richest weight-for-age race.
The Snitzel colt came into the race on the back of a gutsy third placing in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas last start, which came after he lost the Group 2 Stutt Stakes by a whisker to Divine Calling last month.
Shamus Award now has one win from 10 starts to his name and has earned a spectacular $2.06 million in prize money.
With such a remarkable trio of firsts in the Cox Plate, it certainly makes for one of the most memorable ever runnings of the race.
