Glen Boss claimed another spot in the history books at Moonee Valley on Saturday by taking out the 100th running of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) aboard the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Sir Dragonet.

The Irish raider by Camelot was having his first run in Australia after finishing second in the  Group 1 Gold Cup last month at Curragh.

Hugh Bowman, who won four consecutive Cox Plate’s aboard Winx, was originally scheduled to saddle the impressive five-year-old on debut, but was forced to sit out due to suspension.

Instead, Boss attained the ride, a decision that paid dividends for the Maher and Eustace team in what can only be described as a win for the ages.

After being installed as a $7.50 chance in Ladbrokes’ market, Boss chose to settle back in the field before timing his run to perfection down the straight.

Glen Boss rides Sir Dragonet to a win in the 100th running of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. 

The pair burst clear coming out of the final corner to not only run past the short-priced favourite Russian Camelot, but also gun down former Coolmore stablemate Armory over the final 200m.

Boss picked up his fourth Cox Plate win after riding Ocean Park to victory back in 2012, So You Think in 2009, and Makybe Diva in 2005.

The result leaves the champion jockey now tied with Bowman, Jack Purtell and Brent Thomson on the all-time list, while Sir Dragonet also became just the second Northern Hemisphere trained horse to claim the Cox Plate following Adelaide’s win back in 2014.

“This is unbelievable, as a young boy I used to watch a VCR of Kingston Town and Manikato and I wore that out, the Cox Plate has been engrained into my brain as a young boy” Boss said after the win.

“It’s a special race, I just couldn’t have scripted the run any better. He gave me a lovely ride, I was just twitching my fingers around the race and he was there for me, I just thought oh my god, he was up for the task.”

Boss said that Bowman vouched for him to be his replacement on Saturday and that he was pleased he could get the job done.

“Obviously with Hughie Bowman, I feel sorry for Hughie, sorry mate, but I got the call up and Hughie was part of it, they actually put up a few names and he backed me, he said put Bossy on and I thank god I got the job done.”

With a Group 1 now under his belt, Sir Dragonet appears destined for bigger and better things this Spring with Boss suggesting the stable should take next fortnight’s Melbourne Cup into serious consideration.

“He just might go a little better in a Melbourne Cup I’m telling you, he was just starting to get warmed up towards the line this horse, he was actually getting quicker towards the post, so the way he gave me the feel today he might be running in a Melbourne Cup and he might be running very well in one, I tell you,” Boss said.

Ladbrokes bookmakers have acted accordingly by giving Sir Dragonet a nice little trim from $34 into a $9.00 in the market.

Boss, meanwhile, will be hoping to complete the Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup double for a second time after accomplishing the feat back in 2005 on Makybe Diva.

Armory also lost no admirers on debut running on for second.

Russian Camelot held on for third, while Mugatoo grabbed fourth in a photo from Arcadia Queen.

Ladbrokes’ complete 2020 Melbourne Cup market can be viewed here. 

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