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Cox Plate winner fined for controversial post-race acts

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured here, 2020 Cox Plate winner Glen Boss on Sir Dragonet.
Glen Boss celebrates his victory on Sir Dragonet in the 2020 Cox Plate. Pic: AAP

Glen Boss has copped two fines in a dramatic aftermath to his incredible win in Saturday's Cox Plate at Mooney Valley.

Riding Sir Dragonet, Glen Boss claimed an astonishing fourth Cox Plate after defeating Armory and Russian Camelot in the famous weight-for-age race.

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Boss joins legendary jockeys Hugh Bowman and Brent Thomson as four-time winners of the race.

Sir Dragonet raced out of Aidan O'Brien's all-conquering Irish stable until a mid-year sale to the Australian operation of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

In a race decided on testing ground because of rain, Sir Dragonet ($7.50) burst onto the scene between horses and in a cruel twist for his former yard, gathered in the O'Brien-trained Armory ($7.50) to win by 1-1/4 lengths.

Boss was overcome with emotion after the impressive win, letting out a premature celebration prior to the post.

The popular Aussie jockey was also seen hugging and celebrating the victory with stable staff, copping $1000 fines for both infringements.

It meant the jockey had to give back $2000 of his $150,000 prize for winning the Cox Plate.

Fans on social media were quick to criticise the fines for Boss, but hailed the jockey's incredible slice of racing history.

Boss delivers again in Cox Plate

Sir Dragonet, purchased from Europe with the specific aim of winning the Cox Plate, delivered on that ambition in style during the $5 million race.

For Boss, the win came at the expense of Hugh Bowman who had the ride before earning a suspension out of Caulfield Guineas day.

A three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey thanks to the legendary exploits of Makybe Diva, Boss could hardly believe his good fortune as he added to his Cox Plate collection.

"I feel sorry for Hughie. Sorry, mate," Boss said.

"I got the call up, and, you know, Hughie was part of that. They put up a few names and Hughie backed me. He said 'put Bossy on'. And thank God I got the job."

Glen Boss can be seen here celebrating his Cox Plate victory on Sir Dragonet.
Glen Boss copped a fine of $1000 for celebrating before the post. Pic: AAP

Sir Dragonet was rated a horse of such promise in the northern hemisphere that he was favourite to win last year's English Derby.

But after a sequence of defeats he found his way to Maher and Eustace, an emerging force in Australia's training ranks.

"It is unbelievable ... no bigger race," Maher said.

"They (owners) made the right call on the jockey and he did a great job.

"To think you get a horse of this calibre. I've looked after him for a bit over two weeks - it is just phenomenal.

"He never missed an oat and I was always very confident with his fitness."

The 100th running of the Cox Plate was held in front of empty grandstands because of strict Victorian lockdown measures.

with AAP

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