OMGKatyPerry

Hmmm, I notice you did NOT leave a message to them. Michael has posted on Café in the past so he may well still read it? And even if not why would you begrudge someone leaving a message? Such negativity is not needed here

That is very sad to hear

And what about us poor souls who spent our hard earned only for the horse not to receive its proper medication pre-race! When I back a horse that is on drugs I expect it to receive those drugs, not run out of puff when the proper medications did not kick in That's just not fair!

How can anyone moan - the correct decision was reached. Two horses deadheated for first and that was the result. Surely as long as the right decision is made, what is the problem?

Galizzz's Choice for me Mount Athos, Red Cadeaux and Winchester for quinellas

I like a real REAL roughy in the Derby - Nisos. Still a maidener but they have won this race before. I thought he looked a little lost at MV, as did Dundeel, but he got home real hard, so thought he might be worth a dollar each way in the big one - and at 50/1 I don't need too much on! And imagine a maidener at that price winning the first leg of a $4m quaddie! Might not be too many live! Great day, there to be enjoyed

Grosvenor sired Omnicorp, trained by Bart Cummings?

So You Think did it in 2010. Prior to him would have been Better Loosen Up. Dulcify won both in 1979 and I know Rubiton did it, and pretty sure Phar Lap did it twice. I would also hazard a guess at Ajax and Beau Vite both achieving the feat. I'm sure Tranquil Star won three McKinnons but did she win the Cox Plate? So, that's: So You Think Better Loosen Up Dulcify Rubiton Phar Lap Ajax Beau Vite Tranquil Star I am pretty sure Kingston Town never won a McKinnon; but The Phantom and The Phantom Chance won them in the same year - that's almost the same, isn't it?!

Hopefully the three-year-olds come back strong in the Autumn, or even next season as four-year-olds. This race has certainly ruined its share of sophomores in the past - even Savabeel never won another race after being successful. Both All Too Hard and Pierro went fabulous, and Proisir has had just an incredible first campaign. OK, the race proved that Ocean Park was the best surely. But perhaps the rest of the older horses are not really up to much? Add to that some much better-than-average three-year-olds - perhaps Ocean Park will be the next big thing in Australasian racing?!

Just been watching Fox Sport News on TV, and they just had a piece on the race. The reporter, Charles Christian, needs to do a bit of homework. The piece ended with this classic; "Connections couldn't stop singing the praises of trainer Gary Hennessey, the man who trained Sunline to win back-to-back Cox Plates in 2000 and 2001"! I kid you not!

OK, thanks zzz. A little ashamed to say I have not actually seen the 20 year programme. Sounds like it might have been an interesting watch. And what you said is along the lines of what I've heard.

I am not trying to stir anything up here - I have a valid question which has not yet been mentioned here, so thought I'd give it a try. Has anyone heard anything untoward as to the reason behind Tony's decision? Like I said, not muck-raking, but would like to know. And, for the record, yes, I have "heard things" but unsubstantiated, hence not stating anything here If zzz or any other moderator deems this inappropriate, then delete this message by all means

Or Black Roberta

Dane Robert

From The Age GAI Waterhouse applied to the stewards yesterday to use revolutionary padding on the barriers at Moonee Valley for favourite Pierro in the Cox Plate. Waterhouse and her barrier expert James Meurer showed the padding to stewards at Caulfield and were sent out to the barriers to trial it between races. Racing Victoria chairman of stewards Terry Bailey confirmed his panel was considering an application for the use of the new padding to Australia and would make a ruling early next week on whether Pierro can use it. ''Mrs Waterhouse has asked us to consider approving the padding but the product that we saw today would have to have some modifications made to it,'' Bailey said. ''They took it out to the barriers and there was nowhere for the barrier attendants to stand when they put it on the stalls because it was too big. <iframe id="dcAd-1-4" src="http://ad-apac.doubleclick.net/adi/onl.age.sport/sport/horseracing;cat1=horseracing;cat=sport;ctype=article;pos=3;sz=300x250;tile=4;ord=6.1878849E7?" width='300' height='250' scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0"> </iframe> ''There would be some occupational health and safety concerns with it as it stands. ''It is an American product and there is a small version of it, which [the Waterhouse stable] have, and we will look at it in the next week.'' Waterhouse said it was similar to the barrier blanket Black Caviar uses every time she starts, ''but better''. ''I would love to use it in the Cox Plate if they let me,'' she said. Pierro spent a half hour doing barrier practice at Flemington on Tuesday morning after he was slow to jump when runner-up to All Too Hard in the Caulfield Guineas last Saturday. Meurer confirmed he had the padding on the barriers during that session. ''We don't just use it with him, we use it with a lot of horses because it makes them more comfortable in the barriers,'' he said. ''It covers the uprights and everything and helps them in the barriers. It is different to a barrier blanket in that nothing is touching the horse. ''We always use it when we are doing some barrier work with them.'' Three-year-old Pierro, who has won eight of nine starts, remains the $3.50 Cox Plate favourite in front of Green Moon at $4.80 and Ocean Park at $5.50.