(91) W S Cox Plate-G1

Moonee Valley. October 25. $3,000,000. SWFA. 2040m.

1. FIELDS OF OMAGH (S King 58) b g 6 Rubiton - Finneto, by Cerreto (IRE). Trainer: T McEvoy.

2. Defier (P Payne 58) b g 6 Dehere (USA) - Lilande, by Marscay.

3. Lonhro (D Beadman 58) br h 5 Octagonal (NZ) - Shadea (NZ), by Straight Strike (USA)

Neck. 1/2 len. 2m 7.61s. 8 strs.

FIELDS OF OMAGH (6-e)

Bay gelding foaled 1997

Breeder: Mr M O'Connor, Vic.

Owners: No Big Deal Syndicate (Mgrs: B Martin & M Bolton), M J O'Connor, A Cork, A Sorrell & E J Legrand.

Click here for Tesio pedigree

Werk Nick Rating: A++

GP Inbreeding: Djebel 5m x 5m.

Age	Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
2	-	-	-	-
3	8	2	1	2
4	5	5	-	-
5	9	2	4	1
6	3	1	1	-
	25	10	6	3

Sire: RUBITON - Brown 1983. Australasian Horse of the Year: 10 wins, $1,360,330, MVRC W S Cox P-G1, VATC Futurity S-G1, VRC L K S Mackinnon S-G1, VATC Underwood S-G1, MVRC Manikato S-G2. To stud 1988. Standing at Blue Gum Farm, Euroa, Vic. Brother to EUCLASE ($522,698, SAJC Goodwood H-G1. Successful sire). Sire of 270 winners of $26 million inc SWs ADAM, FIELDS OF OMAGH, FLAVOUR, RUBITANO, MONOPOLIZE, MILLRICH, RUBIDIUM, RUBY CLIPPER, RUBICALL, RICH PAGEANTRY, RETURN TO GO, BALM IN GILEAD, ROYAL RUBITON, FLAK JACKET, RUBILDA, GREAT CONDOR, GLACIER BAY, AVATON, LINGA LONGA LUCY, RUBITOFF, PRINCE RUBITON, INNOVATION GIRL, DILLY DALLY, EMPRESS WALTZ, also 19 stakes placegetters, etc.

Dam

FINNETO (1981). 1 win at 1000m, VRC Robertson H. Dam of 13 living foals, 10 raced, 9 winners -

85 Finnetri, ch f by Tristino (NZ). Unraced.

86 Infinite Charm, b f by Tristino (NZ). 4 wins at 1000m, 1100m, VATC Rosebud H, 3d VRC Red Roses S-LR. Dam of -

INFINITE CHARM, br f by Prince of Birds (USA). 4 wins, $194,000, 1100m-1600m, MRC Tristarc S-G3, John Russell H, 2d MRC How Now S-LR.

Prince of Charm, gr g by Kenvain. 5 wins at 1000m, 1200m, WATC Lady Orator H, London H, Welcome Knight H, Common Touch H.

88 Lord of Tintagel, ch c by Lord of Camelot. 1 win at 1400m.

89 TIMELESS GRACE, ch g by Gay Habit. 5 wins, $108,375, 1100m-1400m, VATC W W Cockram S-LR, VRC Neat N'Trim H, WAAF H, VATC Quick- Eze H, 2d VATC Tristarc S-G3. Dam of -

91 Mrs O'Flynn, ch f by Otehi Bay. Unraced. Dam of -

Prince Errol, ch c by Prince of Birds (USA). 2 wins at 1000m, 1150m, MRC Winlake H.

92 KING BRIAN, ch g by Twig Moss (FR). 9 wins, $324,100, 1200m-2200m, Bunbury Cup-G3, Pinjarra Cup-LR, VRC Etienne de Mestre H, VATC Liberal H, WATC Birthday Cup, Southcorp Wines H, Chilly Billy H, Perth Ice Works H, 2d AJC Carbine Club S-LR, VRC Moet and Chandon S-LR, A R Creswick S-LR, VATC Schweppes Cup-LR, WATC G A Towton Cup-LR, 3d WATC Helena Vale Cup-LR, 4th WATC Perth Cup-G2, Tattersalls Cup-LR, Kalgoorlie Cup-LR.

93 Rathsallagh, b g by Twig Moss (FR). 5 wins, at 1200m, 1600m, Selangor Class 2 H, Perak Class 2 H.

94 Mosseto, ch c by Twig Moss (FR). 3 wins, 1400m-2100m.

95 Finnetie, b f by Twig Moss (FR). Exported to China.

96 Win Academy, b c by Royal Academy (USA). Started 6 times in Hong Kong.

97 FIELDS OF OMAGH. 10 wins, $3,247,890, 1200m-1600m, MVRC W S Cox P-G1, J F Feehan S-G2, VATC Eclipse S-G3, VRC Melbourne Cup Day P-LR, SAJC Thomas Elder Classic-LR, VRC Aurie's Star H, SAJC Brien's Alberton Hotel H, VATC Sandown Club H, San Domenico H, 2d MRC Toorak H-G1, Memsie S-G2.

98 Craigavad, b c by Geiger Counter (USA). 3 wins at 1000m, 1200m, VATC Beau Sovereign H.

99 Enniskerry, ch f by Geiger Counter (USA). 3 wins at 1300m, 1400m, MRC 3YO Fillies H.

Her 1986-87 foal died; missed in 1990. No further returns.

2nd Dam

FOLD. 8 wins, 5f-7f, VATC Avon H. Dam of 9 foals, 7 raced, 5 winners inc -

Wraps. 5 wins, 1100m-1700m, VRC Evening Peal H, 3d VRC Byron Moore S. Producer.

Future Century. 1 win at 1300m; placed Adelaide. Producer.

Lady Fold. Placed. Dam of -

Bush Ballad. 8 wins, 900m-1100m, SAJC Highland Ranger H, Two-Up H, Royal Shah H, Head for Space H.

3rd Dam

Shady Lea. 10 wins, 5f-8f, VRC Nurses S, 2d VRC Maribyrnong Trial S. Sister to Veiled Memories, and to the grandam of VALLEY OF GEORGIA (AJC Oaks). Three-quarter sister-in-blood to ROYAL MEADOW, Rhexia, Highland Mist. Dam of 11 foals, all raced, 8 winners inc -

Fairway Mist. 8 wins, 1420m-3200m, VRC Tom Hales Hurdle.

ONLY a small field of eight runners for this year's W.S. Cox Plate with Lonhro being sent out a short-priced favourite on the basis of being undefeated in four runs this preparation and having been specifically targeted at this event. His two main rivals, Clangalang and Defier had experienced injury setbacks.

A strong tempo was set from the start with the Argentinian-bred mare Paraca, a Gr.1 winner in South Africa, leading up Shower of Roses with Fields of Omagh settling in third place. Lonhro settled in sixth position about 10 lengths from the leader at the 1600m point. Paraca increased the tempo again at the back of the track but was not up to sustaining this sort of pace and was a spent force when passed by Shower of Roses with 750m to travel. Fields of Omagh quickly ran past Shower of Roses 400m from the finish and looked to be travelling better than Defier who was under pressure and possibly disadvantaged after a severe cloudburst had dampened the track before the race. Lonhro was coming into the race strongly and looked the one to beat. The injury-plagued Fields of Omagh, who was having only his third run back since March, found a kick on straightening into the short but uphill Moonee Valley straight and fought on tenaciously to hold off Defier, who rallied in the final stages, and Lonhro, who also fought on but could not match the winner.