Racing: Northerly blows them away as sun goes down

The Cox Plate lived up to its billing as the race of the year. MIKE DILLON captures the drama on the track and in the inquiry room.

MELBOURNE - Was this really Stephen McKee talking?

"I hope they don't change these placings," said Sunline's co-trainer as he stood outside the Moonee Valley inquiry room during Saturday's stunning $A2.25 million Cox Plate aftermath.

"You wouldn't like to win a race like this on protest."

Are you kidding?

Thirty five thousand racegoers on course would have pulled the grandstands down in delight had chief steward Des Gleeson relegated Western Australian champ Northerly and promoted Sunline to her third Cox Plate victory.

There was no question who the crowd favourite was.

The roar when Northerly looked to be under severe pressure at the 400m and Sunline looked home duplicated last year's earthquake-like crowd eruption.

In a sporting town where every winner is a champion, the crowd noise almost hushed as Northerly got the better of Sunline in one of the most dramatic group one finishes ever.

And remember, this was an Australian downing a Kiwi.

There were even boos. How dare someone spoil the party.

And when the volatile head-on video replay was shown on the infield screen the booing intensified.

Everyone wanted Sunline home.

America's Chris Lincoln, who covered the race live to 200 countries, perhaps personifies the remarkable following Sunline has around the world.

Lincoln is racing's foremost television presenter and was interviewed at the Cox Plate party on Friday night.

"Everyone knows as commentators we have to be unbiased," said Lincoln. "Let me tell you that's crap, I want to see Sunline win this race and I've got $A4000 to say she can."

Let's say right here that the best horse on the day won the Cox Plate. Had they run in lanes, Northerly would have won by two lengths and Viscount may have even got past Sunline into second.

But Sunline came close to being awarded the race.

What cost her was the one horse width she moved out towards Viscount in the closing stages at the same time that Northerly was laying in on top of Viscount.

That contribution to Viscount's problems, slight though it was compared to Northerly's, swayed the stewards to let the placings stand.

It's fair to say that in New Zealand Northerly would have lost the race.

Under our system relegation occurs regularly when interference is proven, and is mandatory when it is clear one horse costs another the chance of a better placing.

You could argue strongly Northerly cost Viscount second. In New Zealand Northerly would have been put back to third.

"We'll get second at least," said Viscount's trainer John Hawkes confidently as he walked into the inquiry.

In Australia for a protest to be successful, you have to prove beyond doubt your horse would have finished in front of the runner being protested against.

For that reason the McKee camp did not immediately fire in a protest. Neither did Greg Childs.

The time limit for a protest had almost expired when Childs, after viewing the race video, sent an urgent message via Graeme Rogerson to the McKees, still in the unsaddling area, to come to the weighing room.

Childs protested against Northerly's interference and Viscount's rider Kerrin McEvoy protested against Northerly and Sunline.

Both came up empty, but it was a much closer call than the Ethereal-Sky Heights inquiry in last week's $A2 million Caulfield Cup.

On that occasion Damien Oliver was unsuccessful with Sky Heights, this time the protest was against himself and the tension that came out with the silent whistle he let go as Des Gleeson announced the decision was almost visible.

Childs argued that the movement of Sunline's head outwards towards Viscount was caused by her hindquarters being pushed in by Northerly's movement.

That was undoubedly a factor.

Sunline's agressiveness was unleashed by the incident. Close to the finish she skied her head, not from interference, but annoyance at being inconvenienced.

Chris Lincoln and a number of punters lost their money, but everyone knew they got value for money.

Far north Queensland concreting contractor Kevin Wright and his partner Natalie made the long trip south to see Sunline for the first time.

"I was so proud of her," said Wright.

"I shed a tear for the gallant effort she put up.

"I don't care that she didn't win, I'm just so rapt to have seen her."

You get the impression concrete contractors don't cry often. The bonus for the Queenslanders was meeting Trevor and Stephen McKee.

The professional punters insist Sunline was assisted to her two Cox Plate victories by a fierce leaders' bias on each occasion.

If that were true, Sunline was inconvenienced this time by the opposite scenario.

It was almost impossible for leaders on the day to win, not unusual when they put the rail back to the true position at Moonee Valley.

So Kingston Town's three Cox Plates record may last forever.

"So close, but not close enough," said Stephen McKee as he left the inquiry.

His mother Noelene came up with the best line.

"If she'd won she'd have only equalled a record. How many horses have won two Cox Plates and finished second in the third?

"Probably none."

And probably there never will be.