WARRNAMBOOL-trained Humidor nearly created one of the biggest upsets in Australian racing history when he was beaten by super mare Winx in the $3-million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Humidor, trained at Darren Weir’s Warrnambool satellite stable, went to the barriers a $31 chance and was beaten narrowly by the short-priced favourite Winx, who won her third consecutive Cox Plate in course record time.
Warrnambool identities Peter ‘Cork’ Walsh and Geoff McLaren are among a large group of owners in Humidor.
Jarrod McLean, who is Weir’s Warrnambool foreman, said Humidor was gallant in defeat in the loss to the champion mare.
“It was a sensational effort from Humidor,” McLean said.
“He was beaten by one of the greatest horses that we’ve ever seen. I thought for a second or two we might get to Winx but she was just too strong.
“It was a great ride by Blake Shinn. He allowed Humidor to find his feet in the run and finish the race off strongly. We just tried to freshen him up after his Caulfield Cup run by putting him over a few hurdles and swimming him down at the beach to have him ready for the Cox Plate.”
Bookmakers have slashed Humidor’s price for the Melbourne Cup from $26 to $7.
Weir’s Warrnambool satellite stable produced two winners on the ten-race program.
Lucky Hussler took his stake earnings to more than $2.13 million when he won the $200,000 Crystal Mile, while stablemate Gun Case was successful in the $120,000 Bendigo Bank sprint race.
Weir acknowledged his staff in Warrnambool after the wins of both horses on one of the feature race days on the Australian racing calendar.
“I’m lucky I’ve got great staff in Warrnambool headed by Jarrod McLean,” Victoria’s leading trainer said.
“Mark O’Donnell and his crew at Warrnambool look after Gun Case. It’s a bit different to Jarrod’s (McLean). They’ve done a great job of looking after Gun Case and it suits him in that environment where Mark looks after him and Jarrod and his team do an amazing job looking after the other horses in Warrnambool.”
Humidor earnt $440,000 for his connections with his second placing.
Aaron Purcell’s classy mare Aloisia cemented her place as the favourite for the $1-million VRC Oaks at Flemington on November 9, when she won the Group 2 $200,000 Vase in the final race on the program.