No October joy for Carlton stars on Cox Plate’s sojourn to Flemington

Patrick Cripps has had his share of sporting heartbreak in August and September. He can now add October to the list.

For a few fleeting moments, it looked as if Irish import Birdman was about to deliver one of Australian racing’s greatest prizes for the Carlton champion only for his Cox Plate dream to be dashed by a horse from his home state.

As trainer Andrea Leek, who operates stables in Nar Nar Goon North, celebrated becoming the first woman in 32 years to win Australia’s weight-for-age championship with West Australian star Cosmic Crusader, the dual Brownlow winner and his Carlton crew were left to wonder what might have been.

Blues champion Chris Judd let out a curse – his sense of frustration at coming so close shared throughout the Baggers Naggers syndicate, which also features former captains Marc Murphy and Sam Docherty, Sam Walsh and former Carlton midfielder Will Setterfield.

Birdman has taken the Blues brigade on a wild ride since their former line coach John Barker dropped the captain’s name as part of his spiel to get into prominent owner Ozzie Kheir’s exclusive racing circle two years ago.

Kheir had initially bought Birdman with eyes on Melbourne Cup glory only for master Sydney trainer Chris Waller to change tack 12 months ago and focus on middle distances with the galloper.

Unlike in football, where the pain of defeat is sharp, there were no heads hung in disappointment or walks of shame from the field.

There is a prize for second in a Cox Plate, but the reasons to celebrate are deeper than an $800,000 cheque, of which Cripps and his football mates will take home only a micro-fraction.

“The whole thing about racing is bringing people together,” Cripps, who flew in from Perth on Friday for the race, said.

“That’s what makes footy clubs special, and it’s what makes racing syndicates special – you bring people together. You make good memories together.”

Jockey Ben Melham was given warm applause by Birdman’s ownership, of which the Baggers Naggers syndicate is one of many, as he returned to the mounting yard to deliver his race debrief.
Then it was Kheir’s turn. He thanked his fellow owners for their “amazing support”.

“It’s the hardest race to win, nearly in the world,” Kheir told them.

Sent out an $11 chance by punters, Birdman looked the winner for a few strides after kicking strongly once clear at the 300-metre mark, only for Will Pike and Cosmic Crusader to collar him in the final 50 metres.

“It was crazy,” Cripps said. “You don’t get many moments in life when you get a feeling like that. It’s pretty cool.”

Cripps likened the thrilling finish to the race to that of a nailbiter in a big game at the MCG – with one major difference.

“You get the same buzz, the hard thing is in a race you don’t have control over the outcome,” Cripps said.

“At least on the footy field, you can have some sort of control. If you ask anyone in racing, this is probably the grand final in racing. For us, it’s a privilege to be a part of it.”

Barker, the manager of the syndicate, was a regular at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day. His father recently became a life member of the Moonee Valley Racing Club.

“At the 150, I thought geezers, this can’t happen,” Barker, who played for Hawthorn, Brisbane and Fitzroy, said.

They are already eyeing another crack next year.

“We’ve got a horse with a bit of talent, we’ve got a superstar trainer, so the future’s bright,” Barker said. “I’ll still be able to connect with these Carlton boys.“

Barker, Cripps, Judd, Murphy and Walsh are part of a smaller group in another syndicate, the Baggers Five, who recently acquired a share in Melbourne Cup hope James J Braddock. For them, redemption can come in November.