Ozzmosis wins 2023 Coolmore Stud Stakes

By Brad Walters

A milk factory worker, a dairy farmer and a retired dairy farmer walked into a bar.

Along with 50 other co-owners, trainer Bjorn Baker and the Coolmore Stud Stakes trophy.

That was after some amazing spontaneous celebrations once their colt Ozzmosis simply proved too speedy for his rivals in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Big blokes hugged each other so hard they fell over with joy despite the fact they'd only met when the Sydney-trained colt started racing.

Relationships that started a year ago were cemented as lifelong friendships as jockey Rachel King waved her whip in triumph out on the Flemington turf.

Part-owned Brian Wilson might not make it back to his home at Port Fairy for the next few days while his boss at the local milk factory might need to be a little lenient on him for non-attendance on Monday.

"We've had a few horses with Symon Wilde, which have been really good, but it's my first go against the big boys," Wilson said.

Ozzmosis' stud future was secured when Newgate Farm boss Henry Field bought into the colt in June.

But Field will need to find a few more bucks to buy out his partners after Ozzmosis joined his sire Zoustar as a Coolmore Stud Stakes winner.

The three-year-old's triumph was Baker's first Group 1 win in Melbourne coming more than a decade after he looked after the Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer for his father, Kiwi training great Murray Baker.

"That is one reason I came to Australia. It is the lucky country and the greatest racing in the world," Baker said.

"I've had a very lucky career in the lucky country, this is career changing for me."

UK-born jockey Rachel King became the first female to win the Coolmore Stud Stakes with her perfectly-judged ride on Ozzmosis ($21), who raced on the speed throughout to beat the consistent I Am Unstoppable ($6).

Golden Slipper winner Shinzo was third.

King's triumph was her fifth at Group 1 level and third of 2023 after she won the Tancred Stakes in the autumn and Metropolitan Handicap last month.

"This is definitely top of the tree. It is unbelievable. I love coming down here and I've never really come down with as good a chance as him," King said.

"To do it for Bjorn and the team, he's just my biggest supporter, especially these owners as well, I'm speechless."

Baker said the grounding King, who has ridden nearly 600 winners in her career, received at Tulloch Lodge with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott played a part in the jockey's rise.

He said King would continue to benefit from doing the hard yards with his and other stables for years to come.

"She takes the hits with the losses, she's come through Gai Waterhouse's system, and Adrian (Bott), they are icons of the sport and she is tough as teak," Baker said.

"She's a beautiful person and a freak. She just is really, really good and she just keeps delivering for me.

"I'll tell you what, she's tougher than all the boy jockeys together. Trust me, that's a fact."