'Frankel has beaten Secretariat!' - virtual Cox Plate result upsets home fans

Controversy erupted in Australia on Friday after Frankel defeated Secretariat in the Ladbrokes-commissioned virtual 'Greatest Ever Cox Plate' to celebrate Saturday's 100th running of the country's weight-for-age championship.

The promotion was already controversial given that the race featured three horses who had never stepped foot in Australia, with Deep Impact joining Frankel and Secretariat in the field to take on 11 of the finest Cox Plate winners.

The omission of victors like Makybe Diva, Bonecrusher, Surround and Rising Fast at their expense further fuelled the fire.

The victory of Frankel – whose unbeaten 14-race career was confined to Britain – over Secretariat, with Winx third, sparked outrage from pundits and punters alike, with a number of commentators suggesting the virtual event demeaned Australian racing at a time when its legacy should be celebrated ahead of an 100th addition to the Cox Plate honour roll.

Friday's computer-generated contest was the latest high-profile virtual running of a major race following the Grand National and Kentucky Derby this year.

Among the 14 horses competing were some of Australian racing's most famous names, including 1930 Melbourne Cup winner Phar Lap, multiple Group 1-winner So You Think, and dual Cox Plate winner Sunline, along with the sensational Winx.

Click here for Saturday's Cox Plate field

Secretariat, winner of the 1973 US Triple Crown, looked to have the race in safe keeping after kicking clear in the straight in the 1m2f contest, but Frankel, who dominated racing in Britain between 2010-2012, came fast and late to take the prize and the virtual bragging rights.

ITV and Sky Sports Racing presenter Matt Chapman took the opportunity to celebrate the victory, writing on Twitter: "Frankel wins the Virtual Cox Plate. Justice. Weeeeeee knewwwww. Yeeehaaa with Frankel bells.

"Oh how they mocked down under. Here is proof. Proof I tell you! The greatest."

However, the result was not met with the same enthusiasm in Australia, to say the least, where Winx, a four-time Cox Plate winner among her 25 Group 1s, was deemed an unlucky loser having been taken wide into the straight by her virtual rider.

Huge crowds celebrate Winx's Cox Plate win at Moonee Valley in 2016Credit: Vince Caligiuri (Getty Images)

Paul Clanchy wrote on Twitter: "Interesting that horses that never ran in Australia, on our hard tracks, let alone in a Cox Plate can run one and two in you mock up. Very disappointed they were in the field, let alone quinella the race. Winx best ever, Phar Lap should have been second."

Josh Shields added: "I really wish Winx [went] to Europe now and blew all her rivals away at Ascot after tonight's fake Cox Plate. Really would've showed her greatness in my humble [opinion]."

Read more on Saturday's Cox Plate:

Armory takes aim at Cox Plate for O'Brien but Magic Wand ruled out

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