The FOO was a real fighter and won two WS Cox Plates over four years, the last as a nine year old

Fields of Omagh, also known as FOO, was an Australian champion middle distance Thoroughbred racehorse of the early-mid-2000s. He was a half-brother to the stakeswinners, King Brian (Bunbury Cup, Pinjarra Cup), Malcolm (STC Canterbury Stakes, Ajax Stakes and Yallambee Stud Stakes) and Timeless Grace (VATC WW Cockram Stakes). He was by Rubiton (Century) via the broodmare, Finneto (Cerreto). Fields Of Omagh, who won 13 races from 45 starts, also competed abroad in Group one events in Japan, Hong Kong and Dubai. His Cox Plate record is only matched by a champion of the turf in Tranquil Star, who also contested the race five times in 1941-45 for a similar record of two wins

Fields of Omagh was trained at Lindsay Park, South Australia by Peter Hayes, Tony McEvoy and David Hayes. "FOO", as he was affectionately dubbed by fans and the media, won seven races in succession in the early part of his career. Nursed back from two serious injuries by Campbell Baker, head veterinary surgeon for Lindsay Park, the horse gained a reputation as a Moonee Valley specialist. The iron horse competed in Australia's premier weight-for-age race on a record five occasions in an era that featured champions such as Sunline, Northerly, Lonhro and Makybe Diva.

He was also noted for his gallant runners-up behind Northerly in the 2002 Caulfield Cup. He won the Moonee Valley's prestigious Cox Plate for the first time in 2003, and, in a record-equalling fifth attempt, created history in 2006 becoming the race's oldest winner, as a nine-year-old. Lonhro went out the short priced favourite in the 2003 race, but Fields of Omagh fought hard to the line to hold off Defier and the fast finishing Lonhro. Rubiton became only the second stallion to win the race and then sire a winner with the other being Heroic (who sired Ajax) over 50 years earlier. Jockey Steven King was in the saddle for his first Cox Plate win, with David Hayes recording his second win after Better Loosen Up 16 years earlier.

Against him in 2006, (his 5th Cox Plate attempt), was the fact that no 9yo had ever won the race and only Super Impose had won the race aged over 7 years. Battle Heights in the 70s had won the Metropolitan Hcp as a 9yo and Tauto had won his second Manikato Stakes at the same age in the early 1970's, but many used age as a reason to think Fields of Omagh couldn’t win again. It was one of the tightest finishes the race has ever seen, with Fields Of Omagh, favourite El Segundo and leader Pompei Ruler battling it out to the very end, with FOO persisting and making a giant lunge on the line. In between these wins, he was second to Savabeel, and third behind Makybe Diva in the lead up races, improving every run. FOO also won the 2006 Group One Futurity Stakes. FOO campaigned at or near the highest level for six years in a row and raced against a number of great champions of the era. Although he never received the same kind of recognition as Makybe Diva, Sunline, Northerly or even Lonhro, Fields of Omagh was a deadset champion racehorse of the highest standard.

Fields of Omagh won on every Melbourne metropolitan track and he also won down the ‘straight six’ at Flemington.  He also won during every season he raced from three to nine years of age. During his racing career he travelled to Japan, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Fields of Omagh was retired after his second Cox Plate win, and then resided at Living Legends, the International Home of Rest for Champion Horses located in Woodlands Historic Park, Greenvale, Victoria, Australia.

RACE RECORD - 45: 13-8-7

EARNINGS - $6,496,240

Eclipse Stakes (2001)

Aurie's Star Handicap (2002)

John F. Feehan Stakes (2002)

W S Cox Plate (2003, 2006)

Futurity Stakes (2006)