Unbeaten European champion Frankel spearheads 10 elite middle-distance horses invited to contest this year’s Cox Plate in a renewed bid to globalise the weight-for-age feature.
The Moonee Valley Racing Club issued the invitation to the Sir Henry Cecil-trained four-year-old as well as French champion Cirrus Des Aigles, Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso and Hong Kong star Xtension.
Also on the invitation list for the 2040-metre feature on October 27 are Japan’s Rulership and Deep Brillante, French entire Planteur who was third in the Dubai World Cup, as well as Coolmore’s Excelebration.
Cityscape, winner of the 2012 Dubai Duty Free (1800m) and French mare Golden Lilac round out the invitees.
Moonee Valley’s past attempts to lure international runners to compete in the Cox Plate have failed to gain traction with the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and America’s Breeders’ Cup meeting held at the around the same time of year.
However Moonee Valley chairman Bob Scarborough remains positive.
“Just as Black Caviar has accepted the challenge to step out of her comfort zone and travel halfway around the world to prove that she is without peer in the sprinting ranks at Royal Ascot, I am hopeful that the connections of Frankel will accept our invitation to travel to Melbourne to contest the weight-for-age championship in the southern hemisphere,” Scarborough said.
Unbeaten in 10 starts including six Group One events, Frankel resumed in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury on May 19, winning easily by five lengths and currently sits atop of the World Thoroughbred Rankings with a 138 rating.
With a tentative program mapped out that could include the Queen Anne Stakes (1600m) at Royal Ascot on June 19 followed by the Sussex Stakes (1600m) at Goodwood on August 1, Frankel could then step up to 2000 metres for the first time in the Juddmonte Stakes at York on August 22.
Racing Victoria’s international recruitment manager Leigh Jordon has worked closely with Moonee Valley to evaluate the international form over the past 12 months, and agreed on the 10 invitees.
Moonee Valley is fully subsidising all expenses incurred for the invited gallopers.
Entries for the $3 million Cox Plate close on August 7.
