First acceptances for the $6 million Cox Plate have trimmed the field to 57 contenders, with a potential clash between Yulong’s star mares Via Sistina and Treasurethe Moment still on the cards.
Both mares were among the entries confirmed on Tuesday, with Via Sistina on track to defend her crown and Treasurethe Moment pencilled in for a resuming run in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 26. It would be her first outing at the track since recovering from a minor colic episode.
Champion trainer Chris Waller dominates the list of acceptances, retaining 21 horses including Aeliana, Autumn Glow, Buckaroo, Fangirl and in-form pair Angel Capital and Lindermann, both impressive winners on Saturday. His squad also features defending champion Via Sistina.
The three-year-old division remains strong, with 11 still in contention. Among them are Bjorn Baker’s filly Within The Law and colts Vinrock, Nepotism, Autumn Boy and Wodeton, all regarded as emerging talents.
New Zealand Group 1 winner Pier was added as a late nomination ahead of second acceptances, which close on September 23. Meanwhile, the Caulfield Cup field has been reduced from 142 to 85, with four international hopefuls still in the mix — Presage Nocturne (France), Meydaan (UK), Golden Snap (Japan) and Absurde (Ireland).
Punters can follow early Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup betting markets via Australia’s leading betting sites.
