Eleven internationally-trained runners among Cox Plate entries.
The number of international entries for this year’s Cox Plate is down on last year, but the Moonee Valley Racing Club remains confident Northern Hemisphere gallopers will play a crucial role in this year’s historic edition.
Connections of 11 horses trained north of the equator were among nominations for $6 million event – the last to be run on the current The Valley layout – when they closed at noon on Tuesday.
That was down on 20 last year, but includes four from 2014 winner Aidan O’Brien – Bedtime Story, Whirl, Diego Velazquez and Mount Kilimanjaro – two from his son Joseph, four trained out of England and Cosmo Kuranda from Japan.
MVRC head of racing Charlotte Mills is happy with the cross-section of international representation among the 108 entries, which are headed by local star and defending champion Via Sistina.
“I think the quality of nominations is good and I think there’s also a really strong awareness this year of the quality and depth of our Australian runners in that middle-distance category,” Mills said.
“I think the Cox Plate itself is certainly still very much on the international radar and I’d like to think that the $1 million (prizemoney) increase direct to the winner has also had an impact.”
Lys Gracieux (2019), State Of Rest (2021) and Romantic Warrior (2023) are internationally-trained winners of the Cox Plate in the past six years, while 2020 winner Sir Dragonet was having his first start in Australia after being transferred to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Japan’s Prognosis last year beat home all-bar runaway winner Via Sistina.
Prognosis used the Group 2 Sapporo Kinen (2000m) as a stepping stone to the Cox Plate and Mills said that August 17 event would determine whether Cosmo Kuranda, who is trained by Shizuya Kato, makes the trip south.
Al Riffa and Galen are Joseph O’Brien’s chances of a second win, Richard Hannon has dual Guineas placegetter Haatem and last-start Diomed Stakes winner Persica in the mix, while Brian Meehan entered last year’s Coventry Stakes winner Rashabar
Jessica Harrington could be represented by Hotazhell, a Group 2 winner at two who was placed behind Field Of Gold in the Irish 2000 Guineas and last weekend was beaten 1.5 lengths in the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby.
In addition to those trained in Europe and Japan, Cox Plate entries includes Trinity College, a last-start Group 1 runner-up in France who has been bought by Yulong to be trained by Chris Waller.
Al Riffa, who is prominent in Melbourne Cup markets, and Galen were also among 12 internationals paid-up-for among 146 entries for the Caulfield Cup.
Mount Kilimanjaro is Aidan O’Brien’s lone Caulfield Cup entry, alongside Willie Mullins pair Absurde and Hipop De Loire, Simon Crisford’s Meydaan, the Alessandro Botti-trained Presage Nocturne and Japanese trio Golden Snap, Struve, Meiner Chrysola.
