Last weekend's G1 Coronation S. winner Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is among the eight international runners invited to partake in the Oct. 28 G1 Cox Plate by the Moonee Valley Racing Club. The 5-year-old entire has contested Australia's famed weight-for-age race before, having finished third behind defending champion Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) when she won it for the first time in 2015. Aidan O'Brien's admirable globetrotter has won five Group 1s on three continents and O'Brien himself boasts winning form in the race, having sent out the 2014 victor Adelaide (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
The other invitees are last year's G1 Caulfield Cup runner-up, Godolphin's Scottish (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}); triple Hong Kong Group 1 winner Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}); Godolphin's European miler Ribchester (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}); this season's dual Group 1 winner Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}); Al Shaqab's G1 Prix d'Ispahan winner Mekhtaal (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}); G1 QEII Cup winner Neorealism (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}); and Japanese Classic winner Makahiki (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
There are five ballot-exempt races for the Cox Plate, with Kitasan Black (Jpn) (Black Tide {Jpn}), Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) already having secured Cox Plate slots with their wins in the G1 Japan Cup, G1 Australian Cup and G1 ATC Derby, respectively.
“In conjunction with the MVRC we have worked hard to capture horses in peak Group 1 winning form from each of the major racing jurisdictions who represent some of the world's biggest stables and Thoroughbred owners,” said Racing Victoria's International Agent Leigh Jordon. “We will continue to monitor the major racing carnivals around the globe and where we see fit may issue further invitations to those we believe warrant it.”
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
