Cox Plate Nominations
A total of 49 international horses have been nominated across the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and the Cox Plate, headlined by a strong contingent from Japan.
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
A total of 49 international horses have been nominated across the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups and the Cox Plate, headlined by a strong contingent from Japan.
Japanese horses have been prevented from travelling to Australia since Equine Influenza outbreaks in both countries in 2007.
When they last competed in Australia, stablemates Delta Blues and Pop Rock finished one-two in the 2006 Melbourne Cup. This followed Eye Popper's second placing in the Caulfield Cup 12 months prior.
Jaguar Mail and Meiner Kitz, the past two winners of the Group 1 Tenno Sho (3200m), feature amongst the five Japanese entries. The Noriyuki Hori-trained Jaguar Mail is owned in the same interests as Delta Blues and Pop Rock.
International racing powerhouse Godolphin tasted success in the 2008 Caulfield Cup with All The Good, but are desperate to win their first Melbourne Cup after seconds in 1999, 2001 and again last year with Crime Scene.
Their head trainer Saeed bin Suroor has entered nine horses for the Melbourne and Caulfield Cups including 2009 English St Leger and Italian Derby winner Mastery, 2009 Arc De Triomphe placegetter Cavalryman and Group 1 winner Campanologist.
UK trainer Luca Cumani is another who has come agonisingly close to capturing the Melbourne Cup and he's pinning his faith on a blend of youth and experience to win his first.
Cumani has nominated his Cup placegetters Purple Moon (2007) and Bauer (2008), who has not raced since his loss to Viewed owing to injury.
Cumani's other nominations for the Cups are the highly rated Drunken Sailor and Australian-owned duo Manighar and Becqu Adoree, with the latter also entered for the Cox Plate.
Dermot Weld, the trailblazer for international trainers, has four horses entered for the spring features including Profound Beauty, who finished fifth as favourite in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, and Rite Of Passage, winner of the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4000m) in June.
Like Weld's maiden Cup winner Vintage Crop (1993), Rite Of Passage has successfully mixed jumps and flat racing in his brief career. Weld's other victory in the Melbourne Cup came courtesy of Media Puzzle in 2002.
Other European nominations of note are last start Group 2 Princess of Wales's Stakes winner Sans Frontieres (Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate), French gallopers Americain and Laristan (Melbourne and Caulfield Cups) and Fortuni, the first Melbourne Cup entry from esteemed UK trainer Sir Mark Prescott.
Two of Hong Kong's best performers are also targeting the spring with dual Champions Mile winner Able One being set specifically for the Tatts Cox Plate.
Able One, who will be the first international to arrive at Racing Victoria's new Werribee International Horse Centre in late August, is trained by ex-pat Aussie John Moore whose father George rode the winners of the 1957 and 1968 Cox Plate.
The Peter Ho-trained Mr Medici, a Group 1 winner this season in Hong Kong, has been nominated for both cups, but connections have their eyes fixed firmly on the Caulfield Cup.
One of the most interesting international nominees is Luen Yat Forever, the first horse from Macau to be entered for the spring. The Australian-bred galloper, who this year became the first horse to win the Macau Triple Crown, has been nominated for the Cox Plate.
Locals
An imposing contingent of locally-trained horses awaits the international visitors, headlined by the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking who has been entered for all three events.
His trainer Mark Kavanagh also has crowd favourite Whobegotyou entered for the Cox Plate, whilst the promising Shamoline Warrior is earmarked to return for the features also.
Leviathan owner Lloyd Williams has scoured the world to find his fourth Melbourne Cup winner. The big-spending owner has nominated 20 horses for the race including 2007 winner Efficient who has not contested the past two owing to injury.
Also featuring amongst Williams' entries are 2009 Irish St Leger winner Alandi, 2009 Irish Derby placegetter Mourayan, the untapped Linton, and stable evergreen Zipping who has been nominated for a fourth Cox Plate after placing in the past two years.
Victoria's premier trainer Peter Moody has entered glamour girl Typhoon Tracy for the Cox Plate after aborting her assault 12 months ago, while last year's fairytale story, South Australian galloper Alcopop, has been nominated for both cups and the Cox Plate.
Sydney trainers have a strong hand in the nominations with John O'Shea entering Sydney Cup winner Jessicabeel and Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive for the three features, as has Chris Waller with the rejuvenated Metal Bender.
Gai Waterhouse has never won a Melbourne Cup, but did come close with Nothin Leica Dane in 1995. Her assault this year will be led by Herculean Prince and Descadero.
Queensland star Shoot Out, a stunning winner of the Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, has been nominated for all three features with his clash with defending champion So You Think in the Cox Plate highly anticipated.
Guineas
After the win of Starspangledbanner in last year's The Age Caulfield Guineas and his subsequent sale for $10m to UK racing giant Coolmore, this year's race on 9 October will be highly sought.
Featuring amongst the nominations for the coveted mile are the winners of last season's five Group 1 two-year-old races in Star Witness (Blue Diamond), Skilled (Champagne Stakes), Pressday (TJ Smith Stakes) and the fillies Crystal Lily (Golden Slipper) and Yosei (AJC Sires Produce).
Crystal Lily and Yosei headline the nominations for the Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) on 13 October, with VRC Sires Produce winner Shaaheq and the Peter Moody-trained fillies Curtana and Willow Creek amongst the other high profile entries.
Interesting Nominations
Some of the most interesting nominations across the spring features are;
· VRC Derby Winners – The past four winners of the VRC Derby have been entered for the Melbourne Cup. They are Monaco Consul (2009), Rebel Raider (2008), Kibbutz (2007) and Efficient (2006).
· Master O'Reilly (Danny O'Brien) – The 2007 Caulfield Cup winner is chasing a start in his fourth consecutive Melbourne Cup after finishing fourth in 2008 and 2009.
· Leica Falcon (Arthur Pace) – Nominated for the Melbourne Cup for the fifth time. Finished fourth in the 2005 Melbourne Cup behind Makybe Diva, but has not contested another owing to injury.
· Sculptor (Peter McKenzie) – Winner of the 2007 SAAB Quality who has not started since finishing ninth in the 2007 Melbourne Cup behind Efficient. Nominated for both Cups by his owner-trainer, Lord of the Rings actor Peter McKenzie.
· We're Gonna Rock (Mark Kavanagh) – Boom four-year-old who created much hype when winning his debut over 1000m. Finished last at his only other start, but has been nominated for the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup.
· Sugar Bush (John Sadler) & Try Pickle (John Nugent) – Unraced three-year-olds that have been nominated for the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, along with the Caulfield Guineas.
· Another Legend & Dumdrum (Hugh Moran) – Maidens nominated by Goulburn trainer Hugh Moran for the Melbourne Cup. Four-year-old Another Legend was beaten 11 lengths in a 900m Goulburn maiden at his only start. Six-year-old Dumdrum has yet to place in three starts.
EARLY nominations for the 2010 W.S. Cox Plate over 2040 metres at Moonee Valley:
Able One (NZ)
Above Average (IRE)
Absolutelyawesome (NZ)
Alandi (IRE)
Alcopop (AUS)
Allez Wonder (AUS)
Altius (AUS)
Avienus (AUS)
Becqu Adoree (FR)
Big Storm (AUS)
Bob's Shout (AUS)
Brampton (NZ)
Brilliant Light (AUS)
Buccellati (GB)
Bullbars (AUS)
Cannonball (USA)
Captain Sonador (AUS)
Cats Fun (AUS)
C'est La Guerre (NZ)
Chartreux (AUS)
Columbus (AUS)
Condahussler (AUS)
Count Encosta (AUS)
Culminate (NZ)
Dancing David (IRE)
Dangerous Midge (USA)
Danleigh (AUS)
Dao Dao (AUS)
Dariana (AUS)
Dealer Principal (AUS)
Decision Time (AUS)
Descarado (NZ)
Doctor Fremantle (GB)
Doubtful Jack (AUS)
Echoes Of Heaven (AUS)
Efficient (NZ)
Emblem Of Liberty (SAF)
Epic Dragon (AUS)
Extra Zero (AUS)
Faint Perfume (AUS)
Fanjura (IRE)
Femina Fashion (AUS)
From London (AUS)
Ghostmilk (IRE)
Giresun (AUS)
Glacier King (AUS)
God Has Spoken (AUS)
Gold Salute (AUS)
Good View (AUS)
Grand Ducal (IRE)
Guns Blazing (NZ)
Harry The Fox (NZ)
Heart Of Dreams (AUS)
Herculian Prince (NZ)
Hinchinbrook (AUS)
Imposing (GB)
Impulsive Business (AUS)
In Faith (AUS)
Innocent Gamble (AUS)
Intencion (AUS)
Interpret (AUS)
Irish Lights (AUS)
Jessicabeel (NZ)
Jimmy Choux (NZ)
Katie Lee (AUS)
Keep The Peace (NZ)
Kibbutz (NZ)
Kudakulari (NZ)
Kutchinsky (AUS)
La Rocket (AUS)
Landlord (AUS)
Largo Lad (AUS)
Latin News (AUS)
Levi's Choice (AUS)
Linton (AUS)
Lion Tamer (NZ)
Littorio (AUS)
Lords Ransom (AUS)
Luen Yat Forever (AUS)
Mackadoo (NZ)
Madang Flyer (NZ)
Magical Pearl (AUS)
Majestic Music (AUS)
Many Stars (NZ)
Maradona (NZ)
Marheta (AUS)
Masquerader (AUS)
Master O'Reilly (NZ)
Maules Creek (AUS)
Mentality (AUS)
Metal Bender (NZ)
Miss Darcey (AUS)
Miss Maren (NZ)
Monaco Consul (NZ)
Moncalieri (AUS)
More Joyous (NZ)
Moudre (AUS)
Mourayan (IRE)
Mutamayez (AUS)
My Central (ITY)
My Emotion (NZ)
Neeson (AUS)
New Day Rising (AUS)
No Evidence Needed (AUS)
Once Were Wild (AUS)
Originate (AUS)
Precious Lorraine (AUS)
Predatory Pricer (AUS)
Pressday (AUS)
Primal Instinct (AUS)
Puttanesca (NZ)
Raffaello (AUS)
Raihana (AUS)
Rainbow Peak (IRE)
Rebel Raider (AUS)
Recoup De Fortune (AUS)
Red Colossus (AUS)
Red Ruler (NZ)
Response (AUS)
Rock Classic (AUS)
Rock Kingdom (AUS)
Rothesay (AUS)
Run For Naara (AUS)
Sainthood (AUS)
Saneyev (AUS)
Sans Frontieres (IRE)
Sasa (AUS)
Sea Lord (AUS)
Shaaheq (AUS)
Shamoline Warrior (AUS)
Shamrocker (NZ)
Shocking (AUS)
Shoot Out (AUS)
Silent Surround (AUS)
Sirmione (AUS)
Skilled (AUS)
Skorost (AUS)
Slapstick (AUS)
Small Minds (AUS)
Smokin' Joey (AUS)
Snapy Halo (ARG)
Sniper's Bullet (AUS)
So You Think (NZ)
South Easter (IRE)
Spacecraft (AUS)
Star Of Octagonal (AUS)
Star Witness (AUS)
Starboda (AUS)
State Grade (AUS)
Sterling Prince (NZ)
Stratcombe (AUS)
Sugar Bush (NZ)
The Blues (AUS)
The Handsome One (AUS)
The Hombre (AUS)
The Miniver Rose (IRE)
The Ruffian (AUS)
Theseo (AUS)
Tobique (AUS)
Token Of Honour (AUS)
Tollesprit (AUS)
Toorak Toff (AUS)
Trader (AUS)
Tricky Tricky (AUS)
Triple Honour (NZ)
Triumphant Choice (AUS)
Trusting (AUS)
Try Pickle (AUS)
Turnstiles (NZ)
Typhoon Tracy (AUS)
Valdemoro (AUS)
Vigor (NZ)
Vosne Romanee (NZ)
Wall Street (NZ)
Wealth Princess (NZ)
Weekend Hussler (AUS)
We're Gonna Rock (AUS)
White Pilgrim (JPN)
Whobegotyou (AUS)
Woorim (AUS)
Work The Room (AUS)
Yosei (AUS)
Zabrasive (NZ)
Zantelagh (AUS)
Zavite (NZ)
Zipping (AUS)
Zutara (AUS)
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