Roaring Lion defeats Saxon Warrior in the recent Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park.
With Benbatl having recently accepted the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s invitation to contest the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, the club continues to be on the lookout for the world’s best Weight-for-Age gallopers to compete at The Valley on October 27.
In a second round of international invitations, the MVRC has reached out to connections of last start Group 1 winners Accidental Agent and Roaring Lion in attempt to gather an all-star line-up for a potential clash with the World’s Best Racehorse and three-time champion, Winx.
“The club was delighted to receive word from the worlds largest stable in Godolphin that they intend to travel to Melbourne for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate with Group 1 winner Benbatl,” said Michael Browell, Moonee Valley Racing Club CEO.
“We have also been monitoring the major racing carnivals across Europe recently and feel Accidental Agent and Roaring Lion can make their presence felt in Australasia’s Weight-for-Age Championship,” explained Browell.
Accidental Agent caused an upset in the opening race of the Royal Ascot carnival winning the Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes and subsequently has been invited to contest the 2040 metre classic. Leaving the likes of Recoletos, Rhododendron and Benbatl in his wake, trainer Eve Johnson Houghton has expressed strong interest in taking up the challenge. The four-year-old stallion has run his best races on good to firm ground in Europe.
The John Gosden stable has received a second invitation for another of their stable stars after exciting three-year-old colt Roaring Lion took out the recent Group 1 Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park. A winner of five of his nine starts and a three-time placegetter, the grey has taken his form to the next level over 2000 metres and beyond last start defeating Aidan O’Brien’s duo Saxon Warrior and Cliffs of Moher. Cracksman is Gosden’s second charge to be invited to the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
2014 winner Adelaide and Highland Reel who was runner-up in 2015 were two horses who have been issued invitations post the initial invitations.