The 2018 Group 1 Juddmonte International winner Roaring Lion
To celebrate the 99th running of the W.S. Cox Plate, the Moonee Valley Racing Club has launched the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series, with the winners of leading middle-distance weight-for-age turf Group 1 races around the world to be eligible to win AUD$2m bonus should they win the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
The 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate will be run at The Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Saturday 26 October over 2040m on turf. With prizemoney of AUD$5m on offer, the Ladbrokes Cox Plate is Australia’s richest Group 1 Weight-For-Age race and the richest turf 2,000 metre race in the world.
The first race to be included in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series was the JRA Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen over 2200m on Sunday 23 June. The Takarazuka Kinen is one of Japan’s most prestigious races, with an honour roll that includes champions such as Deep Impact (2006), Admire Moon (2007), Orfevre (2012), Gold Ship (2013 & 2014) and Mikki Rocket (2018). The 2019 Takarazuka Kinen was won in impressive fashion by Lys Gracieux and this high-quality mare is among the nominations for the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
The second leg of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series will be the Group 1 Juddmonte International to be run at York Racecourse on Wednesday 21 August. The Juddmonte International is recognised as one of the world’s great thoroughbred races, with many champions victorious over the testing 2090 metre course at York. Roberto won the inaugural running in 1972, and champions such as Wollow, Troy, Singspiel, Giant’s Causeway, Sea The Stars and Frankel feature on the honour roll of the Juddmonte International.
The Juddmonte International carries £1,000,000 in prizemoney (AUD$1.8m).
In 2018, Godolphin’s Benbatl finished second to champion mare Winx in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate after finishing 5th in the Juddmonte International behind Roaring Lion. Benbatl followed his Juddmonte International run with victory in the
Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) en route to The Valley to contest the Cox Plate.
Under the conditions of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series, if the winner of the 2019 Juddmonte International wins the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, they would win AUD$3m (£1,660,000) first prizemoney plus a AUD$2m (£1,095,000) bonus (total prizemoney plus bonus AUD$5m or £2,755,000).
In addition to the prizemoney and bonus, the Moonee Valley Racing Club also offers the winner of the Juddmonte International return flights and accommodation and covers all expenses incurred in travelling to Melbourne to contest the Ladbrokes Cox Plate as well as waiving the nomination and acceptance / declaration fees.
MVRC Chairman Don Casboult is delighted to announce that the Group 1 Juddmonte International will be included in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series.
“The W.S. Cox Plate is the most prestigious race in the southern hemisphere, and we are honoured to include the Juddmonte International to this International Series.
“The MVRC continues to promote the W.S. Cox Plate around the world as we look to attract the best middle-distance turf horses to The Valley to contest our great race. This year we celebrate the 99th running of the W.S. Cox Plate and we look forward to crowning a new champion following the record-breaking achievements of Winx.
“The Ladbrokes Cox Plate International Series will complement our International Invitations strategy which was introduced in 2012 whereby the Club invites the best performed horses for the W.S. Cox Plate. By connecting the Ladbrokes Cox Plate with selected prestigious Group 1 races around the world, we hope to continue to raise the profile of our great race and secure the best horses from around the world to race at The Valley. I thank Ladbrokes for their continued support of the MVRC and this rich bonus that they have added to the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate”.