The spring aspirations of some of Australia’s – and indeed the world’s – best horses has become clearer after second acceptances closed at 12pm (AEST) today (Tuesday, 22 September) for the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m), the $2 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and the $1 million Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m).
The 100th edition of Australia’s weight-for-age championship, which will be run at The Valley on Saturday, 24 October, is still in the sights of 66 gallopers with four internationals aiming to take home the gold Cox Plate trophy. That number is down slightly on last year’s bumper crop of 68 second acceptors, but is significantly up on the tally of the three previous years when the mighty mare Winx scared off several potential rivals.
The stallion-making Caulfield Guineas has attracted 47 second acceptors whilst 41 fillies remain in contention to land the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday, 10 October – the first day of the famous Stella Artois Caulfield Cup Carnival.
Armory, Magic Wand (both Aidan O’Brien), Buckhurst (Joseph O’Brien) and Aspetar (Roger Charlton) make up the four-strong international contingent aiming to claim the centenary edition of the Cox Plate, won last year by Japanese superstar Lys Gracieux. Two of the four have prevailed at racing’s highest level, whilst Armory and Buckhurst – who is owned by Lloyd Williams – both have Group wins on their CVs.
Closer to home, a pair of last-start Group 1 winners – the Matt Smith-trained Fierce Impact (Makybe Diva Stakes) and Chris Waller’s gelding Kolding (George Main Stakes) – have retained their places in the second acceptances list alongside Kris Lees’ emerging stayer Mugatoo, who notched a hat-trick of wins with his victory in the Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m) last week.
The crop of second acceptors includes a total of 26 Group 1 winners, with the early favourite Russian Camelot aiming to add the Cox Plate to the South Australian Derby (2500m) he claimed earlier this year. Russian Camelot is one of only three northern hemisphere three-year-olds left in the running – he is joined in the exclusive list by Armory and the Team Hawkes-trained Kingsheir – whilst there are 18 southern hemisphere contenders including Group 1-winning colts King’s Legacy and Tagaloa.
Third acceptances for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate close at 12pm (AEST) on Tuesday, 6 October.
Click here to view the second acceptances for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate
The Friday night Manikato Stakes headlines the opening meeting of the two-day Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival and has attracted six more entries than 2019.
A total of 12 Group 1 winners feature among the nominations taken today including newly crowned Victorian Horse of the Year Nature Strip (Chris Waller), last year’s beaten favourite Bivouac (James Cummings) and the 2017 winner Hey Doc (Tony and Calvin McEvoy).
Headlining the 12 three-year-olds among the entries are Golden Slipper winner Farnan (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott), Blue Diamond winner Tagaloa (Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young) and the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained speedsters Anders and Away Game.
Other notable entries include last season’s Ladbrokes 55 Second Challenge winner Bella Vella (Will Clarken), Western Australian speedster Fabergino (Tiarnna Robertson) and the highly touted Masked Crusader (Team Hawkes).
First acceptances for the Manikato Stakes will be taken at 12 noon (AET) on Tuesday, 6 October.
Click here to view nominations for the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes