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2026 06 15

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Moonee Valley Racing Club respectfully acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of this land – the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people of the Kulin Nation – and pays our respects to its Elders past, present, and emerging.

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Meisho Tabaru has earned himself a 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate invitation following a determined victory when going back-to-back in Sunday's Takarazuka Kinen.

Meisho Tabaru defends Takarazuka Kinen crown

Meisho Tabaru has joined his stallion Gold Ship as just one of three horses to go back-to-back in Japan’s G1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) and earned himself a 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate invitation following a determined victory on Sunday.Settling outside the leader, champion jockey Yutaka Take timed the win to perfection, and in doing so, claimed the race for a record sixth time and claimed his 86th Group 1 title with victory aboard the Mamoru Ishibashi-trained five-year-old.In testing conditions, Meisho Tabaru, who started $3.90 second favourite, held off the favourite Croix du Nord, who was closing strongly, while Danon Decile finished powerfully to grab third from the race leader Cosmo Kuranda.Meisho Tabaru has now won six of his 15 starts and took good improvement from his tough first-up run this year in the Osaka Hai, turning the tables on Croix du Nord.Owner Yoshitaka Matsumoto was presented with a miniature Cox Plate trophy by MVRC committee member Su-Ann Khaw along with an official invitation to Melbourne to contest the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Flemington on October 24.&nbsp;A crowd of over 60,000 showed out at Hanshin despite testing weather conditions.The Takarazuka Kinen-Cox Plate double was achieved in 2019 when Damian Lane partnered the Yoshito Yahagi-trained superstar Lys Gracieux to victory in both races.Nominations for the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate close on August 4, 2026.

The Valley will once again play host to a leg of the National Pony Racing Series, with the Victorian event set to take place on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day, Saturday 22 March.A collaboration between Pony Club Australia and Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC), the series is designed to educate young riders on careers in the racing and breeding industry, giving them a taste of professional competition on major racedays.The series features six race meetings across Australia, culminating in the national finals in June. Before the Victorian leg, Ballarat hosted a Jumpstart weekend, where participants received riding instruction, horse health education, career insights, and rider fitness training.&nbsp;In preparation for their big moment on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day, competitors will also take part in a training day at The Valley to familiarise themselves with the track.On Saturday, two pony races will be held for state finalists aged 9 to 15. The first, over 450m at 11:30 am, is for ponies not exceeding 12.2hh, while the second, over 700m, is for ponies not exceeding 14hh. That event will take place following Race 3 on the card at 1:30 pm.&nbsp;Moonee Valley Racing Club has enjoyed its association with TIC and Pony Club Australia, providing young riders with the opportunity to gain experience on a major racing stage. The Valley hosted a leg of the first National Pony Racing Series in 2023, and last year on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day held a Shetland Pony Race.With the next generation of riders set to take centre stage once again, The Valley looks forward to another thrilling chapter in this growing series.

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