Feature-race focus: Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

As usual, the nominations for the G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 Cox Plate are strong, both in quality and quantity. Many of the world’s top trainers are a chance to travel Down Under in a bid to raid the riches, and there is sure to be plenty of interest in the lead-up to these two great races that are steeped in tradition.

Note: while some horses not listed have an international suffix, we have focused on those that aren’t based in Australia.

G1 Caulfield Cup, 2400 metres, The Valley - Saturday, October 21

Last year's Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is among the 24 internationals and 175 nominations for the October 21 staying feature. The gelding isn’t going as well as he was this time 12 months ago, although he is on the third line of betting, and it remains to be seen whether owner Bon Ho and trainer James Ferguson will bring him back for another crack at the spring carnival.

The Simon and Ed Crisford-trained West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) - a Group 3 winner, who placed third behind the brilliant Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) in the Coral-Eclipse at his most recent last start, is one of the pre-race favourites.

John and Thady Gosden’s Israr (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}) would have his share of admirers if he was to line up, given his 4.5l romp in the G2 Prince Of Wales’s S. at Newmarket in July.

Aidan O’Brien has 10 runners nominated, including this year’s G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). He was scored in top company on three occasions and packs plenty of class and ability.

Aidan’s son Joseph has four horses nominated - Okita Soushi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Point King (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), St Vincents Garden (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Valiant King (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}). The latter is progressive and was beaten just 1.5l by Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) in the G3 Ballyroan S. at Naas earlier this month.

Speaking to TTR AusNZ on Wednesday, Joseph O’Brien said he wasn’t in a position to confirm if any of his runners will make the trip to Melbourne, but he is hopeful “we will be represented”.

“Most of them are probably going to have to run again in Europe before a final decision is made, but all of my entries are under strong consideration and we would be keen to have some horses involved in the carnival down there,” he said.

“They will probably all have at least one more race between now and the time for them to go into quarantine.

“It will be discussed with the owners and we will go from there.

“The two races are among a host of races in Australia that we would love to be involved in and they are among the top races in the world.

“Hopefully, we are taking part again this year.”

William Haggas has nominated his 4-year-old Iffraaj (GB) gelding My Prospero (Ire) - a Group 2 scorer, who has Group 1 form around Modern Games (Ire) and Bay Bridge (GB) (New Bay {GB}) - for both races and he told TTR AusNZ he is a 50/50 chance to go to Melbourne.

“I would say I’m 50/50 at the moment, no more but no less,” Haggas said. “I’m thinking he will go to Australia or Paris, he won’t go for the (G1) Juddmonte (International Stakes) next week.”

Asked if he has a preference for the Caulfield Cup or Cox Plate, should they head to Australia, Haggas said: “I don’t. I think he would get 2400 metres pretty comfortably in Australia, even though he’s never run over that distance and he’s not bred to.

“He’s obviously a nice horse.”

Paddy Twomey’s Rosscarbery (Ger) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Andrew Balding’s Scampi (GB) (Nayef {USA}) and the Milton Harris-trained Scriptwriter (Ire) (Churchill {Ire}) are other European-based gallopers worthy of close attention.

The Japanese came and conquered in 2014 with Admire Rakti (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}) and then again in 2019 with Mer De Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), and they have a couple of very good horses nominated in 2023. Breakup (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) is a Grade 2 victor and has been competing against the best of the Japanese since, while Grade 2 winner Win Mighty (Jpn) (Gold Ship {Jpn}) has a very similar profile.

The Kiwis had a phenomenal season in 2022/23, winning Group 1s at regular intervals on both sides of the ditch, and they again look a force to be reckoned with.

The Team Rogerson-trained Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) is well-named. He is already a three-time Group 1 winner and looks as if he will stay all day.

Andrew Forsman has nominated his much-travelled gelding Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), as well as stablemates Full Of Sincerity (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) and Mustang Valley (NZ) (Vanbrugh).

The Jim Wallace-trained Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) was one of the stars of the autumn, winning two Group 1s - the New Zealand Oaks and ATC Oaks - and this race looks right up her alley.

The Weatherley Stables' Ess Vee Are (NZ) (Shocking) would need to go up a gear to be winning a Caulfield Cup, but he may just do that. The 5-year-old’s victory in the Listed New Zealand St Leger in March was full of merit.

G1 Cox Plate, 2040 metres, Caulfield - Saturday, October 28

The Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC) received 178 nominations for the 103rd running of the Cox Plate, which will take place on October 28.

The list includes 48 individual Group 1 winners, 35 3-year-olds (24 from the Southern Hemisphere, 11 from the Northern Hemisphere), 17 international runners, with 65 stables represented.

European raiders have enjoyed a good deal of success in the race in recent years, with Adelaide (Ire), Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and State Of Rest (Ire) all victorious since 2014.

Gallery: Some of the international stars that have won the G1 Cox Plate, images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Japan has had the one winner, that being the star mare Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), who was far too good in 2019.

There’s little doubt the name atop the MVRC’s wish-list is Paddington who improved his record to seven wins from eight starts last week in the G1 Sussex S. at Goodwood on August 2. The Aidan O’Brien-trained galloper is likely to start a short-priced favourite should he venture to Melbourne for the 2040-metre race, however, recent indications suggest he is more unlikely than likely.

O’Brien, who got his hands on the Cox Plate in 2014 when Adelaide was first home, also has Adelaide River (Ire) (Australia {GB}), Alfred Munnings (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Cairo (Ire) (Quality Road {USA}), Continuous (Jpn) (Heart’s Cry {Jpn}), Greenland (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), Luxembourg, Point Lonsdale (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and Victoria Road (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) nominated. Some of these are also among the entries for the Caulfield Cup.

Cairo finished second to Paddington in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas in May, while Continuous is a Group 3 winner who was placed in the G2 Dante S. and G2 King Edward VII S.

Joseph O’Brien, who trained State Of Rest to Cox Plate glory, could well lift the trophy for a second time if Al Riffa (Fr) heads Down Under. The Wootton Bassett (GB) colt is a Group 1 winner and pushed the unbeaten star Ace Impact (Ire) (Cracksman {GB}) to 0.75l in Tuesday’s G2 Prix Guillaume D’Ornano at Deauville.

Joseph O’Brien’s other nominees are Above The Curve (USA) (American Pharoah {USA}) - the winner of last year’s G1 Prix Saint-Alaryand - and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) - a dual Listed scorer and Group 3 placegetter.

One international that is a confirmed starter is Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}), who is trained in Hong Kong by Danny Shum and is a multiple Group 1 winner.

Light Infantry (Fr) (Fast Company (Ire), who finished third behind Inspiral (GB) (Frankel (GB)} in the G1 Prix du Haras de Fresnay-Le-Buffard Jacques Le Marois on Sunday, is currently with Newmarket-based trainer David Simcock, but will join the Ciaron Maher and Daid Eustace stable, with his ultimate spring target being the Cox Plate.

New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) - the runner-up in last year’s G1 Irish 2000 Guineas - has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and he also joins Maher-Eustace and has the Cox Plate on his agenda.

Another European worth noting is the Charles Hills’ Galeron (Ire) (Camacho {GB}), who is twice stakes-placed and was fifth behind Paddington, beaten 3.5l, in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas.

And Age Of Kings (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) will be transferred to Chris Waller, while Jimi Hendrix (Ire) (New Bay {GB}) heads to Annabel Neasham.

One of the pre-race favourites is the star Kiwi mare Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) - a winner of seven of nine starts, including two Group 1s. She is trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, and the latter told TTR AusNZ that, all going to plan, the 4-year-old will be at The Valley on October 28.

“If she comes up well enough and looks like she will be competitive… we would love to be there,” he said.

“It’s a big step and she’s got to front up.

“She’s come through her spell okay and trialled up well a fortnight ago. Since then, she’s really thrived and started to really do.

“She will either have another trial or a racecourse gallop, then head across for the (G1) Memsie (Stakes).”

Other New Zealanders that could be Cox Plate-bound include Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), Pier (NZ) (Proisir), Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Mustang Valley.