Tassie star Mystic Journey is set to lead the charge against the overseas invaders in the 2019 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 26 after being among the nominations today.
Mystic Journey, above, is among the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate nominations. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Mystic Journey is one of 187 nominations for this year’s Cox Plate that will be run for the first time in five years without Chris Waller’s four times winner Winx.
The Australian racing public will have to wait with great anticipation to see who will take over the crown as the champion weight for age performer after Winx’s domination over the last four years.
The Adam Trinder trained Mystic Journey showed during the 2019 Melbourne Autumn Carnival that she could be the one to take over the honour with wins in the Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) and in the $5m All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington, while James Cummings’ Godolphin team will also be fighting off the international visitors.
James Cummings had nominated ten Cox Plate hopefuls with Group 1 winner Avilius and tough veteran Hartnell heading the team.
French import Avilius also shone during the 2019 Autumn Carnival with dual Group 1 wins at Rosehill in the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and in the $1.5m KIA Tancred Stakes (2400m).
Avilius has had Cox Plate experience after running fourth to Winx last year while the stable’s war horse Hartnell was fifth behind Winx in 2015 and runner up to the champion mare in 2016.
“This off-season Avilius went into the paddock full of confidence after a light but impressive autumn campaign, and he has come back a really confident horse. He will kick off on August 24th in the Winx Stakes over seven furlongs, which gives us good options stepping him up in distance afterwards,” Cummings told Racing Victoria.
The Cox Plate nominations has twenty-seven overseas horses among them, with the powerful Aidan O’Brien stable entering eleven horses and includes Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck and Group 1 winners Circus Maximus, Japan and Hermosa.
“To win a Cox Plate, you need a horse with plenty of tactical speed that gets a mile and a quarter well,” O’Brien told Racing Victoria from his Ballydoyle Stables in Co. Tipperary, Ireland.
“We have entered 11 horses that we think might suit the race, but of course some of them don’t always progress as well as we were hoping. But Anthony Van Dyck and Circus Maximus are two very hardy colts with good tactical speed, and both should handle nice ground.
“It’s probably too early at this stage to say who our number one seed is, we usually nominate a number of horses and then we will see how they progress from now.”
Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller is giving himself a great chance to find the Cox Plate winner’s stall again without Winx with Australian Oaks winner Verry Elleegant and new stable acquisitions Arcadia Queen heading up his twenty-three nominations.
Doomben Cup winner Kenedna and dual Cox Plate placegetter Humidor head up Ciaron Maher and David Eustace’s nine nominations while the Lindsay Park Team have entered twenty-two hopefuls.
First declarations for the Cox Plate will be taken at 12 noon (AEST) on Tuesday, 10 September, 2019.
Nominations for the 2019 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x2x | AALAALUNE (NZ) | F | 3 | Jacob McKay |
| 2 | 461214253x | ALIFEROUS | M | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 3 | 24x273635x | ALL TOO SOON | M | 5 | David Payne |
| 4 | 3002x7509x | ALOISIA (NZ) | M | 5 | Anthony Freedman |
| 5 | 834x68x90x | AMBITIOUS (JPN) | H | 8 | Anthony Freedman |
| 6 | 1100x1360x | AMPHITRITE | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 7 | x11x16511x | ANGEL OF TRUTH | G | 4 | Gwenda Markwell |
| 8 | 1x | ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 9 | 113111x | ARCADIA QUEEN | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 10 | 1x1118118x | ARCHEDEMUS | G | 6 | Gwenda Markwell |
| 11 | 12x | ASTRO BOY TOY | C | 3 | Toby & Trent Edmonds |
| 12 | 1x34334x | ATHIRI | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 13 | 1121x1x13x | AVANTAGE | M | 4 | Jamie Richards |
| 14 | 140x11511x | AVILIUS (GB) | G | 6 | James Cummings |
| 15 | 21x41x332x | BEAU BALMAIN (GER) | H | 5 | Jim Conlan |
| 16 | 1217x | BELLEVUE HILL | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 17 | 713211x5Nx | BEST OF DAYS (GB) | G | 6 | James Cummings |
| 18 | – | BILLJIM | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 19 | 2x3141x | BIVOUAC | C | 3 | James Cummings |
| 20 | – | BUCKHURST (IRE) | H | 4 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 21 | – | CAPE OF GOOD HOPE (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 22 | 76x925245x | CAPTAIN COOK (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 23 | 6x5147225x | CARIF | H | 4 | Peter & Paul Snowden |
| 24 | 2x2x | CASCADIAN (GB) | G | 5 | James Cummings |
| 25 | 11331x | CASTELVECCHIO | C | 3 | Richard Litt |
| 26 | 4x | CATEGORY FIVE (NZ) | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 27 | 0x00x9368x | CHELKAR (FR) | G | 7 | Archie Alexander |
| 28 | 1x | CHIEF IRONSIDE (GB) | H | 5 | David Menuisier |
| 29 | 134x11612x | CIRCUS MAXIMUS (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 30 | x071516x3x | CLIFF’S EDGE | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 31 | 21x | COMMUNIQUE (IRE) | H | 5 | Mark Johnston |
| 32 | 334449x16x | CON TE PARTIRO (USA) | M | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 33 | 25x1x | CONQUEROR | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 34 | 606113104x | CONSENSUS (NZ) | M | 8 | Stephen McKee |
| 35 | 26x1353x2x | COUNT OCTAVE (GB) | H | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 36 | 63318919x | CROWN PROSECUTOR | H | 4 | Stephen Marsh |
| 37 | 3266x | CRYSTAL FALLS | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 38 | 112x | DALASAN | C | 3 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas |
| 39 | 594x13141x | DANCETERIA (FR) | G | 5 | David Menuisier |
| 40 | 13x115237x | DANZDANZDANCE | M | 5 | Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley |
| 41 | 13x | DAWN PASSAGE | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 42 | 1x | DEEP FORCE | G | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 43 | 12x3123x | DIVANATION | M | 5 | Tony McEvoy |
| 44 | 112x122x | DJANGO FREEMAN (GER) | H | 4 | Robert Hickmott |
| 45 | 54x217549x | DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 46 | 2x3x | DREAM CASTLE (GB) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 47 | x621x8132x | DREAMFORCE | G | 7 | John Thompson |
| 48 | x3033x432x | EL DORADO DREAMING | M | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 49 | 11111x162x | ENTICING STAR | M | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 50 | 2712145x | ERIC THE EEL | G | 3 | Stuart Kendrick |
| 51 | 681x | EXETER | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 52 | 3x | EXPRESS PASS | C | 3 | Nick Ryan |
| 53 | 350x41111x | FIDELIA | M | 4 | Robbie Griffiths |
| 54 | 8321x6720x | FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) | H | 6 | Matthew Smith |
| 55 | 211x60110x | FIFTY STARS (IRE) | H | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 56 | x655x1x34x | FINCHE (GB) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 57 | – | FLEETING (IRE) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 58 | 312x | FLIT | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 59 | 1134x | FORTRESS COMMAND | C | 3 | Gerald Ryan |
| 60 | 23x432200x | FUNDAMENTALIST | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 61 | 11x | FUNSTAR | F | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 62 | 50x112142x | GAILO CHOP (FR) | G | 9 | Matthew Williams |
| 63 | 2425x5122x | GATTING | G | 6 | Darren Mcauliffe |
| 64 | 12x154134x | GEM SONG | H | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 65 | 0x | GRAND ZOU | C | 3 | Toby & Trent Edmonds |
| 66 | 113x12619x | HANG MAN (IRE) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |
| 67 | 0069x4719x | HARLEM (GB) | G | 8 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 68 | 120x53233x | HARTNELL (GB) | G | 9 | James Cummings |
| 69 | – | HERMOSA (IRE) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 70 | 3x16x2172x | HOMESMAN (USA) | G | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 71 | 84x817333x | HUMIDOR (NZ) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 72 | x13361382x | HUNTING HORN (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 73 | 6711x | HUNTLY CASTLE | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 74 | 3x9239x16x | HUSH WRITER (JPN) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 75 | 1x3x | I CAN FLY (GB) | M | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 76 | 21x | INDEPENDENT ROAD | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 77 | 097714711x | INVERLOCH (IRE) | G | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 78 | 025064xN8x | INVICTUS PRINCE (GB) | G | 7 | Matthew Smith |
| 79 | 1x | IRIDESSA (IRE) | M | 4 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 80 | 3x | JAPAN (GB) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 81 | 712x232x4x | JOHANNES VERMEER (IRE) | H | 7 | Liam Howley |
| 82 | – | JUST WONDERFUL (USA) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 83 | 1441x5496x | KAONIC (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 84 | 01x931911x | KENEDNA | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 85 | 1x370x120x | KENYA IRE (IRE) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 86 | 11x43236Px | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 87 | 28x984x42x | KLUGER (JPN) | H | 8 | Tomokazu Takano |
| 88 | x12331111x | KOLDING (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 89 | 11x | KOOWEERUP | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 90 | 112x | KUBRICK | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 91 | 1x5913x | LADY LUPINO | F | 3 | Danny O’Brien |
| 92 | 2x2211722x | LATROBE (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 93 | 311311113x | LE JUGE (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 94 | 242x28496x | LE ROMAIN | G | 7 | Kris Lees |
| 95 | 661x50211x | LEVENDI | H | 5 | Peter Gelagotis |
| 96 | x28363216x | LONG LEAF | H | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 97 | 16422x | LOVING GABY | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 98 | 30x823854x | LUVALUVA (NZ) | M | 5 | John Sargent |
| 99 | 2x32x1x | LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) | M | 6 | Yoshito Yahagi |
| 100 | 131x13422x | MADISON COUNTY (NZ) | G | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 101 | – | MAGIC WAND (IRE) | M | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 102 | 35x812511x | MANTASTIC (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 103 | 811725x | MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 104 | 12x | MAYAN | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 105 | 3x | MEINER FANRONG (JPN) | H | 5 | Takahisa Tezuka |
| 106 | 111x30111x | MELODY BELLE (NZ) | M | 5 | Jamie Richards |
| 107 | x115508x0x | MICKEY BLUE EYES | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 108 | 3x2x21x | MIRAGE DANCER (GB) | H | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 109 | 10532x147x | MISS SISKA | M | 6 | Grahame Begg |
| 110 | 22x | MOHAWK (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 111 | 1x2x | MOUNTAIN HUNTER (USA) | G | 6 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 112 | 11x2x0410x | MR MARATHON MAN (GB) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |
| 113 | 11x112131x | MR QUICKIE | G | 4 | Phillip Stokes |
| 114 | 4341x9x00x | MUNTAHAA (IRE) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 115 | 1511x1111x | MYSTIC JOURNEY | M | 4 | Adam Trinder |
| 116 | 5x8112x59x | NAHUEL (GB) | G | 6 | Richard & Michael Freedman |
| 117 | 213x11348x | NAKEETA JANE | M | 4 | Mark Newnham |
| 118 | 2x1635678x | NELSON IRE (IRE) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 119 | 010x58158x | NETTOYER | M | 6 | Wendy Roche |
| 120 | 612112x30x | NEUFBOSC (FR) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 121 | 413x41x | NEW KING (GB) | H | 4 | Matthew Dale |
| 122 | 160x34000x | NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 123 | 544130x08x | OOHOOD | M | 4 | Tony McEvoy |
| 124 | 24x414513x | ORDER AGAIN (NZ) | G | 6 | Brian Smith |
| 125 | 25125x | OUTLANDOS | C | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 126 | 11x | PEIDRA | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 127 | 610x66401x | PIVOINE (IRE) | G | 6 | Andrew Balding |
| 128 | – | PLAYOFFS (NZ) | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 129 | 1x3516832x | POHUTUKAWA | M | 4 | James Cummings |
| 130 | 12x332x70x | POUNAMU | G | 8 | Michael Kent |
| 131 | 3x86217x | POWER SCHEME | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 132 | 245x1x | PRETTY BRAZEN | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 133 | 55311x | PRINCE FAWAZ | C | 3 | Anthony Cummings |
| 134 | 21x71116x | PRINCESS JENNI (NZ) | M | 4 | David Brideoake |
| 135 | 0x2490431x | PURPLE SECTOR (NZ) | H | 4 | John Thompson |
| 136 | 425x14941x | QAFILA | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 137 | 2x | QUICK THINKER | C | 3 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 138 | 153x16639x | RE EDIT | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 139 | 123x | RELOADED | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 140 | 102112334x | RONDINELLA (NZ) | M | 5 | Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
| 141 | 192251557x | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | G | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 142 | 11x | RULE THE WORLD | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 143 | – | SAN HUBERTO (IRE) | H | 4 | Fabrice Chappett |
| 144 | 14x345x60x | SAVAPINSKI (NZ) | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 145 | 2730x53x1x | SCALES OF JUSTICE | G | 7 | Lindsey Smith |
| 146 | 62x925954x | SEABROOK (NZ) | M | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 147 | 112429x1x | SEBRAKATE | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 148 | – | SELICA (NZ) | F | 3 | Michael Kent |
| 149 | 93x | SHINING EAGLE | F | 3 | John Sargent |
| 150 | 20x | SHOTMAKER | C | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 151 | 2x1x92321x | SHRAAOH (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 152 | 435x42170x | SIKANDARABAD (IRE) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 153 | x310x3321x | SIXTIES GROOVE (IRE) | G | 7 | Kris Lees |
| 154 | 6x194x | SKIDDAW | C | 3 | Danny O’Brien |
| 155 | 641292450x | SO SI BON | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 156 | 32x00x048x | SOUND (GER) | H | 7 | Michael Moroney |
| 157 | x22113211x | STAR OF THE SEAS (NZ) | G | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 158 | x80x56252x | SULLY (NZ) | G | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 159 | 1338414x0x | SUPER TITUS (GB) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 160 | 3x112x216x | SUPERNOVA (GB) | H | 5 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 161 | 44x329023x | SUZUKA DEVIOUS (JPN) | H | 9 | Mitsuru Hashida |
| 162 | 305520x55x | SYLPHEED | M | 6 | Matt Cumani |
| 163 | 1x211x | TARWIN | G | 4 | Michael Kent |
| 164 | 114x111x | TE AKAU SHARK (NZ) | G | 5 | Jamie Richards |
| 165 | 1x1100x | TENLEY | F | 3 | James Cummings |
| 166 | x22470141x | THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ) | H | 4 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 167 | 5216x5233x | TRAP FOR FOOLS | G | 6 | Jarrod McLean |
| 168 | – | TRENCH WARFARE (NZ) | C | 3 | Matt Cumani |
| 169 | 3x | TRITON RISING | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 170 | 1x22x | TRUE DETECTIVE | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 171 | x22x3x312x | TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE) | H | 7 | Jim Bolger |
| 172 | 40313x216x | TWILIGHT RUN | G | 4 | Kevin Corstens |
| 173 | 138x53403x | UNFORGOTTEN | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 174 | x77027x90x | VASSILATOR (NZ) | G | 4 | Colin Little |
| 175 | 431x53390x | VERNANME (NZ) | H | 4 | Stephen Marsh |
| 176 | 3157x2111x | VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 177 | 33x0x6000x | VOLKSTOK’N’BARRELL (NZ) | G | 8 | Danny O’Brien |
| 178 | 211x36621x | VOW AND DECLARE | G | 4 | Danny O’Brien |
| 179 | 8x111x | WESTPORT | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 180 | 1x6611181x | WINNING WAYS | M | 4 | Garry Newham |
| 181 | 11x211x | WOLFE (JPN) | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 182 | 14x33x2x6x | WREN’S DAY (USA) | H | 6 | James Cummings |
| 183 | 211x17x | YES YES YES | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 184 | 63276x059x | YOUNGSTAR | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 185 | 123111x | YOURDEEL (NZ) | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 186 | 436013x10x | YUCATAN IRE (IRE) | H | 6 | Liam Howley |
| 187 | x12221x00x | YULONG PRINCE (SAF) | H | 5 | Chris Waller |
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