Australia’s champion race mare Winx heads up the nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
Winx, above in blue colours, beating Humidor in the 2017 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx is one of fifteen Chris Waller trained horses that make up the 135 nominations for the Weight For Age Championship Of Australasia that has had a prizemoney boost from $3 million to $5 million this year.
Winx will be chasing her fourth consecutive win in the Cox Plate after equalling the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three straight wins last year and the champion mare is set to kick off her 2018 Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 after having her second trial this preparation at Rosehill today.
Regular rider Hugh Bowman was on board Winx when she ran seventh in her first trial this preparation and was on top again last Saturday when she stretched her legs in between races at Randwick and described today’s trial as the champion mare’s best to date.
“She felt as good as she looked. I am sure it looked pretty good. I would suggest that was as good as she has ever trialled,” Bowman said.
“I was very impressed with her. I asked her to do a little bit more than I did in the first trial.”
“She was more relaxed this morning than she was in her first trial and I think that was a result of going to the races for her exhibition gallop on Saturday.”
“For me it is the right direction that some of that nervous energy has left her body and she is ready for the races now.”
“She is in a good spot and I am very excited about her return in a couple of weeks time.”
Winx is the winner of eighteen Group 1 races and is joined but Waller’s other Group 1 winners nominated for the Cox Plate, Comin’ Through, D’Argento, Egg Tart, Shillelagh, The Autumn Sun, Unforgotten and Youngstar.
Victoria’s leading trained Darren Weir also a double figure of nominations headed up by last year’s Cox Plate runner up Humidor.
The international entries are headed up by the powerful Godolphin stable’s multiple Group 1-winner Benbatl, trained in the UAE by Saeed bin Suroor while Sir Michael Stoute’s stable star Poet’s Word, who recently added the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes to his Royal Ascot victory, is also among the entries.
A total of twenty-six internationally trained horse are among the nominations.
The first acceptances for the 2018 Cox Plate will be taken on Tuesday, September 11 while the final acceptances will be on Tuesday October 23.
Nominations for the 2018 Cox Plate (2040m)
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111x55462x | ACE HIGH | H | 4 | David Payne |
| 2 | 21x21x214x | ADMIRE ROBSON (JPN) | H | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 3 | 113x16041x | ALIZEE | M | 4 | James Cummings |
| 4 | 16x503768x | ALOISIA (NZ) | M | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 5 | 5x0x92834x | AMBITIOUS (JPN) | H | 7 | Anthony Freedman |
| 6 | 1186112x8x | ANGELUCCI (NZ) | G | 5 | Lloyd Kennewell |
| 7 | 1x4205138x | ARBEITSAM | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 8 | 1x | ASHARANI | F | 3 | David Vandyke |
| 9 | 11x3326x1x | AVILIUS (GB) | G | 5 | James Cummings |
| 10 | 1x | BEAT THE BANK (GB) | G | 5 | Andrew Balding |
| 11 | 321x1x | BENBATL (GB) | H | 5 | Saeed Bin Suroor |
| 12 | 4480x0221x | BETTYRAE RUBY | M | 5 | Tim Hughes |
| 13 | 2x11x | BLAIR HOUSE (IRE) | G | 6 | Charlie Appleby |
| 14 | 1111x1160x | BONNEVAL (NZ) | M | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 15 | 934100x21x | BOOM TIME | H | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 16 | 1x | BROROCCO (GB) | G | 6 | Andrew Balding |
| 17 | 222x1x334x | CALIBRATION (IRE) | H | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 18 | 30x603717x | CATCHY | M | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 19 | 51x12446x | CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 20 | 60x312561x | COMIN’ THROUGH | G | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 21 | x2x533x98x | DANON LIBERTY (JPN) | H | 7 | Darren Weir |
| 22 | 11x13714x | D’ARGENTO | H | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 23 | 2133230x0x | DEAUVILLE (IRE) | H | 6 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 24 | 581111329x | DOLLAR FOR DOLLAR | G | 6 | Tony McEvoy |
| 25 | 54x217549x | DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 26 | 70x400521x | EGG TART | M | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 27 | 3x4213x | EL DORADO DREAMING | F | 3 | Benjamin Smith |
| 28 | – | EMOTIONLESS (IRE) | H | 6 | Charlie Appleby |
| 29 | 35x135x16x | FOLKSWOOD (GB) | G | 6 | Charlie Appleby |
| 30 | 417801x | FUTOOH | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 31 | 11x | GEM SONG | C | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 32 | 11x | GOLD MAG (NZ) | G | 4 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 33 | 211x | GOOD ’N’ FAST | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 34 | 11x | GRAFF | C | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 35 | 3x1111x | GRUNT (NZ) | H | 4 | Mick Price |
| 36 | – | HAPPILY (IRE) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 37 | 1262x1213x | HAPPY CLAPPER | G | 8 | Patrick Webster |
| 38 | 867x28167x | HARLEM (GB) | G | 7 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 39 | 12343x312x | HIYAAM (NZ) | M | 4 | Mick Price |
| 40 | 139x15233x | HOLY SNOW | H | 4 | Mick Price |
| 41 | 412153x16x | HOMESMAN (USA) | G | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 42 | 3520x4184x | HUMIDOR (NZ) | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
| 43 | – | HUNTING HORN (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 44 | 213x | HUSH WRITER (JPN) | H | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 45 | – | HYDRANGEA (IRE) | M | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 46 | 6525x2124x | INSTANT DE REVE (FR) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 47 | 311x68139x | JON SNOW (NZ) | H | 5 | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 48 | 11x6260x1x | KAONIC (NZ) | H | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 49 | 7x5252720x | KASPERSKY (IRE) | H | 8 | Michelle Payne |
| 50 | 0x11130x2x | KEMENTARI | H | 4 | James Cummings |
| 51 | 331x11111x | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 52 | 2x4452622x | LANCASTER BOMBER (USA) | H | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 53 | 1x | LANGLEY (JPN) | H | 8 | Darren Weir |
| 54 | – | LATROBE (IRE) | H | 4 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 55 | 250x74232x | LE ROMAIN | G | 6 | Kris Lees |
| 56 | 13310x | LEAN MEAN MACHINE | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 57 | 114x39770x | LORD FANDANGO (GER) | H | 6 | Archie Alexander |
| 58 | – | LUCIUS TIBERIUS (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 59 | – | MAGIC WAND (IRE) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 60 | 331x2221x | MANTASTIC (IRE) | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 61 | 22x56x430x | MEROVEE | H | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 62 | 1x | MIG ENERGY | G | 3 | Brent Stanley |
| 63 | 12741x780x | MIGHTY BOSS | H | 4 | Mick Price |
| 64 | 13323x | MILSEAIN (NZ) | M | 4 | Kris Lees |
| 65 | 2x | MISS FABULASS | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 66 | 1x | MORE SUNDAYS | C | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 67 | 0x4x57x15x | MR GARCIA (GB) | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
| 68 | 363x27314x | MR MOONLIGHT MAGIC (GB) | H | 6 | James Cummings |
| 69 | 13x | MURLESS (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 70 | x39x1x1x3x | NEOREALISM (JPN) | H | 8 | Noriyuki Hori |
| 71 | 1x7433923x | NETTOYER | M | 5 | Wendy Roche |
| 72 | 116412141x | NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 73 | 5108x | NOT A SINGLE CENT | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 74 | 3x | OCEAN EMPEROR (NZ) | H | 7 | Gary Hennessy |
| 75 | 2x32322x | OOHOOD | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy |
| 76 | x2x115627x | ORDEROFTHEGARTER (IRE) | H | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 77 | 83x222415x | OREGON’S DAY | M | 5 | Mick Price |
| 78 | 2x3110328x | OUR VENICE BEACH (IRE) | H | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 79 | 73211x209x | PAYROLL | M | 6 | Richard Laming |
| 80 | – | PHARRELL (FR) | H | 4 | Jean-Claude Rouget |
| 81 | x121122x1x | PIERATA | H | 4 | Gregory Hickman |
| 82 | 1111x31x3x | PLEIN CIEL (GER) | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
| 83 | 13173x5x | POETIC DREAM (IRE) | H | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 84 | 1x2x122x | POET’S WORD (IRE) | H | 6 | Sir Michael Stoute |
| 85 | 20x242630x | PRIZED ICON | H | 5 | Kris Lees |
| 86 | x025x2347x | RADIPOLE (IRE) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney |
| 87 | 32x11x5x0x | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | G | 7 | Darren Weir |
| 88 | 53722x240x | RED EXCITEMENT | G | 9 | Gerald Ryan |
| 89 | – | RHODODENDRON (IRE) | M | 5 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 90 | 42x315117x | RIVEN LIGHT (IRE) | G | 7 | William Mullins |
| 91 | 1x76x2115x | ROMAN SON | G | 5 | Richard Freedman |
| 92 | x14312533x | ROMANCER (NZ) | G | 5 | Darren Weir |
| 93 | – | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 94 | 2720x2220x | SAMOVARE | M | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 95 | 34x110x | SANTOS | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 96 | x2x38x947x | SATONO RASEN (JPN) | H | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 97 | 112133115x | SAVVY COUP (NZ) | M | 4 | Michael & Matthew Pitman |
| 98 | – | SAXON WARRIOR (JPN) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 99 | 3x11x | SCOTT BASE (NZ) | G | 4 | Johno Benner |
| 100 | 4x31591x | SEABROOK (NZ) | F | 3 | Mick Price |
| 101 | 057x77326x | SEABURGE | H | 5 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 102 | 611212112x | SELF SENSE | G | 8 | David Brideoake |
| 103 | 3361x8899x | SENSE OF OCCASION | G | 8 | Kris Lees |
| 104 | – | SEPTEMBER (IRE) | M | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 105 | – | SHAMWOW (NZ) | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 106 | 1x076x462x | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | M | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 107 | 112x1295x | SIEGE OF QUEBEC | H | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 108 | 1x4711224x | SILENT WARRIOR | G | 5 | Stuart Gower |
| 109 | 31x691420x | SIR JOHN LAVERY (IRE) | H | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 110 | 1303x0436x | SIRCCONI | G | 4 | Peter Morgan |
| 111 | 750x55211x | SIXTIES GROOVE (IRE) | G | 6 | Darren Weir |
| 112 | 11x | SMART ELISSIM | G | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 113 | 11x | SMART MELODY | F | 3 | Kris Lees |
| 114 | 2249x1110x | SPANISH REEF | M | 5 | Ken Keys |
| 115 | 1213x | SPANISH WHISPER | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 116 | x11432x80x | SULLY (NZ) | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 117 | 11x | THE AUGUST | C | 3 | Brent Stanley |
| 118 | 111x | THE AUTUMN SUN | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
| 119 | – | THE PENTAGON (IRE) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 120 | 6925041x8x | THE TAJ MAHAL (IRE) | H | 5 | Liam Howley |
| 121 | 131x | THINKIN’ BIG | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 122 | – | THREEANDFOURPENCE (USA) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien |
| 123 | 230x25828x | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | G | 8 | Chris Waller |
| 124 | 1x5x4x1x2x | TOSEN BASIL (JPN) | H | 7 | Darren Weir |
| 125 | 3x60x11x | TOULOUSE | G | 3 | David Payne |
| 126 | 11116x632x | TRAP FOR FOOLS | G | 5 | Jarrod McLean |
| 127 | x1611x8x1x | UGO FOSCOLO (NZ) | G | 5 | Stephen Marsh |
| 128 | x111x0121x | UNFORGOTTEN | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 129 | – | URBAN FOX (GB) | M | 5 | William Haggas |
| 130 | 00x437829x | VENTURA STORM (IRE) | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig |
| 131 | 1153x6830x | WHEAL LEISURE | M | 5 | Archie Alexander |
| 132 | 5x213x | WHITELEY | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 133 | 11111x111x | WINX | M | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 134 | 54x311113x | YOUNGSTAR | M | 4 | Chris Waller |
| 135 | 146122x | ZOUSAIN | C | 3 | Chris Waller |
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