The countdown is on as we are 10 weeks out from Winx attempting a fourth Cox Plate.
Interest lifted a gear on Tuesday when it was announced that 135 Nominations including 26 internationals were received for the $5 million 2018 W.S. COX PLATE to be run on the 27th October.
The 1st acceptance for the event will close on Tuesday 11 September.
Headlined by WINX, this year’s renewal promises to be a spectacular field and just to be offered an invitation by the Moonee Valley Race Club to start in a race will be a feat in itself.
A total of 135 nominations were received, six less than last year’s nominations. This includes 26 international entries which is nine more than 2017 and is the highest number since 2014 (29).
Headlining the potential international raiders is Poet’s Word, the highest-rated horse in Europe after the Sir Michael Stoute-trained galloper added the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes to his Royal Ascot victory.
Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien has entered 14 horses to claim a second Cox Plate after his win with Adelaide in 2014. The legendary Irish horseman amongst his nominations has Multiple Group 1 winner Saxon Warrior along with another five horses that have won at the highest level: Lancaster Bomber, Deauville, Hydrangea, Rhododendron and Happily.
Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien has entered Irish Derby winner Latrobe who is owned by Lloyd Williams - the same connections took out last year's Melbourne Cup with Rekindling.
Godolphin's multiple Group 1 winner Benbatl, trained in the UAE by Saeed bin Suroor, has accepted the Moonee Valley Racing Club's invitation to contest the feature race.
UK Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has nominated Folkswood along with Emotionless and Blair House.
Japan could have a Cox Plate representative with multiple stakes winner Neorealism.
Locally, Darren Weir has nominated 2017 Cox Plate runner-up Humidor along with new stablemates, Japanese gallopers Admire Robson, Tosen Basil and Langley.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have nominated 6 horses for the race.
The Dynamic Syndications 5yo millionaire ARBEITSAM leads the stables team and Dynamic Syndications boss Dean Watt will be looking for his second runner in the race after winning the Cox Plate in 2004 with Savabeel.
Dean Watt with the 2004 COX PLATE won by Savabeel
Also included in the stables nominations are two 4yo’s SIEGE OF QUBEC and newly arrived import HUSH WRITER plus three lightly raced 3yo Colts SANTOS, THINKIN' BIG and WHITELEY.