108 entries have been received for the 2025 Group I MVRC Cox Plate (2040m) to be run on October 25 with a galaxy of stars that include 11 overseas contenders and a group of new season 3YO’s.
An interesting entry that will carry those colours this year is Northern Hemisphere bred 3YO colt Trinity College, who was seen to advantage winning the Group III Hampton Court Stakes (1m2f) for Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore.
The blueblood Dubawi colt was last seen running second in the Group I Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) at Longchamp and was subsequently bought privately by Yulong and has been entered for the Cox Plate by Chris Waller.
A homebred for Coolmore, Trinity College is the best of two winners from dual Group I winning Galileo mare Hermosa, a full sister to Group I winners The United States, Hydrangea and the dam of this year’s dual Group I winning Wootton Bassett filly Whirl, who is also entered for the race by Aidan O’Brien.
The local three year-olds are an interesting group and while some are instantly recognizable and include G1 winning colts Nepotism and Vinrock, others required some research and given they are held in enough regard to be entered for this race probably need to go in the Black Book!
Nepotism profiles well for the race given his dam is a half-sister to All Too Hard, who was also trained by Team Hawkes and won the Caulfield Guineas and finished second in the 2012 Cox Plate to Ocean Park.
Also we have one filly that is entered and that’s the Darby Racing owned Within the Law.
Darby rolled the dice with a 3YO filly back in 2016 and that was Yankee Rose, who won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes and then finished a brave third at Moonee Valley behind Winx.
So who are the 3YO Cox Plate dreamers?
ALREADY STAKES-WINNERS
Autumn Boy (Chris Waller) – unbeaten SW from two starts, colt by The Autumn Sun
Highvol (Nick Ryan) – Two starts for two wins, SW at Flemington, gelding by Microphone
Legacy Bound (Robbie Griffiths) – another unbeaten colt, two wins from two starts G3 winner in Adelaide, by Ole Kirk
Nepotism (Team Hawkes) – G1 ATC Champagne Stakes winner by Brutal
Rivellino (Kris Lees) – G2 Skyline Stakes winner last season by Too Darn Hot (GB)
Vinrock (Matt Laurie)- another unbeaten colt, three wins including G1 ATC Sires and G2 VRC Sires, by I Am Invincible
Within the Law (Bjorn Baker) – the only 3YO filly with an entry. G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner last season and by Lucky Vega (IRE)
Wodeton (Chris Waller) – he’s not officially a SW like the others in this group, but given the hype it seems out out of place to put him as an up and comer! One win and three placings including a second in Golden Slipper and is by Wootton Bassett (GB)
UP AND COMERS
Arabian Prince (Michael Kent) – Ghaiyyath (IRE) colt with one start for a third at Flemington.
Attica (Joe Pride) – unraced Godolphin blueblood colt by Lonhro from G1 winner Savatiano
Central Coast (Chris Waller) – two starts for a placing and a win at Canterbury, by Wootton Bassett (GB) from G1 winner Sunlight
Cinturato (Ciaron Maher) – unraced Shamus Award gelding
Crusader Voyage (Chris Waller) – two starts for a fifth and a third, by Camelot from G1 winner Sea Siren
Fermoy (Chris Waller) – one placing from three starts and by Zoustar
Gentle Giant (Chris Waller) -unraced by Maurice (Jpn) from G1 winner Fenway
Hidden Achievement (Chris Waller) – by I am Invincible, four starts for a win and three placings and was second in G1 BRC JJ Atkins
Hillier (Annabel and Rob Archibald) – win and two placings from six starts by Zoustar.
Miewa (Nick Ryan) – three starts no placings but was sixth G2 VRC Sires Produce, by Maurice (Jpn)
Observer (Ciaron Maher) – Godolphin colt by Ghaiyyath (IRE), a win and a second from three starts
Providence (Chris Waller) – Wootton Bassett (GB) colt with three starts for a third and two fourths including in the G1 BRC JJ Atkins
Sarapo (Chris Waller) – two starts for a second and is by Frankel
