Epsom Derby winner, Tassie superstar among Cox Plate entries

Breednet - Tuesday August 6
Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyke is one of 27 international entries, along with Tasmanian superstar Mystic Journey and 48 three-year-olds for this year's Group One Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.


Mystic Journey

Anthony Van Dyke's trainer Aiden O'Brien has entered 11 horses for the race which also include Royal Ascot winner Circus Maximus, and Group One winners Hermosa and Japan.

"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."

The international entries also include last week's Redoute's Choice German Group One winner Danceteria and Japanese trained Lys Gracieux and Kluger.

187 horses in total have nominated for the race which also sees Godolphin prominent with 11 entries, headed by multiple Group One winner Avilius, currently second favourite for the race.

Markets are headed by Mystic Journey, with Avilius, Danceteria, Hartnell and Verry Elleegant next in line.

Click here for the full nominations.


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