Armidale Stud's Proud Cox Plate History

Media Release - Friday October 25

Saturday afternoon, across Tasmania racing fans will be crowding into their local TABs or sitting at home, glued to their television sets or computer screens, excitedly anticipating cheering on the much loved Betty - Mystic Journey - in the Group I WS Cox Plate.

Mystic Journey - image Grant CourtneySecond favourite for the $5 million weight-for-age contest, Mystic Journey is nicely primed for her biggest test and owner Wayne Roser could not be happier.

"She has the ideal gate (6) and she is in fantastic order; we have been delighted with her ever since the Turnbull."

Describing the Cox Plate as "the ultimate... the greatest race in Australia attracting the best horses," Roser said, adding that the test lies in how tough and versatile the winner has to be... "the horse has to be both a stayer and a sprinter."

Mystic Journey's breeding holds her in good stead for just that sort of challenge, her exciting young sire Needs Further seen at his best over a mile whilst his sire Encosta de Lago, a Group winner from 1200m to 1600m, has sired Group One winners from 1000m to 2400m!

Plus Mystic Journey is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of the wonderful broodmare Lady Giselle, dam of Zabeel (and third dam of Needs Further) who has made such a mark on Cox Plate history as the sire of Maldivian, Savabeel, Might And Power and Octagonal, grandsire of Pinker Pinker and dam sire of Ocean Park.

Advertisement

Just as proud of Mystic Journey as Roser is the Armidale Stud family, the Whishaws excited to again be part of racing history with the mare the third W.S Cox Plate contender sired by one of their stallions.

It is a great achievement for Needs Further, from just his second crop, to be represented in the big race - as it was for Savoire Vivre whose gallant son The Cleaner took his place in two Cox Plates - and for St Briavels, sire of the grand galloper Sydeston contested three consecutive Cox Plates in the great era that was the early 90s; finishing second to superstar Better Loosen Up and third to Surfer's Paradise.

"It is an amazing race to be a part of," David Whishaw said, "and each time the progeny of an Armidale stallion has lined up in the race every one here has been so proud... we are fully aware of just what an important race the Cox Plate is."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 3
Here is the full list of 57 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Fourth Stakes Winner for Needs Further
Sensationally backed Tasmanian Yearling Sale graduate Bold Star did best in a driving finish to earn a maiden stakes win in Saturday’s Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Bred to Win Returns on Monday night
Caroline Searcy’s Bred To Win returns this Monday night profiling new and proven stallions heading into the Spring of 2025 and promoting the thoroughbred breeding industry in Australia and around the world.
Inglis Digital Bargain Buys Deliver Kosciuszko Dreamers
Sunshine Law was not the only Inglis Digital success story to come out of the Rosehill meeting on Saturday with two contenders for this year’s $2million Kosciuszko also giving connections cause to dream big and one of them is an unbeaten mare with a Black Type pedigree.
The Novelist Returns to Form
The very first stakes-winner for his sire Written By when winning the Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes in December 2022, The Novelist made light of the heavy 10 track at Rosehill on Saturday to claim another victory.
Per Incanto Mare Wins $100,000 Polytrack Championship
Synthetic flyer Cosentino silenced any doubt about running out the seven furlongs with a blistering performance to claim Sunday’s $100,000 Japac Homes Polytrack Championship (1400m) at Awapuni.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 2
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
King of Roseau Wins G3 Aurie’s Star
Placed in the Listed VRC Poseidon Stakes at Flemington last spring as a three year-old behind Growing Empire, Capitalist gelding King of Roseau returned to the same venue on Saturday to capture the Group III VRC Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m).
MM Yearling Sales 2026 Open for Entry
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sales - from the Gold Coast in January to Perth and Tasmania in February and the Gold Coast and Adelaide in March - are ready to deliver more groundbreaking results.
The Journey Continues
On a quest for the Cox Plate and to take her place as the best in Australia, the Adam Tinder-trained Mystic Journey took her first steps to the spring with a convincing win in Saturday's Group II PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.