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...
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.
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.
Undefeated 3YO King of Light Wins Listed Belgravia
Dan Morton's exciting three year old King Of Light (Earthlight) remains unbeaten in three starts, as the gelding graduated to stakes company with a scintillating first up victory in the Listed Belgravia Stakes on Cox Plate Day at Ascot.
Wootton Bassett Colt Leads Coolmore G1 Trifecta
The last British Group I race of the flat season was run overnight at Doncaster with Aidan O’Brien producing a trifecta of two year-old colts led by a son of the late Wootton Bassett (GB) in Hawk Mountain, who was too good for a pair of Frankel colts.
Pedigree Watch - Powerhouse Godolphin 3YOs Dominate
The current crop of three year-olds running for Godolphin lay claim to being the best they have ever produced in Australia and three of those colts won Group races in Australia on Saturday so let’s take a look at those pedigrees.
Yes Yes Yes 3YO Shooting for G2 on Monday
Last year’s Gr.2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial (1400m) set Savaglee up for Group One glory in Christchurch, and Matamata trainer Pam Gerard is hoping to follow a similar blueprint in 2025 with her Yes Yes Yes 3YO Affirmative Action..
Sale Cup Winner Adds to Fastnet Rock Super Weekend
It’s been quite the weekend for the late great champion sire Fastnet Rock with a Cox Plate quinella on Saturday and then on Sunday he produced a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding El Rocko captured the $200,000 Listed Sale Cup (1600m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday October 25
Here is the full list of 136 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Doubtland 2YO All On Red Smashes Them Again at Ascot
Widden Stud's Doubtland has a potential 2YO topliner in Perth in the shape of exciting WA colt All On Red, who remains undefeated from two starts after another comprehensive Ascot Saturday win.
Transatlantic Takes $1million Five Diamonds Prelude
Transatlantic’s lucrative spring carnival continued at Randwick with an arrogant victory in the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude.