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...
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
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.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 23
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
Bold by Name and Bold by Nature - Bold Star
And maybe a Star by name and nature as well, the Gordon Richards trained 4Y0 so impressive recording a a tough and determined victory in Saturday's $140,000 Listed Kensington Stakes at Flemington.
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.
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.