Aidan, Joseph and Donnacha O’Brien are responsible for 22 of the 28 Northern Hemisphere entries for the AUD$5.25 million 100th W.S. Cox Plate at The Valley in Australia on Saturday, 24th October, while Irish National Hunt champion trainer Willie Mullins has nominated True Self for the 2,040m contest.
O’Brien Senior, the 2014 Cox Plate-winning trainer, has entered 13 horses including 2019 contender Magic Wand and stable stars Japan and Magical. The Ballydoyle handler’s other nominations are Armory, Circus Maximus, Ennistymon, Mogul, Mythical, Order Of Australia, Peaceful, Sir Dragonet, Tiger Moth and Vatican City.
Joseph O’Brien has entered eight horses: Bolleville, Buckhurst, Crossfirehurricane, Degraves, Master Of Reality, Patrick Sarsfield, Pondus and Twilight Payment, while his younger brother has one horse nominated for the Ladbrokes-sponsored race, Prix de Diane winner Fancy Blue. There will be many Melbourne Cup Betting Offers and one to look out for maybe will be an O’Brien to train the winner.
The impressive list of 182 entries in total for Australia’s weight-for-age championship includes nominations from each state in Australia, New Zealand, France and England. Included within the entry list are 51 Group 1 winners, 42 Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds and 14 Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds.
Headlining the Australian contingent is Danny O’Brien’s Lexus Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare and his stablemate Russian Camelot, who was ridden by Cork-born jockey Johnny Allen to win the South Australian Derby in May, Queensland hero Alligator Blood and the inaugural two winners of The All-Star Mile, Mystic Journey and Regal Power.
With Russian Camelot and Nassau Stakes winner Fancy Blue among the 14 Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds on the entry list are 2020 Group 1 winners Kameko (Qipco 2000 Guineas) and Peaceful (Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas).
Eight horses that contested the 2019 Cox Plate are entered for the 2020 edition – Magic Wand (4th), Mystic Journey (5th), Kings Will Dream (6th), Harlem (8th), former Aidan O’Brien-trained horses Cape of Good Hope (10th) and Homesman (11th), Verry Elleegant (12th) and Danceteria (14th).
| The Cox Plate 2020 – Futures Odds from Sportsbet 23/6/20 | ||||
| Addeyb | $10.00 | Regal Power | $15.00 | |
| Almond Eye | $11.00 | Funstar | $16.00 | |
| Danon Premium | $11.00 | Loves Only You | $16.00 | |
| Russian Camelot | $12.00 | Te Akau Shark | $16.00 | |
| Verry Elleegant | $13.00 | Constantinople | $17.00 | |
| Benbatl | $13.00 | Daring Tact | $17.00 | |
| Master Of Wine | $13.00 | Ghaiyyath | $17.00 | |
| Win Bright | $13.00 | Alligator Blood | $21.00 | |
| Barney Roy | $15.00 | Others quoted… | ||
| Fierce Impact | $15.00 | |||
| Kolding | $15.00 | |||
| Melody Belle | $15.00 | |||
