Maxios, trained north of Paris at Chantillyby Englishman Jonathan Pease, goes on trial for the Sportingbet Cox Plate in the Qatar Prix du Moulin at Longchamp on Sunday evening. Although final declarations will not be made until 48 hours before the 1600-metre Group 1, Maxios could face a formidable line-up with Aidan O’Brien’s Declaration Of War and Gale Force Ten and the Richard Hannon pairing of Havana Gold and Olympic Glory both engaged.
Any British or Irish travellers to the picturesqueBois de Boulognewill be taking on Maxios in his own playground, though, with the five-year-old having won four of his seven starts there including the Group 1 Prix d’Ispahan (1800 metres) earlier this year.
Watch a replay fo the Group 1 Prix d'Ispahan.
That breakthrough at the top level marked a coming of age for the Niarchos family-owned son of Monson after his Classic career and the following year in training were beset by minor issues.
He has progressed to win two of his four starts this season starting with a Group 2 success on seasonal debut, followed by a close second in the Group 1 Prix Ganay prior to his Prix d’Ispahan triumph.
Maxios heads into his European autumn campaign a fresh horse having been rested since his mid-field finish behind Al Kazeem in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot in June.
A stable spokesperson said on Thursday that a Cox Plate challenge would become clearer after this weekend’s outing, in which Maxios will be ridden by Stephane Pasquier after the French jockey was cleared to return to the saddle.
A civil ruling on Wednesday suspended his three-month ban from race-riding imposed by French regulators, France Galop, following a positive sample for a banned substance given in April at Longchamp.
Click here to view Maxios' International Profile.
Should Maxios make the journey for the Cox Plate he will be a first runner inFrancefor Pease who is no stranger to Australian racing having worked for Tommy Smith atRandwickduring the 1970s.
Commenting on the possible run of Maxios in Australia, international recruiter Leigh Jordon said: "It is exciting that connections of Maxios are considering bringing him here for the Cox Plate and it would be a real boost to have a European Group 1 winner in the field. The horse has taken his form to a new level this season and it would be fascinating to see him take on some of the best Australian horses at the Spring Carnival."