MOONEE Valley Racing Club's push to attract international runners to the Cox Plate may pay off with four of Europe's top stables likely to send horses to this year's race, reports The Age. It says: Racing Victoria's international recruitment consultant Leigh Jordon confirmed yesterday that the connections of the Marco Botti-trained Planteur had made the Cox Plate a priority target for the six-year-old, while William Haggas' Master Of Hounds, Alain De Royer Dupre's Reliable Man and the Luca Cuman
MOONEE Valley Racing Club's push to attract international runners to the Cox Plate may pay off with four of Europe's top stables likely to send horses to this year's race, reports The Age.
It says: Racing Victoria's international recruitment consultant Leigh Jordon confirmed yesterday that the connections of the Marco Botti-trained Planteur had made the Cox Plate a priority target for the six-year-old, while William Haggas' Master Of Hounds, Alain De Royer Dupre's Reliable Man and the Luca Cumani-trained Afsare were also likely to aim at the October 27 race.
"We're getting closer to the races and I am very confident that we will have multiple runners in this year's Cox Plate," Jordon said. "Marco Botti has told me that Planteur will run in the Irish Champion Stakes or the Juddmonte International before coming to Melbourne for the Cox Plate, William Haggas continues to make all the right noises about Master Of Hounds ... and Luca is now keen to bring Afsare for the race if he runs well again at his next start.''
French Derby winner Reliable Man has attracted the most Australian attention with buyers battling fiercely to secure the middle distance performer trained by De Royer Dupre for what is understood to be a hefty seven figures. (www.theage.com.au)