Stepping up to Plate
MOONEE Valley Racing Club has received “genuine interest” from international owners and trainers keen to send runners to the centenary Cox Plate, despite uncertainty generated by COVID-19 restrictions.
The MVRC on Thursday celebrated the 100-day milestone to the $5 million weightfor-age championship on October 24, revealing it was collaborating closely with prospective internationals and Racing Victoria.
“The MVRC is working closely with Racing Victoria on the potential to allow international runners to fly to Melbourne to participate in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate,” the club said.
“With invitations still being sent to targeted horses, with genuine interest from trainers and owners alike being reClub ceived. However, the situation is very fluid and will be monitored day by day.”
The Cox Plate has been won twice during the past six years by internationally trained gallopers — Adelaide (2014) and Lys Gracieux (’19).
International participation in this year’s Melbourne spring features — possibly in front of crowds as meagre as 5000 — remains among a myriad uncertainties.
But Valley officials are undaunted.
“Despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the current lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne, the club is pushing ahead towards planning a fitting celebration of the 100th running of the W.S. Cox Plate,” the club said.
“That will continue to build in the next 100 days as contenders from near and, potentially far, target the race.”
chairman Don Casboult said: “Ladbrokes Cox Plate 100 will be the feature race of the 2020 spring racing carnival. And despite the many obstacles we might face, we are determined to put on a show befitting of this year’s race and the 99 runnings before it.
“The Cox Plate is one of the world’s premier thoroughbred weight-for-age races and its honour roll is a cavalcade of champions, with the 2020 edition to again showcase the best of the best on the world stage.
“It was of great importance that we were able to maintain the prizemoney of $5 million for the Cox Plate, given the significance of this year, and the team is planning many scenarios around having crowds on course.
“Crowds or no crowds, it will be a spectacle for all who witness it, even from afar.”