Four internationals remain in Caulfield Cup field
The Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) at The Valley will have no overseas runners in 2025, but there could be as many as four international contenders in the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).
Following the release of first declarations for both races on Tuesday, the number of Caulfield Cup hopefuls fell from the original 142 entries taken last month to 85 while the first declarations for the Cox Plate saw a reduction to 57 hopefuls from the original 107 entries.
The remaining international Caulfield Cup contenders are Alessandro Botti’s stayer Presage Nocturne (Wootton Bassett), Simon and Ed Crisford’s gelding Meydaan (Frankel), the Japanese stayer Golden Snap (Gold Ship) and possibly the Willie Mullins-trained Absurde (Fastnet Rock).
Absurde, who has contested the past two Melbourne Cups (Gr 1, 3200m), is also nominated to run this Sunday in the Irish St Leger (Gr 1, 2800m) at The Curragh.
If he was to run there, he won’t be able to contest the Caulfield Cup as those horses have to be in quarantine this weekend to be ready for the first shipment to Melbourne on AFL Grand Final day.
The dream clash of Yulong’s star mares Via Sistina (Fastnet Rock) and Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) could still occur in the $6 million Cox Plate on October 25 with both mares paid-up for.
It appeared the clash could be off after Treasurethe Moment suffered a colic attack earlier in the week, but his trainer Matt Laurie has since said the Cox Plate was still on the champion mare’s agenda.
Via Sistina’s trainer Chris Waller certainly has a major presence in the Cox Plate – a race he has won five times – with Sydney’s champion trainer having 21 of the 57 remaining hopefuls.
He has 22 of the 85 horses left in the Caulfield Cup and last week entered a whopping 27 horses for the $10 million Melbourne Cup on November 4.