Ten of the best will line up at Moonee Valley on Saturday in Australia's traditional weight-for-age championship, the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. With horses bred from five different countries, the race features an intriguing mix of pedigrees from around the world.
No.1 Zaaki (GB)
Leroidesanimaux (Brz) x Kesara (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA})
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Jockey: James McDonald
Barrier: 6
Purchased: Originally 40,000 gns (AU$77,000) by Ahmad Alotaibi at 2016 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, then 150,000 gns (AU$290,000) by Blandford Bloodstock/Annabel Neasham Racing at 2020 Tattersalls Autumn In Training Sale
One of the 25 stakes winners and three Group 1 winners sired by the late multiple Group 1 winner Leroidesanimaux (Brz) who at one stage was touted to shuttle to Australia, Zaaki is out of the two times winning Sadler's Wells (USA) mare Kesara (GB) whose other five winners include the stakes placed Singapore-based galloper Kirks Ryker (GB) (Selkirk {USA}).
Kesara is a half-sister to the French two times Listed winner Persona Grata (GB) (Sir Percy {GB}) whose daughter Lovely Esteem (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) was Group 2 placed in Ireland in July. Zaaki's stakes placed third dam Minya (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) is dam of the Italian dual Group 1 winner Altieri (GB) (Selkirk {USA}).
This is the prolific Marchetta (GB) (Marco {GB}) family which features further in Zaaki's pedigree via Borealis (GB), Turn-To (Ire) and Klairon (Fr) to whom he is line-bred 5 X 6. Also boasting a 3 X 4 Blushing Groom (Fr) cross, Zaaki is attempting to become the first member of that sireline to win a Cox Plate.
Zaaki (GB) | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
No.2 Dalasan
Dalakhani (Ire) x Khandallah (Kitten's Joy {USA})
Trainers: Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas
Jockey: Daniel Moor
Barrier: 3
Purchased: $80,000 by Leon Macdonald at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Mill Park Stud
Attempting to become the first Never Bend (USA) (Nasrullah {Ire})-line horse to win the Cox Plate since Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}) in 1990, Dalasan is one of the 55 stakes winners sired by Dalakhani (Ire), the European Horse of the Year who shuttled to Australia on just three occasions.
Dalasan's dam is the stakes-placed Khandallah (Kitten's Joy {USA}) who has also produced the city winner Liberty Lover (Rebel Raider). Carrying crosses of the prolific stallions Mr Prospector (USA), Buckpasser (USA), and Tom Fool (USA), Dalasan is also 6x7 the Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), one of the great modern day line-breeding subjects.
He is a descendant of the influential Paraffin (GB) (Blair Athol {GB}) whose descendants Sir Dane, Lys Gracieux (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}), Heroic (Valais {GB}), The Night Patrol (GB) (Stedfast {GB}) and Flight (Royal Step) and are all Cox Plate winners.
Dalasan | Image courtesy of Sportpix
No.3 Gold Trip (Fr)
Outstrip (GB) x Sarvana (Fr) (Dubai Destination {USA})
Trainers: Ciaron Maher and David Eustace
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Barrier: 2
Purchased: Originally €60,000 (AU$93,000) from the 2018 Arqana Deauville August Yearling Sale, then privately purchased
A member of the Danehill (USA) sireline which has provided the Cox Plate winners Shamus Award, Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) and Dane Ripper (Danehill {USA}), Gold Trip is a grandson of Exceed And Excel by the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Outstrip (GB), sire of six stakes winners.
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Got Wind (GB) (Olympic Glory {Ire}), Gold Trip is out of a Dubai Destination (USA) half-sister to the French Group 3 winner Sarkiyla (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}), dam of the recent Group 3 winner Saiydabad (USA) (Blame {USA}). Gold Trip boasts crosses of four influential mares within seven generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), My Charmer (USA) (Poker {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
Gold Trip (Fr) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Arqana
No.4 Callsign Mav (NZ)
Atlante x Raadisi (NZ) (Volksraad {GB})
Trainer: John Bary
Jockey: Luke Nolen
Barrier: 5
Purchased: NZ$3000 by Emily Holmes at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale through the draft of Windsor Park
Another Danehill (USA)-line horse with his G1 NZ 2000 Guineas-winning sire Atlante (sire of four stakes winners) being a son of Fastnet Rock. Out of a mare (the three-time winner Raadisi {NZ} by Volksraad {GB}) bred on the same Danzig (USA)/Royal Academy (USA) cross as Fastnet Rock, Callsign Mav is out of a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand S. winner The Party Stand (NZ) (Thorn Park),
That is the family of fellow elite-level winners Mr Murphy (Danehill {USA}), Kenvain (Kenmare {Fr}), Regal Power (Pierro) and Arcadia Queen (Pierro).
No.5 Mo'unga (NZ)
Savabeel x Chandelier (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ})
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Barrier: 4
Purchased: NZ$325,000 by Aquis Farm at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Aquis Farm
Mo'unga has the right sireline for success with his sire Savabeel taking out this race in 2004; one of the five Zabeel (NZ)-line horses to do so with Pinker Pinker (Reset), Maldivian (Zabeel {NZ}), Might And Power (Zabeel {NZ}) and Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) the others.
Mo'unga carries multiple strains of the great sprinter Todman (Star Kingdom {Ire}) and one of his full brother Noholme II (Star Kingdom {Ire}), winner of the 1959 Cox Plate; the wonderful mare Oceana (Ire) (Colombo {GB}) duplicated.
Mo'unga's dam is the Group 3-placed Chandelier (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), full sister to the dual Group winner Irlanda (NZ). His third dam is the G3 Challenge S. winner Seraphic (NZ) (Imposing) whose granddaughter Chenille (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) won the G1 Auckland Cup.
Mo'unga (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
No.6 Verry Elleegant (NZ)
Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad)
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 9
Purchased: Privately part-purchased as an early 3-year-old
Verry Elleegant attempts to follow in the hoofsteps of her relation Octagonal (NZ)(Zabeel {NZ}) who won this race in 1995. Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of her own fourth dam Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) - Octagonal's half-sister - she is one of 14 stakes winners sired by the lightly raced Zed (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), great grandson of Cotehele House.
A full sister to the stakes-placed Verry Flash (NZ), she is out of a two times winning daughter of Danroad and is bred on a 3 X 3 cross of that stallion's sire Danehill (USA).
No.7 Probabeel (NZ)
Savabeel x Far Fetched (NZ) (Pins)
Trainer: Jamie Richards
Jockey: Brett Prebble
Barrier: 7
Purchased: NZ$380,000 through the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by David Ellis from the draft of Waikato Stud
Another by Savabeel - and also bred on crosses of Todman and his dam Oceana (Ire) (Colombo {GB}), she is out of the Group 3-placed Far Fetched (NZ) whose sire Pins sired the 2007 Cox Plate winner El Segundo (NZ).
Hailing from the family of the NZ Champion 3YO Filly Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel), Probabeel is a descendant of Jeu D'Esprit (GB) (Flatcatcher {GB}) - also ancestress of the Cox Plate winners Better Loosen Up (Loosen Up {USA}), Tobin Bronze (Arctic Explorer {GB}) and Bronton (Helios {GB}).
Probabeel (NZ) | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
No.8 State Of Rest (Ire)
Starspangledbanner x Repose (USA) (Quiet American {USA})
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: John Allen
Barrier: 8
Purchased: Originally 45,000 gns (AU$87,000) through 2018 Tattersalls December Foals Sale, then for 60,000 gns (AU$116,000) through Tattersalls October Yearling Sale by Aiden O'Ryan and Joseph O'Brien from the draft of Whatton Manor Stud
Another representative of the Danehill (USA) sireline with his sire being the locally bred shuttler Starspangledbanner, a son of Choisir and sire of 21 stakes winners. A half-brother to the promising Tranquil Lady (Ire) (Australia {GB}) who was stakes placed at her third start in Ireland just a couple of weeks ago, he is out of the unraced Repose (USA) (Quiet American {USA}) whose dam is the Listed winner Monaassabaat (USA) (Zilzaal {USA}); also dam of the stakes winners Prince Alzain (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) and Echo River (USA) (Irish River {Fr}).
State Of Rest's third dam is the US Champion 3-year-old filly It's In The Air (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) who has had local influence as the third dam of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Alverta (Flying Spur).
No.9 Anamoe
Street Boss (USA) x Anamato (Redoute's Choice)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 10
Purchased: A Godolphin homebred
A grandson, via Street Boss (USA) (sire of 55 stakes winners) of Winx's sire Street Cry (Ire), Anamoe is out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Anamato (Redoute's Choice). The dam of the Irish Listed winner Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), Anamato is out of the stakes-placed Voltage (Whiskey Road {USA}) - dam of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Drum (Marauding) and grandam of the multiple Group 1 winner Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}).
A highlight of his pedigree are strains of the close relations Machiavellian (USA), Halo (USA), Northern Dancer (Can) and Danehill (USA).
Anamoe | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
No.10 Captivant
Capitalist x Speedboat (Commands)
Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden
Jockey: Dean Yendall
Barrier: 1
Purchased: $550,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate and Starlight Racing at 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Ashleigh Thoroughbreds
The first Group 1 winner for his sire Capitalist, a son of Written Tycoon, he is out of the placed Speedboat (Commands), half-sister to the dual Listed winner Cross Current (Keltrice). Hailing from the family of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner River Dove (Hurricane Sky), he is a descendant of Carpet Slipper (Ire) (Phalaris {GB}), also ancestress of the 1989 Cox Plate winner Almaarad (Ire) (Ela-Mana-Mou {Ire}). Bred on a 4 X 3 cross of Danehill (USA) and a 5 X 4 cross of Marscay, he also boasts a 7 X 6 cross of Vain's grandam Rarcamba (Helios {GB}).
Captivant | Image courtesy of Sportpix
