Over 100 horses remain in contention to run in the 2014 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 25 after the first acceptances for the Group 1 event were released this afternoon.

Go Indy Go is the only three-year-old filly that has been included in the 2014 Cox Plate first acceptances. Photo by: Steve Hart

A record number of international chances were included in the 2014 Cox Plate nominations and 13 overseas based horses have been included in the first acceptances for the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship.

John Moore-trained Dan Excel has been in Australia for over a month preparing for the Cox Plate and he is set to have his first Australian race start in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 28 before he contests the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 heading into the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) a fortnight later.

Another international galloper that is set to make the trip to Australia for the Cox Plate is Aidan O’Brien-trained Adelaide, who has recorded three wins from his six race starts to date.

O’Brien has never previously had a runner in the Cox Plate, but he has selected Adelaide as the ideal runner for the Group 1 event after he performed strongly over 2000 metres in the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes (2011m), Group 1 Belmont Derby (2011m) and Group 1 Secretariat Stakes (2011m).

French galloper Calvin Williams, Roger Varian-trained Farraaj, Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock-owned Guest Of Honour, Adelaide’s stablemate Magician, Mackinnon Stakes winner Side Glance, David Simcock-trained Trade Storm, Cox Plate invitee Trading Leather, Irish mare Just The Judge and Noble Protector are the other European-trained gallopers that have been included in the Cox Plate first acceptances.

Shamus Award continued the excellent record three-year-olds have in the Cox Plate when he led all the way to record his maiden race win last year and a number of trainers are hoping to win the $3 million event with a three-year-old this year.

Almalad, Bachman, Hallowed Crown, Kumaon, Modoc and Scratch Me Lucky will all run in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday and have been included in the Cox Plate acceptances, while Caulfield Guineas hopefuls like Chivalry, Divan, Get The Nod and Ghibellines remain a chance of stepping up to weight-for-age level in the Cox Plate.

Champagne Stakes winner Go Indy Go will start her spring campaign in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday and is the only filly that remains a chance of contesting the Cox Plate.

Arguably the most popular horse in the Cox Plate first acceptances is Mick Burles-trained The Cleaner, who earnt himself a guaranteed place in the field for the Group 1 event with a courageous win in the Group 1 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Cleaner has now recorded three wins and two placings from his five race starts at Moonee Valley and he is certain to make sure that there is a genuine pace in this year’s edition of the Cox Plate.

Other key horses included in the 2014 Cox Plate first acceptances include the Chris Waller-trained duo of Boban, Royal Descent and Sacred Falls, Australian Derby winner Criterion, popular gelding Happy Trails, Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner, Team Hawkes-trained Messene and Heatherlie Handicap winner Stipulate.

Full Cox Plate First Acceptances