Despite suffering her first ever loss in the Underwood Stakes on the weekend, Mark Kavanagh’s star mare Atlantic Jewel heads the 2013 Cox Plate second declarations taken today by Racing Victoria for the Moonee Valley feature on Saturday October 26.

Atlantic Jewel (centre) is the top 2013 Cox Plate second acceptor. Photo: Race Horse Photos Australia.

There were 90 first acceptors for this year’s $3 million Group 1 WS Cox Plate (2040m) earlier in the month, a figure cut to 58 at second declaration stage this week.

Triple Group 1 winner Atlantic Jewel won her opening nine career starts before her second to It’s A Dundeel in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) last Saturday but remains the top fancy in early Cox Plate betting after being accepted for today.

It’s A Dundeel is also still in the mix, Murray Baker’s star Kiwi raider now a five time Group 1 winner and counting.

Occupying the third line of Cox Plate odds is then the Gai Waterhouse-trained Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes winner Fiorente who was today withdrawn from the $2.5 million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) to focus solely on the weight-for-age race next month before the 2013 Melbourne Cup in November.

Waterhouse has four other Cox Plate hopes including her Caulfield Cup second acceptors Glencadam Gold and Ecuador but has withdrawn Bull Point from both the Cox and the $1 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the Saturday before.

Other notable non-acceptors for the Cox Plate who are still on way to the Caulfield Cup are then the Peter Moody-trained Manighar, German import Waldpark and Roger James’ Kiwi visitor Silent Achiever.

There are also 12 three-year-olds still in Cox Plate contention this year but Chris Waller’s Golden Rose winner Zoustar was not one.

The most notable 3YO that looks to continue the good record of the youngsters in the classic is the Peter Snowden-trained dual Group 1 winning filly Guelph who was last seen winning Saturday’s Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) in Sydney.

As for the international presence two invitational UK guests are still on track for a trip to the Valley this year with Arlington Million third palcegetter Side Glance and the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained Mull Of Killough who will be ridden by Melbourne hoop Steve Arnold.

As for some of the other big name Cox Plate horses still in contention there is Melbourne Cup-bound Puissance De Lune, Atlantic Jewel’s stablemate Super Cool, and the Lloyd Williams-owned duo of Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon and Sea Moon.

2013 Cox Plate third acceptances are due to close at midday on Tuesday October 8.

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2013 Cox Plate Second Declarations

Moonee Valley Racecourse – 26/10/2013