The 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate nominations, taken on Tuesday, attracted 153 early entries for the Australasian weight-for-age championship including the defending champion Sir Dragonet.

2020 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet is nominated for a title defence in 2021. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Moonee Valley Racing Club’s showcase event, the Group 1 $5.25 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) runs at The Valley on Saturday October 23, 2021 with the date marking the 101st edition of the classic.

The number of Cox Plate nominations is down notably from 182 in 2020 and, as expected, features far fewer internationally-trained entries.

“We’re very pleased with the nominations received today across all the feature races and whilst the international contingent is down on quantity as expected, the nominations from abroad remain high on quality and their journey in the weeks and months ahead will create plenty of interest,” Greg Carpenter, Racing Victoria’s (RV) Executive General Manager – Racing, said.

“The challenges presented by the COVID pandemic both internationally and domestically in terms of travel cannot be underestimated and in setting a new global safety benchmark for the Spring Racing Carnival additional challenges have emerged, but we make no apology for that.

“This is the year of opportunity. Take the Ladbrokes Cox Plate for example. Five of the first six home in last year’s centenary race won’t be running this year, paving the way for new challengers to Sir Dragonet to emerge. There are great opportunities for hometown heroes to be created this Spring and for our friends from New Zealand to be major contenders in our Carnival.”

Along with the defending champion Sir Dragonet, Ciaron Maher & David Eustace have a further four chances at back-to-back Cox Plate wins for the stable with triple Derby champion Explosive Jack their other headline entry.

Following the historic four-peat of the mighty Winx (2015-18), trainer Chris Waller returns looking to add to his Cox Plate tally and his best fancied nominee is fellow star mare Verry Elleegant.

The daughter of Zed is an eight-time Group 1 winner and the reigning Caulfield Cup champion, with her only previous Cox Plate performance producing a disappointing 12th to Lys Gracieux in 2019.

Verry Elleegant is also one of the 170 stayers making up this year’s 2021 Caulfield Cup nominations and is among the 174 Melbourne Cup 2021 early entries.

“Can Verry Elleegant cement her future place in racing’s Hall of Fame by adding a Cox Plate to her Caulfield Cup title? There are so many great questions to be answered,” Carpenter said.

Waller dominates the Cox Plate nominations numbers-wise with a total of 14 entries also including his ATC Oaks winning filly Hungry Heart and the interesting inclusion of 2019 Melbourne Cup third placegetter Il Paradiso.

Early favourite in all-in Cox Plate betting online at Ladbrokes.com.au is Annabel Neasham‘s English import Zaaki who lit Brisbane on fire with a seven-length Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in the winter.

Of the new-season three-year-olds backing-up this spring on the back of a strong juvenile campaign and nominated for the Cox Plate, the standout looks to be Godolphin‘s Inglis Sires’ winning Street Boss colt Anamoe.

Other noteworthy Cox Plate entries include the Edward Cummings-trained Queensland Oaks winning filly Duais, last year’s Melbourne Cup hero Twilight Payment for Ireland’s Joesph O’Brien and fellow internationally-trained Group 1 Irish Derby champ Lone Eagle from the English stables of Martyn Meade.

The 2021 Cox Plate first acceptances will be taken at midday on Tuesday September 7, 2021.

Click here for the latest Cox Plate betting markets courtesy of race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au.

2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Nominations

Table Credit: Racing Australia.