The brilliant Team Hayes-trained Mr Brightside is one of the standout entries among the fifty-five Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2023 second acceptances taken for the October 28 showdown this season.

Makybe Diva Stakes winner Mr Brightside is one of the top 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate second acceptors. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The latest round of declarations for a host of upcoming majors closed on Tuesday including those for the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley.

One of the early standouts is Mr Brightside who took his winning streak up to five straight with powerhouse 1.5 length win in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on September 16.

That form was franked with the runner-up Alligator Blood enjoying a successful title defence in the Underwood last weekend.

Mr Brightside is improving each run and proving the form horse of the season with the Cox Plate silverware firmly in the stable’s sights.

Updated Cox Plate 2023 odds online at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au have Mr Brightside at $6 with all-in betting led by Hong Kong’s Romantic Warrior ($4).

The Danny Shum-trained galloper is looking to make it two wins for the internationals in three years following the 2021 victory of Irish raider State Of Rest.

He is a superstar in Sha Tin with an ultra-consistent record of 10 wins from 14 starts at home to date.

The six-year-old gelding is already a three-time Group 1 winner and is a genuine 2000m specialist with an outstanding strike-rate over the Cox Plate distance (6:5-1-0).

The other early top elect sitting at an equal $6 in the markets with Mr Brightside is ace Western Australian mare Amelia’s Jewel.

She won her interstate debut in Melbourne’s Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes first-up and is a very versatile performer.

The Simon Miller-trained four-year-old was second to The Everest contender Overpass in the inaugural $4 million The Quokka (1200m) back in April, but is also a Group 1 winner over 1800m in Perth’s Northerly Stakes from last year as a filly.

Trainer Chris Waller famously won four consecutive Cox Plate races with his champion mare Winx (2015-18) and he returns in 2023 with seven second acceptors led by his recent Golden Rose winner Militarize ($9).

The Dundeel colt enjoyed his third career win in the Golden Rose flashing home late for a stylish victory ahead of his Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) target on October 14 and then potential the Cox Plate against the older horses.

Other standout Cox Plate second acceptors this spring include the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained French import Light Infantry who is yet to race down under at time of publish and dual Underwood Stakes hero Alligator Blood for the Waterhouse/Bott stable who finished fifth to Anamoe last year.

2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate third acceptances close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of October, 2023.

Click here for the latest all-in markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2023 Cox Plate Second Acceptances

Table Credit: Racing Australia.