Report: Carl Spackler will race again in Britain before Cox Plate

Carl Spackler, the Grade 1 Maker's Mark Mile winner who was purchased by Australia-based Yulong Investments in May, will race one more time in Britain before heading down under for the Group 1 Cox Plate.

Jack Turnbull, assistant trainer to Ciaran Maher, told Australian news outlet Racing.com that they had not chosen a specific next race for Carl Spackler, though he does have an entry in the one-mile Sussex Stakes (G1) at Goodwood on July 30.

"The Cox plate was voiced, as it's our premier race," Turnbull told Racing.com. "We know he's effective at a mile with three Grade 1 wins, but his grand final is probably going to be the Cox Plate."

The Cox Plate covers about 1 1/4 miles on the turf. It was won last year by another horse owned by Yulong Investments, the mare Via Sistina. The Cox Plate distance would be a new test for Carl Spackler. He has yet to race past 1 1/16 miles, though he did win the Saranac (G3) at that distance as a 3-year-old.

Carl Spackler made his first start for his new connections Tuesday in the Queen Anne (G1) at Royal Ascot. Forward through much of the race, he flattened out in the final furlong to finish sixth, three lengths behind Docklands.

A 5-year-old horse by Lope de Vega, Carl Spackler raced for trainer Chad Brown and owner e Five Racing when he was based in the U.S. He established himself as a top turf miler, winning the Fourstardave (G1) and the Keeneland Turf Mile (G1) in 2024 and the Maker's Mark Mile this year.