Cox Plate invitations have been given to 20 highly rated overseas racehorses, the Moonee Valley Racing Club announced on Thursday.

In a bid to make the weight-for-age race an international event, the MVRC has targeted the best-credentialled horses across seven countries.

They include the Aidan O'Brien-trained Camelot and Magician as well as Godolphin horses Farhh and Sajjhaa.

The John Moore-trained Military Attack, winner of the Group One QEII Cup and Singapore Airlines International Cup in his past two starts, is one of four Hong Kong-based horses invited.

French stayer Dunaden, winner of the 2011 Melbourne Cup and last year's Caulfield Cup, has been invited.

"The Moonee Valley team has evaluated the international form over the past 12 months and we have agreed on the leading 20 contenders that we believe could win the 2013 Cox Plate," MVRC chief executive Michael Browell said.

No international has won the Cox Plate and previous attempts to attract strong overseas participation from outside Australasia have failed with the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and America's Breeders' Cup meeting held around the same time.

The $3 million Cox Plate is on October 26 and entries close on August 6.