WHO:
The best weight-for-age middle distance horses
WHAT:
2040 m
WHEN:
Saturday 24th October 2026
WHERE:
Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne
WHY:
TBC
Who will win the Cox Plate?
Only the most brilliant weight-for-age horses in Australia and across the globe chance their arm at winning arguably the most weight-for-age race on the planet.
Generally a horse who settles on pace with a big set of lungs and a nice turn of foot can handle this quirky, tight-turning Moonee Valley track that usually favours horses on the pace.
THE EARLY CONTENDERS
Zaaki has stamped his authority on the Australian weight-for-age racing scene with an incredible winter campaign in Queensland.
After running respectable races in some hotly contested Group affairs down in Sydney, trainer Anabel Neasham decided to send her new recruit up north to tackle the Doomben Cup (2000m).
The British import would go on to win that by seven lengths as a $2.2 favourite and claim his stake as favourite for the Cox Plate.
He then continued his impressive winning run with a hard-fought win in the Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm to further solidify his credentials.
A genuine bombproof mare who rarely runs a bad race.
She has an ingenuine racing style that sees her throw her head about in the run more often than not, but she counters that with a massive motor.
The Chris Waller-trained five-year-old mare is the winner of eight Group 1 races and that record looks set to be extended into the spring of 2021.
She is already winner at over 2000 metres at Group 1 weight-for-age level.
An international Irish-bred galloper trained by John Gosden.
This galloper continues to go from strength-to-strength in his bid to become one of premier middle-distance commodities’ in world racing.
After winning the Prince of Wales Stakes at Ascot in 2020 he would go on to run third in the Juddmonte Stakes.
His most recent win came last start in the Dubai Turf at Meydan as champion jockey Frankie Dettori guided him to a three-length victory.
If Gosden does opt to come here with his star galloper, he is a huge winning chance.
You only have to look at the Cox Plate of 2020 to see that an import can win at his or her first start in Australia.
It is always interesting to see three-year-old horses be deemed live chances in a race of this stature.
Anamoe fits that mould here after a super impressive campaign as a two-year-old.
His blistering run in the Golden Slipper, where he was only beaten by barrier, was capped off with a stunning three-length victory in the Todman Stakes over 1400 metres after sidling up to his rivals with ease and blowing them away.
He is by Street Boss out of Anamato and his career record now reaches seven starts for three wins and three minor placings.
On talent, he is a Group 1 star and if he can make the progression towards a Caulfield Guineas and run well in that, then he must be considered a huge chance in this race with what will be a light weight to shoulder.
Another of the intriguing gallopers who might trek their way over to Australia this time it’s in the form of three-year-old colt Long Eagle.
He has run in some of the best races in the UK and boasts a runner-up finish in the Irish Derby at Curragh only to be well beaten in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes the start after.
Being a colt by champion staying sire Galileo the 2000 meters will be no concern for this highly talented middle-distance galloper.
The only knock on him will be how he handles the travel as a young horse as well as the tight-turning features that make up Moonee Valley.
On talent alone, he must be included as a serious winning threat.
The 2020 Cox Plate proved his worth, not only with victory in this race, but Group 1 triumph in the Tancred Stakes (2400 metres) during the Autumn Carnival in Sydney.
He settled into life in Australia under the teachings of Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace with great aplomb.
The star weight-for-age galloper will be doing the rain dance during the spring.
He excels on rain effected going as seen in last year’s Cox Plate.
The stallion is already worth a mint in the breeding barn when he retires, and another Cox Plate would only add to his stud value.
If he were to the win the 2021 Cox Plate he would join rare air with the likes of Winx, Kingston Town, So You Think, Sunline, Northerly and Fields of Omagh as multiple winners of the race.
EARLY TIP – Anamoe each at $15 the win and $4.6 the place.
Anamoe is the next star of Australia racing should he progress and improve from his impressive two-year-old season.
The way he sustains his sprint and hits the line is a sight to behold.
If James Cummings can get this horse to relax during his runs and build a big of base of fitness through the Caulfield Guineas, then we might have the first three-year-old since Shamus Award to win the race.
THE FAMOUS WINNERS
WINX
Winx gets her own section here.
Let’s go through each of her wins
2015
This was the year she shook the racing world and won the Cox Plate by four lengths after being afforded a brilliant rail run by Hugh Bowman.
She smashed a star-studded weight-for-age with the likes of Highland Reel and Criterion being left in her wake.
2016
Winx vs. Hartnell.
It was dubbed the match race of the century, but it ended up being a massacre.
Winx slid up at the 600-metre mark, idled up next to Hartnell and gave him wind burn as she bolted clear to win by eight lengths.
It was arguably the most dominant victory we have ever seen in Cox Plate history.
2017
She equalled Kingston Town’s three consecutive Cox Plate victories with victory.
However, it was not a fait accompli at all.
Humidor would prove her with the biggest scare of her Cox Plate efforts after looming up ominously at the 100-metre mark.
But as we came to see so often in her amazing career, Winx found another gear late in the race and held on to win.
2018
Four Cox Plates.
A record that we will probably never see broken for as long as we live.
Her main rival was Benbatl.
She made a mess of him as she careered away to victory and marking herself as the greatest ever horse in Cox Plate history.
Other winners
Kingston Town will still go down as the King of the Cox Plate.
His incredible three-peat through 1980-1982 saw him become the first million-dollar prize earner in Australian racing.
Dual winner So You Think (2009, 2010) made it five wins in the race for champion trainer Bart Cummings.
But it is Tommy Smith who holds the record for the greatest number of winners as a trainer with seven victories in the race.
Smith’s winners consist of Red Anchor (1984), Kingston Town (1980-1982), Gunsynd (1972), Tulloch (1960) and Red Craze (1957).
Shamus Award provided the race with one of the biggest upsets in its illustrious history.
He started the race as a maiden three-year-old colt and by the end of it was crowned Australia’s weight-for-age champion.
RECENT WINNERS
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Via Sistina |
| 2024 | Via Sistina |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior |
| 2022 | Anamoe |
| 2021 | State of Rest |
| 2020 | Sir Dragonet |
| 2019 | Lys Gracieux |
| 2018 | Winx |
| 2017 | Winx |
| 2016 | Winx |
| 2015 | Winx |
| 2014 | Adelaide |
| 2013 | Shamus Award |
| 2012 | Ocean Park |
| 2011 | Pinker Pinker |
| 2010 | So You Think |
How do I bet on the Cox Plate?
Punch in betnation.com.au on your internet browser or download and open the BetNation application on your smart phone.
Find the racing futures markets and click on the Cox Plate markets.
Here are all the main horses you can back to win the Cox Plate.
