MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 25: James McDonald poses with the Cox Plate after riding Via Sistina to win Race 10 , the Ladbrokes Cox Plate during Cox Plate Day at Moonee Valley Racecourse on October 25, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
Race Information:
Date: Saturday, October 24th (5:10pm AEDT)
Racecourse: Flemington
Race Class: Group 1
Conditions: Weight For Age
Surface: Turf
Distance: 2040m
Prizemoney: AUS$ 6 Million
Brief History
Inaugurated in 1922 and named in honour of Moonee Valley Racing Club founder William Samuel Cox, the $6 million feature is long revered as the absolute pinnacle of Weight-for-Age (WFA) racing in Australia.
Unlike handicaps, where superior thoroughbreds carry extra weight to level the field, the Cox Plate operates under strict WFA conditions. Horses carry standardised weights based strictly on age and sex.
The 2040-meter distance demands a rare mix of explosive sprinting speed and sustained stamina. Moonee Valley’s high-pressure amphitheatre, tight turns, and notoriously short 173-meter home straight add to the challenge. For the first time ever, the Cox Plate will be staged at Flemington due to ongoing redevelopments at Moonee Valley. Flemington presents a stark contrast, offering expansive sweeping turns and a formidable home straight that will thoroughly test every runner's endurance.
Because the Cox Plate consistently attracts the elite, its honour roll reads as a hall of fame for turf legends. Past icons include Phar Lap (1930, 1931), Kingston Town (1980–1982), Sunline (1999, 2000), Winx (2015–2018), and international superstars Lys Gracieux (2019) and Romantic Warrior (2023).
Runner By Runner Analysis
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 18: Chad Schofield riding Ceolwulf win Race 9 King Charles III Stakes during Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse on October 18, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
1. Ceolwulf (NZ)
Age/Sex: 6yo Gelding
Breeding: Tavistock (NZ) - Las Brisas (GB)
Trainer: Joseph Pride
Jockey: Chad Schofield
Barrier: 3
Ceolwulf comes into the Cox Plate on a sharp seven-day backup after a gallant second to Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes over 1600m. He boasts arguably the most compelling form lines leading into this feature, having finished closely behind Autumn Glow in each of his last three starts. The Joseph Pride-trained gelding is well-proven on rain-affected tracks, highlighted by a victory on a Heavy surface at Flemington last spring. He is an essential winning chance, particularly if the forecast rain arrives.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 29: Ethan Brown riding Light Infantry Man defeats Zardozi in Race 8, the Tab Australian Cup during Melbourne Racing at Flemington Racecourse on March 29, 2025 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
2. Light Infantry Man (FR)
Age/Sex: 8yo Gelding
Breeding: Fast Company (IRE) - Lights On Me (GB)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Barrier: 11
Returned to his best with a fine second behind Cosmic Crusader in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. He is a true Flemington track specialist, having compiled three wins from seven starts at headquarters including two Group 1 Australian Cup victories along with two minor placings. Rain will only bolster his prospects; he holds two wins and five placings from nine starts on Soft tracks, though his record drops to a single placing from three attempts on Heavy ground. While the speed map appears favourable, with only Land Legend likely to challenge him for the early lead, his wide draw in barrier 11 presents a distinct tactical challenge.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 11: Craig Williams riding Sir Delius win Race 9 The Queen Elizabeth Stakes during Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 11, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
3. Sir Delius (GB)
Age/Sex: 6yo Horse
Breeding: Frankel (GB) - Whatami (GB)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 5
The long-time market favourite, Sir Delius remains one of Australia’s premier WFA horses. Boasting an exceptional career win rate of 46% and a 80% placing record, he is the highest-rated runner in the field (119). After an impressive first-up victory, he posted a somewhat disappointing fourth in the Turnbull Stakes without obvious excuses. However, he enters this assignment third-up, which he holds an unbeaten 100% strike rate off a spell. Dismiss him at your peril, he is primed to peak here.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Jamie Mott riding Attrition win Race 7 Toyota Forklifts Hill Stakes during Sydney Racing at Rosehill Gardens on October 10, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
4. Attrition
Age/Sex: 7yo Horse
Breeding: Churchill (IRE) - Queen’s Kiss
Trainer: Mitchell Freedman
Jockey: Jamie Mott
Barrier: 4
Enters off two solid efforts, a third-place finish in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes followed by a determined victory in the Group 1 Hill Stakes at Rosehill. Despite those accomplishments, he occasionally struggles to assert himself at the highest WFA tier, and a rain-affected track would further dilute his chances. Unplaced in three attempts at the 2000m distance, he faces a steep assignment here.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: William Pike riding Cosmic Crusader winning race 8, the Tab Turnbull Stakes during Turnbull Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse on October 03, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
5. Cosmic Crusader (NZ)
Age/Sex: 6yo Gelding
Breeding: Maurice (JPN) - Cosmic Storm
Trainer: Andrea Leek
Jockey: William Pike
Barrier: 8
A track-and-distance winner on a Heavy 8 surface two starts ago, Cosmic Crusader ticks almost every statistical box. His campaign has been stellar, featuring victories in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes, and Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes, alongside Group 1 placings in the Memsie and Underwood Stakes. The negative is that this will be his seventh start this campaign and he is coming off the back of a gruelling run in the Caulfield Cup. Backing up from a 2400m handicap into a 2040m WFA contest is a historically difficult task, but his talent keeps him in calculations.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Ben Melham riding Birdman defeats William Pike riding Cosmic Crusader in race 7, the Henley Homes Underwood Stakes during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on September 19, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
6. Birdman (IRE)
Age/Sex: 6yo Gelding
Breeding: Free Eagle (IRE) - Carol (IRE)
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 1
Loomed like he was going to win last start, but couldn’t go on with the job. Put that down to how the race was run in the Caulfield Stakes, he wasn’t suited by the fast tempo set by Land Legend in a small field. Before that, he was ultra impressive in the Underwood Stakes, easily defeating Cosmic Crusader. However, the major concern with him is his ability to handle Flemington. All runs this prep have been at Caulfield and his record at Flemington reads four starts for just one win and no placings. If he can overcome his poor record at Flemington, he is in with a chance of winning this race.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Ethan Brown riding Land Legend defeats Luke Nolen riding Sheza Alibi in race 7, the Sportsbet Might And Power during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on October 10, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
7. Land Legend (FR)
Age/Sex: 7yo Gelding
Breeding: Galileo (IRE) - Landikusic (IRE)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Ethan Brown
Barrier: 12
Caused a surprise in the Caulfield Stakes last start, leading all the way in a small field to defeat Sheza Alibi and Birdman. That win broke a long spell of indifferent form, raising questions over whether the tactical dynamic flattered him. With stablemate Light Infantry Man likely to pressure him for the lead and barrier 12 forcing his hand early, he faces a far tougher task under these conditions.
Middle Earth (GB) adds the G3 JRA Chairman's Hcp to his two previous international stakes wins - Image Grant Courtney
8. Middle Earth (GB)
Age/Sex: 7yo Gelding
Breeding: Roaring Lion (USA) - Roheryn (IRE)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: John Allen
Barrier: 7
Has struggled for form this preparation, finishing unplaced in all four outings (8th, 7th, 8th, and 9th). It is difficult to envision him threatening the established WFA stars here, with this run looking primarily like a final tune-up for the Melbourne Cup.
9. Saint George (GB)
Age/Sex: 7yo Gelding
Breeding: Roaring Lion (USA) - Lady Dragon (IRE)
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Barrier: 6
Showing solid form this campaign with a first-up win, followed by narrow runner-up finishes in the Naturalism Stakes and Caulfield Cup. His sole failure was a 10th-place finish over this track and distance in the Turnbull Stakes. WFA conditions do not suit his profile, and he is untested on genuinely wet tracks. Expect him to be far more competitive in the upcoming Melbourne Cup.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 05: Damian Lane riding Aeliana win Race 9 ATC Australian Derby during "The Star Championship Day I" - Sydney Racing at Royal Randwick Racecourse on April 05, 2025 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
10. Aeliana (NZ)
Age/Sex: 5yo Mare
Breeding: Castelvecchio - Temolie
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: James McDonald
Barrier: 10
Jockey James McDonald chases a historic fifth consecutive Cox Plate victory aboard this high-class mare. A three-time Group 1 winner, she finished sixth in this race last year after suffering severe interference at a vital stage. Following a quiet first-up run this prep, she rebounded sharply to finish second to Autumn Glow in the Seven Sunrise Stakes before a closing third in the Turnbull Stakes. Striking peak fitness fourth-up, she handles wet ground and boasts a superior head-to-head record over Sir Delius, having finished ahead of him in both the Ranvet Stakes and the Turnbull Stakes. She looks like the horse to beat.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 10: Rachel King riding Warwoven winning race 8, the Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on October 10, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
11. Warwoven
Age/Sex: 3yo Colt
Breeding: Sword of State - Needle and Thread
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Jockey: Rachel King
Barrier: 2
Stepping up against older horses and tackling 2000m for the first time, this gifted colt has been the standout three-year-old of the season. He dominated the Golden Rose before blowing away his rivals in the Caulfield Guineas. Trainer Bjorn Baker flagged this target early, and jockey Rachel King has declared him the finest horse she has ridden. The critical question mark is his track versatility, his career-best performances have all come on firm surfaces, and he must prove he can handle rain-affected conditions against proven Group 1 performers.
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 19: Blake Shinn riding Blind Raise winning race 5, the Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas Prelude during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on September 19, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)
12. Blind Raise (NZ)
Age/Sex: 3yo Gelding
Breeding: Ace High - Away Cruising
Trainer: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Jockey: Jamie Melham
Barrier: 9
His pedigree indicates the 2040m trip will suit, though he appeared to hit his limit late when finishing behind Warwoven in the Caulfield Guineas. His main advantage over Warwoven is his proven soft-track form, having won first-up on a Soft 7. Nevertheless, he requires a substantial career peak to bridge the gap on the 3yo leader and challenge proven WFA champions like Aeliana and Sir Delius.
Writer’s Tips
1. #10. Aeliana
2. #3. Sir Delius
3. #11. Warwoven
4. 1. Ceolwulf
Aeliana gets the top nod. She reaches peak fitness fourth-up, copes with all track conditions, and holds a commanding head-to-head edge over Sir Delius. With James McDonald in the saddle, she is poised to secure her breakthrough Cox Plate victory.
Sir Delius remains the danger. Expect him to bounce back sharply from his Turnbull Stakes performance to fight out the finish.
The brilliant 3yo Warwoven claims third spot; his standard of performance in the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas makes him impossible to ignore, provided he copes with any wet weather.
Ceolwulf completes the top four. Having chased home the elite Autumn Glow all spring, he brings rock-solid form lines and wet-track credentials into a race where he gets his proper chance to shine.
