The 2025 Cox Plate ran on Saturday October 25, 2025, at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia and was won in a narrow photo-thriller by the defending champion Via Sistina ($2.25)!
| 6. Via Sistina (5) J: James McDonald57kg 1x133T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Buckaroo (4) J: Mark Zahra59kg 0x323T: Chris Waller | ||
| 7. Treasurethe Moment (1) J: Damian Lane55.5kg 1x122T: Matt Laurie | ||
| 3. Attrition (2) J: Craig Williams59kg x9332T: Mitchell Freedman | ||
| 1. Light Infantry Man (8) J: Ethan Brown59kg 0x069T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Aeliana (7) J: Hugh Bowman55.5kg 1x225T: Chris Waller | ||
| 9. Nepotism (3) J: Zac Lloyd49.5kg 1x987T: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 2. Antino (6) J: Blake Shinn59kg 1x542T: Tony Gollan |
Cox Plate Info
- 2025 Cox Plate Date: Saturday the 25th of October 2025
- Track Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Distance: 2,040m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money (AUD): $6,000,000
- First Run: 1922
- Reigning Cox Plate Winner: Via Sistina (2024 & 2025)
Discover what makes the Cox Plate one of the world’s premier thoroughbred events with TAB NZ.
Get your hands on the latest Cox Plate odds and master tips to help you pick this year’s Cox Plate winner. As one of Australia’s most prestigious horse races, the Cox Plate attracts a star-studded field of thoroughbreds.
Whether you’re a seasoned punter or new to the world of racing, our comprehensive Cox Plate coverage will guide you through the lead-up to race day.
Bet with confidence and experience the excitement of the Cox Plate with TAB NZ.
Cox Plate Fast Facts
- Last mare to win the Cox Plate: Via Sistina (2024 & 2025)
- Last three-year-old to win the Cox Plate: State Of Rest (2021)
- Only filly to win the Cox Plate: Surround (1976)
- Last multiple Cox Plate winner: Winx (2015-18)
- Last international (Northern hemisphere-trained) Cox Plate winner: Romantic Warrior (2023)
- Last New Zealand-trained Cox Plate winner: Ocean Park (2012)
- Notable Fact: Winx is the only four-time Cox Plate champion.
Cox Plate betting takes place on the time-honoured W.S. Cox Plate race which is held at Australia’s Moonee Valley Racecourse on a Saturday in late October annually.
The Group 1 Cox Plate is one of Australia’s most popular horse races and has been run and won since 1922 when Violoncello became the inaugural Cox Plate winner.
Ladbrokes currently sponsor the race and so it is officially referred to as the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
The race’s registered name is the W.S. Cox Plate in honour of the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s founder William Samuel Cox.
What makes the Cox Plate so special?
The Cox Plate is known as the ‘race where legends are made’ and is the Australasian weight-for-age championship race. It is also the second of Australia’s ‘Big 3’ horse races following the Group 1 A$5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and proceeded by the Group 1 $10 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington.
Australian and international racing fans, including those in New Zealand, tune into the world-renowned 2040m spectacular every season to see if their bets on the Cox Plate won!
The Cox Plate, which gained its elite Group 1 status in 1979, currently offers A$6 million in prize money plus bragging rights with jockeys, trainers and owners across the globe all wanting to add their names to the list of Cox Plate Champions.
Cox Plate tips on which horse will win the next edition of the event flood in as the countdown to the famous Moonee Valley race heats up.
The Cox Plate field attracts a field of champion horses each season with runners coming from both local and, increasingly, international stables.
How many horses can run in the Cox Plate?
The Cox Plate field has a 14-starter limit plus four emergencies with final acceptances decided by the Moonee Valley Racing Club Committee based on a number of factors including International Ratings and winners of specified races who cannot be eliminated from the Cox Plate.
Cox Plate race tips centre on proven weight-for-age stars that have good lead-up form, horses with previous experience at The Valley’s tight track, and overseas-trained horses from outside Australia and New Zealand that have come down under to test themselves against the locals.
The Cox Plate is weight-for-age race meaning the older a horse is, the more weight they will carry.
The highest-rated horse in the Cox Plate field dons the number one saddlecloth.
How many mares have won the Cox Plate?
There have been 16 wins by eight individual mares overall in the Cox Plate results including five straight from 2015-2019. Four of those were achieved by the same mare, Winx (2015-18). Other multiple Cox Plate winning mares include Tranquil Star (1942 & 1944), Flight (1945-46), Sunline (1999-2000), and Via Sistina (2024-2025).
The Yoshito Yahagi-trained Japanese raider Lys Gracieux (2019) and the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina (2024 & 2025) are the latest mares to win the Cox Plate.
What age group has won the Cox Plate the most?
Horses aged between three and five years old have the best Cox Plate record over the past 20 years. Four-year-old horses have won the Cox Plate more times than any other age group in the past two decades.
The oldest recent Cox Plate winner was Fields Of Omagh who saluted as a nine-year-old in 2006.
Between 2004 and 2025 the breakdown of Cox Plate winners by age is as follows:
4YOs – 6 (latest Anamoe in 2022)
3YOs – 5 (latest State Of Rest in 2021)
6YOs – 4 (latest Winx in 2017)
5YOs – 3 (latest Romantic Warrior in 2023)
7YOs – 2 (latest Via Sistina in 2024)
9YOs – 1 (latest Fields Of Omagh in 2006)
8YOs – 1 (latest Via Sistina in 2025)
History was made in in 2020 when the 100th edition of the Cox Plate was held.
Cox Plate Day
Cox Plate Day 2025 is set for Saturday, October 25th at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne. Here’s what you need to know:
🏇 Key Race Details
- Main Event: The 105th running of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, a prestigious Group 1 weight-for-age race over 2040m.
- Start Time: The Cox Plate is scheduled to jump at 5:10 PM AEDT.
- Race Day Schedule: The full race card includes 10 races, with the first and last race times still to be confirmed.
🎉 Event Highlights
- Entertainment: Expect a full day of live music, roaming performers, food trucks, bars, and a vibrant atmosphere.
- Hospitality Options: From general admission to premium dining and corporate marquees, there are packages for all preferences and budgets.
- Fashion & Festivities: As with all major Spring Carnival events, fashion plays a big role—think stylish outfits and statement headwear.
📍 Venue
- Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse, about 6 km from Melbourne CBD.
- Gates Open: From 10:00 AM.
Get the best Cox Plate Day racing odds for Moonee Valley, racing stats, previews, form and insider tips on races like the meeting’s feature Group 1 race now at the TAB NZ!
Expert Tips on the 2025 Cox Plate
Stay tuned for our expert tips and Cox Plate betting predictions ahead of this year’s Group 1 feature at Moonee Valley.
2025 Cox Plate Same Race Multi Selections ($13.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
- Top 2 – No. 6 Via Sistina
- Top 2 – No. 7 Treasurethe Moment
- Top 4 – No. 9 Nepotism
VIA SISTINA (5) – The reigning queen of the Cox Plate returns with unfinished business and every chance of going back-to-back. Although she’s eased in the market after consecutive defeats — a rare dip for the Australian Racehorse of the Year — her class remains unquestioned. Last year’s eight-length demolition job stamped her as a superstar, and she’s back at her ideal trip (16:9-4-1), proven at The Valley, and reportedly flying in her final gallop. While she couldn’t repeat her Turnbull Stakes win this time, finishing third to Sir Delius, that form still stacks up. With Waller’s grand final polish, VIA SISTINA is the benchmark — and if she brings her A-game, they’ll be chasing shadows again.
TREASURETHE MOMENT (1) – Once a juicy $9 play, TREASURETHE MOMENT has firmed sharply into $5.50 following Globe’s withdrawal and the likelihood she’ll now take up the lead. The Matt Laurie-trained mare, who completed the rare VRC Oaks–Australian Oaks double, was a revelation last season with nine straight wins, including a dominant first-up Memsie Stakes victory. Her recent defeats in the Feehan and Might And Power came in slowly run races that didn’t suit, but Laurie remains upbeat, citing strong Mornington work and a clean recovery. From barrier one with Damian Lane sticking, she’s poised to control the tempo and unleash her trademark turn of foot. If the race is run genuinely, she’s capable of delivering a defining moment at The Valley.
NEPOTISM (3) – One for the value hunters, NEPOTISM brings a touch of X-factor to this year’s Cox Plate. The Brutal colt from Team Hawkes already has Group 1 credentials, having taken out the Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old, and while his three-year-old form this prep hasn’t quite hit the mark, there’s a sense he’s ready to elevate going up in trip. His Caulfield Guineas run was full of excuses, and he now drops a massive 7.5kg to just 49.5kg — with Zac Lloyd, flying at the moment, booked to ride. Three-year-olds have a strong record in this race, and while he’s not expected to win, NEPOTISM has the profile to sneak into the top four and outrun his quote.
Cox Plate Tips
Cox Plate tips on what horse will win the Cox Plate this year are highly sought after by smart punters and racing fans every season.
When looking at Cox Plate race tips it is important to consider factors including:
- What horses in the Cox Plate field are proven over the distance?
- Who the key Cox Plate trainers and jockeys are and what horses they have in the Cox Plate field this year?
- Cox Plate barrier statistics and where your Cox Plate betting selections are drawn.
- Cox Plate horses that come via a lead-up run in the Turnbull Stakes earlier in the spring.
How long does it take to know if you placed a winning Cox Plate race tip?
The event itself takes just over 2 minutes for competing horses to run the 2,040m trip depending on track conditions. The Cox Plate is often referred to as the greatest two minutes in sport!
Usually the official Cox Plate winner and winning Cox Plate trifecta are known shortly after unless there is a protest or a photo-finish Cox Plate result as in 2021 when Irish import State Of Rest claimed the win in a thriller and survived a protest from the jockey aboard the narrow runner-up Anamoe in a controversial edition of the classic.
Cox Plate Race Records
What is the fastest Cox Plate winning time?
In 2024 Via Sistina set a new Cox Plate record winning in a slick 2 minutes 01.07 seconds by eight lengths.
Prior to the installation of the current Moonee Valley track the previous best Cox Plate time record was 2:01.05 run by Better Loosen Up in 1990.
What is the largest Cox Plate winning margin?
Winx (2016) and Via Sistina (2024) co-hold the record for the biggest Cox Plate win each saluting by eight lengths.
The previous record of seven lengths was co-held by Dulcify (1979) and Sunline (1999).
Who is the shortest-priced Cox Plate winner?
Phar Lap jumped at 1/14 for his 1931 Cox Plate win which would be the equivalent of $1.07 in today’s terms!
Who is the longest-priced Cox Plate winner?
Leonard (1946) and Mosaic (1939) both won at 50/1 ($51) Cox Plate odds.
Cox Plate Tips: Lead-Up Races to the Cox Plate
What are the best Cox Plate lead-up races to look at when placing a Cox Plate bet? Key Cox Plate lead-up races if horses are not coming off an international campaign include the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), and Sydney’s Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m).
The Underwood Stakes – Cox Plate double was last completed in the same year by Ocean Park (2012).
The Turnbull Stakes – Cox Plate double was last completed in the same year by Via Sistina (2024).
The Might And Power Stakes – Cox Plate double was last completed in the same year by Anamoe (2022).
The Hill Stakes – Cox Plate double was last completed in the same year by Saintly (1996).
There are a number of races that offer a ballot-free ride to the winner into the Cox Plate field.
The sole Australian race to offer automatic Cox Plate entry to the successful horse is the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) run at The Valley.
It was previously held in early September but moved in 2024 to run four weeks prior to the Cox Plate joining the Group 1 Manikato Stakes under the lights at Moonee Valley on a Friday night at the end of the month.
Elsewhere around the world a Golden Ticket into the Cox Plate field is guaranteed for the winners of the Japan Cup, Saratoga Derby in the USA and Europe’s Juddmonte International.
Cox Plate Tips: International Horses in the Cox Plate
Betting on the international horses in the field is more and more popular as Cox Plate tips favour the proven overseas stayers racing first-up in Australia.
Since the first Northern hemisphere-trained Cox Plate winner back in 2014 the raiders and imports are increasingly dominating Cox Plate tipping and results.
Looking back over the Cox Plate history and statistics shows that the last Australian-bred Cox Plate winner was Anamoe (2022), and Ocean Park (2012) was the last New Zealand-bred Cox Plate champion.
Cox Plate Tips for a Trifecta
Cox Plate tips for a trifecta cover the first three horses to officially go past the finishing post in the Cox Plate results.
The horse to finish on top of the Cox Plate trifecta is your Cox Plate winner, the runner who outstayed all their rivals and finished in the fastest time.
Placing a Cox Plate trifecta exotic bet on the race is a great way to add to the thrill and potentially be rewarded with a generous pay-out.
A Cox Plate trifecta is only successful if the three horses in your bet finish in the exact order you predict. Punters may choose instead to box their trifecta bets on the Cox Plate to cover more finishing options and increase the chances of winning.
Adding the favourite into your Cox Plate trifecta bet is a top tip as the favourites have an excellent strike-rate in the race.
Key Cox Plate Statistics and Insights
Place an informed bet on this year’s Cox Plate by considering the following key statistics and insights:
- Win Rates: Horses with high win rates in similar races are strong contenders for the Cox Plate. Our Cox Plate betting tips available at the TAB NZ Punters Lounge provide detailed win rate statistics.
- Place Percentages: Evaluate horses with consistent place percentages, indicating reliability and competitiveness. Cox Plate race tips offer comprehensive data on place percentages.
- Barrier Success Rates: Horses starting from barriers 6 & 7 have historically shown a higher success rate in the Cox Plate.
Bet on the 2026 Cox Plate race now!
Past Cox Plate Results
Recent Cox Plate winners, jockeys, trainers, barriers, and weights carried to victory dating back to the year 2005 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner – Age/Gender
Breeding |
Jockey | Weight (kgs) | Trainer/s | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VIA SISTINA (IRE) 8M FASTNET ROCK (AUS) – NIGH (IRE) GALILEO (IRE) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 5 | |
| VIA SISTINA (IRE) 7M FASTNET ROCK (AUS) – NIGH (IRE) GALILEO (IRE) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 4 | |
| ROMANTIC WARRIOR (IRE) 5G ACCLAMATION (GB) – FOLK MELODY (IRE) STREET CRY (IRE) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 59.0 | C S SHUM | 7 | |
| ANAMOE (AUS) 4H STREET BOSS (USA) – ANAMATO (AUS) REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 57.5 | JAMES CUMMINGS | 4 | |
| STATE OF REST (IRE) 3C STARSPANGLEDBANNER (AUS) – REPOSE (USA) QUIET AMERICAN (USA) |
J ALLEN | 56.5 | JOSEPH O’BRIEN | 6 | |
| SIR DRAGONET (IRE) 4H CAMELOT (GB) – SPARROW (IRE) OASIS DREAM (GB) |
G BOSS | 59.0 | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | 6 | |
| LYS GRACIEUX (JPN) 5M HEART’S CRY (JPN) – LILISIDE (FR) AMERICAN POST (GB) |
DAMIAN LANE | 57.0 | Y YAHAGI | 11 | |
| WINX (AUS) 7M STREET CRY (IRE) – VEGAS SHOWGIRL (NZ) AL AKBAR (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 6 | |
| WINX (AUS) 6M STREET CRY (IRE) – VEGAS SHOWGIRL (NZ) AL AKBAR (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 5 | |
| WINX (AUS) 5M STREET CRY (IRE) – VEGAS SHOWGIRL (NZ) AL AKBAR (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 3 | |
| WINX (AUS) 4M STREET CRY (IRE) – VEGAS SHOWGIRL (NZ) AL AKBAR (AUS) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 55.5 | CHRIS WALLER | 1 | |
| ADELAIDE (IRE) 3C GALILEO (IRE) – ELLETELLE (IRE) ELNADIM (USA) |
RYAN MOORE | 56.0 | A P O’BRIEN | 13 | |
| SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) 3C SNITZEL (AUS) – SUNSET EXPRESS (AUS) SUCCESS EXPRESS (USA) |
CHAD SCHOFIELD | 49.5 | DANNY O’BRIEN | 3 | |
| OCEAN PARK (NZ) 4H THORN PARK (AUS) – SAYYIDA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
G BOSS | 57.5 | G HENNESSY | 9 | |
| PINKER PINKER (AUS) 4M RESET (AUS) – MISS MARION (AUS) SUCCESS EXPRESS (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 55.5 | GREG EURELL | 11 | |
| SO YOU THINK (NZ) 4H HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) – TRIASSIC (NZ) TIGHTS (USA) |
S W ARNOLD | 57.5 | BART CUMMINGS | 5 | |
| SO YOU THINK (NZ) 3C HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) – TRIASSIC (NZ) TIGHTS (USA) |
G BOSS | 49.5 | BART CUMMINGS | 7 | |
| MALDIVIAN (NZ) 6G ZABEEL (NZ) – SHYNZI (USA) DANZIG (USA) |
M RODD | 59.0 | MARK KAVANAGH | 6 | |
| EL SEGUNDO (NZ) 6G PINS (AUS) – PALOS VERDES (NZ) OAK RIDGE (FR) |
L NOLEN | 59.0 | COLIN LITTLE | 7 | |
| FIELDS OF OMAGH (AUS) 9G RUBITON (AUS) – FINNETO (AUS) CERRETO (IRE) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 58.0 | D A HAYES | 7 | |
| MAKYBE DIVA (GB) 6M DESERT KING (IRE) – TUGELA (USA) RIVERMAN (USA) |
G BOSS | 55.5 | D L FREEDMAN | 4 |
Cox Plate Betting Info
Cox Plate betting is open all year round at the TAB NZ.
We offer pre-nomination Cox Plate betting odds throughout the year that are known as futures Cox Plate odds online.
All-In Cox Plate betting markets are then available following the official Cox Plate nominations taken in early August.
Betting on the Cox Plate field is then available following final acceptances which close on the Tuesday of race week (Australian time).
Cox Plate Field & Acceptance Dates
It is crucial to take note of when the Cox Plate field is out, what time Cox Plate nominations close and the official Cox Plate acceptance dates when placing a Cox Plate bet online as horses may drop out of the race and bets may be cancelled.
The Cox Plate field features a capacity of 14 horses with 4 emergencies.
See below for the official Cox Plate field dates for 2025.
- 2025 Cox Plate Nominations: Closed on Tuesday August 5, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – 108 nominees (11 internationals).
- 2025 Cox Plate First Declarations: Closed on Tuesday September 9, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – 57 first acceptors.
- 2025 Cox Plate Second Declarations: Closed on Tuesday September 23, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – 30 second acceptors left in the mix.
- 2025 Cox Plate Third Declarations: Closed on Tuesday October 7, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – 16 hopefuls remain.
- 2025 Cox Plate Final Field: Revealed on Tuesday October 21, 2025, at 8:30am (Melbourne time).
- 2025 Cox Plate Barrier Draw: Conducted on Tuesday October 21, 2025, at 9:00pm (Melbourne time).
Where can you bet on the Cox Plate?
The best place to bet on this year’s Cox Plate race is through the TAB NZ online.
Cox Plate Odds
Cox Plate odds and online betting tips on the Cox Plate are dominated by proven weight-for-age horses, the defending Cox Plate winner and international gallopers heading towards the event.
Where can I find the Cox Plate odds?
For the latest odds and updates on the Cox Plate, TAB NZ is your go-to source. They provide real-time odds fluctuations, ensuring you have the most current information to make informed betting decisions. It’s crucial to monitor these odds closely, as they reflect the market’s perception of each horse’s chances, influenced by factors like form, barrier draw, and track conditions.
How to Place a Bet on the Cox Plate
Want to know how to make a bet on the Cox Plate? Visit the TAB NZ racing page to access the latest Cox Plate betting odds and options.
It is simple to learn how to place a bet on the Cox Plate online.
You can place a Cox Plate bet online anytime.
There are more ways than ever to get involved in betting on the Cox Plate.
From seasoned punters analysing form guides to casual racing fans drawn to the excitement, the Cox Plate is a race for everyone.
Whether you’re diving deep into the latest odds, joining a Cox Plate sweepstake with friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere of the spring carnival at Moonee Valley, the Cox Plate offers it all!
This iconic race showcases Australia’s finest thoroughbreds and attracts racing enthusiasts from all over the globe.
How to Bet on the Cox Plate in 2025?
1. Log in or sign-up with TAB NZ.
2. Make a secure online deposit using one of the TAB NZ safe deposit methods.
3. Check out the Cox Plate betting guide, Cox Plate form guide and our expert Cox Plate tips.
4. Choose a Cox Plate bet to place such as Win, Place, Each-Way or the Cox Plate Trifecta. There are many more Cox Plate betting options available so make sure to check out our Cox Plate betting markets.
5. Select the Cox Plate horse you want to bet on from the early markets, Cox Plate nominations or Cox Plate field.
What are the popular betting markets for the Cox Plate?
When it comes to betting on the Cox Plate, there are a number of more popular betting options with punters including:
Exotics: These include Quinella, Trifecta, and First Four, where you predict the specific order of finishers, offering potentially higher payouts but requiring more precise predictions.
Win & Place: Bet on a horse to win or finish in the top places. This is one of the most straightforward and popular betting options.
Each-Way: A combination of win and place bets, providing a safety net if your chosen horse doesn’t win but finishes in the top positions.
What makes betting on the Cox Plate so popular?
The fact that the Cox Plate is the premier weight-for-age race in Australia and one of the three leading spring races held down under make it a must watch and must bet on horse racing event.
The Cox Plate prize money may not compare to the stakes on offer in events like the A$20 million The Everest and A$10 million The Golden Eagle which are both held in Sydney over the spring, but it remains a highlight of the Australian racing calendar.
Cox Plate Prize Money
The Cox Plate prize money is set at A$6 million in total stakes allocated between first to eighth place.
How much does the Cox Plate winner get?
The winning Cox Plate horse receives a total of $4 million in prize money. Trophies are also awarded to the Cox Plate winning owner ($35000), trainer ($4800), jockey ($4800), breeder ($4800) and strapper ($600) valued at the amount displayed in brackets.
See below for the official breakdown of Cox Plate prizes on offer from the Cox Plate winner to the tenth horse to cross the finish line in the official Cox Plate results.
- First: $4,000,000 and trophies of $35,000, $4800, $4800, $4800 & $600 to owner, trainer, jockey, breeder and strapper
- Second: $800,000
- Third: $500,000
- Fourth: $250,000
- Fifth: $150,000
- Sixth: $100,000
- Seventh: $100,000
- Eighth: $100,000
Conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club (MVRC), the Cox Plate is the crown jewel of racing at the Moonee Valley track over the all-important Cox Plate Carnival and a highlight of the wider Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The Cox Plate has been won by a host of turf greats including a host of recent internationals to hold out the locals on the notoriously tight racing circuit.
How many international horses have won the Cox Plate?
Four horses trained outside of the Southern hemisphere have claimed top honours in the Cox Plate. Adelaide and State Of Rest both were Irish-trained at the time of their wins by Aidan O’Brien and his son Joesph respectively, while Lys Gracieux won for Japan and most recently Romantic Warrior saluted for Hong Kong.
International raiders to win the Cox Plate: Adelaide (2014), State Of Rest (2021), Lys Gracieux (2019), and Romantic Warrior (2023).
Betting on the Cox Plate often favours the reigning Cox Plate winner as history shows the weight-for-age conditions make it an ideal event for horses to successfully defend their crown and go back-to-back without having to be penalised and carry extra weight like they would in a handicap race.
How many horses have won the Cox Plate more than once?
15 horses boast multiple wins in the Cox Plate led by Winx who saluted four times on the trot from 2015-18 followed by three-time hero Kingston Town (1980-82).
Multiple Cox Plate winners: Phar Lap (1930-31), Chatham (1932 & 1934), Young Idea (1936-37), Beau Vite (1940-41), Tranquil Star (1942 & 1944), Flight (1945-46) who has the Flight Stakes named after her in Sydney, Hydrogen (1952-53), Tobin Bronze (1966-67), Kingston Town (1980-82), Sunline (1999-2000), Northerly (2001-02), Fields Of Omagh (2003 & 2006), So You Think (2009-10), Winx (2015-18), and Via Sistina (2024-25).
Cox Plate race betting traditionally focuses on the locally-trained weight-for-age horses and graduates out of key lead-up races including the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington earlier in the month and the Caulfield Stakes.
Cox Plate history shows seven horses have won the Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup double in the same year showing off their versatility with a subsequent triumph in the two-mile classic.
What races will runners out of the Cox Plate target in the spring?
Following a run in the Cox Plate potential late spring targets for the top contenders include the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington and the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Via Sistina (2024) was the last horse to complete the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double.
Horses to complete the Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup double in the same calendar year:
Delta (1949), Rising Fast (1954), Phar Lap (1930), Nightmarch (1929), Saintly (1996), Might And Power (1998), and the mighty mare Makybe Diva (2005) who won the Melbourne Cup a record three times overall.
Each year the Cox Plate winner is rewarded with automatic entry into the following month’s Melbourne Cup field.
Four horses have completed the Caulfield Cup – Cox Plate double in the same year with: Tranquil Star (1906), Rising Fast (1954), Tobin Bronze (1967), and Northerly (2002).
Rising Fast however remains the sole horse to have secured the prized Caulfield Cup – Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup triple in 1954.
For the best online betting on the Cox Plate, consider tipping a horse to win both the Cox Plate and another Group 1 race over the carnival in a spring double!
What Time Does the Cox Plate Start?
The Cox Plate start time is traditionally scheduled around 5:10pm (AEDT) in Melbourne.
- Queensland: 4:10pm
- New South Wales: 5:10pm
- Victoria: 5:10pm
- Tasmania: 5:10pm
- Northern Territory: 3:40pm
- ACT: 5:10pm
- Western Australia: 2:10pm
- UK & Ireland: 6:10am
- New Zealand: 7:10pm
- Japan: 3:10pm
- Hong Kong: 2:10pm
- Dubai: 10:10am
Note: Times listed are subject to change.
Cox Plate Barriers
When is the Cox Plate barrier draw?
The Cox Plate breakfast barrier draw is a highlight of the Cox Plate Carnival with the Moonee Valley Racing Club conducting the all-important draw live on the Tuesday of race week from 9:00am (AEDT) on track.
The Cox Plate barrier draw, and allocated Cox Plate gates play a key role for many punters when deciding on what horses to bet on in the big race.
Barriers have historically affected the Cox Plate results with the distance and make-up of the course best suited to horses drawn between barriers three and eight.
Notable Cox Plate barrier statistics to consider when placing your next Cox Plate bet include:
- Barrier 5 is the latest Cox Plate winning barrier with Via Sistina (2025)
- Barrier 6 recently produced back-to-back Cox Plate winners with Sir Dragonet (2020) and State Of Rest (2021)
- Barrier 6 has produced six Cox Plate winners since 2002
- Only three Cox Plate winners from 2004-2025 jumped from double-digit gates with Lys Gracieux (11 in 2019), Adelaide (13 in 2014), and Pinke Pinker (11 in 2011)
- Barrier 12 is the gate no Cox Plate contender wants to draw as it is yet to produce a single winner
What is the most successful recent Cox Plate barrier draw?
Barrier 6 has produced six Cox Plate winners between 2000 and 2025, most recently State Of Rest in 2021.
Barrier 13 is the widest gate to produce a Cox Plate winner between 2000 and 2025, most recently Adelaide in 2014.
Breakdown of winning Cox Plate barriers between 2000-25:
Barrier 1 – 1 (latest Winx in 2015)
Barrier 2 – 0
Barrier 3 – 3 (latest Winx in 2016)
Barrier 4 – 3 (latest Via Sistina in 2024)
Barrier 5 – 4 (latest Via Sistina in 2025)
Barrier 6 – 6 (latest State Of Rest in 2021)
Barrier 7 – 4 (latest Romantic Warrior in 2023)
Barrier 8 – 0
Barrier 9 – 1 (latest Ocean Park in 2012)
Barrier 10 – 0
Barrier 11 – 2 (latest Lys Gracieux in 2019)
Barrier 12 – 0
Barrier 13 – 2 (latest Adelaide in 2014)
Cox Plate Betting Favourites
Favourites in Cox Plate betting are those horses that jump at the shortest Cox Plate odds.
Last Cox Plate favourite to win: Via Sistina ($2.25 in 2025)
Last odds-on Cox Plate favourite to win: Winx ($1.20 in 2018, $1.10 in 2017, $1.70 in 2016)
Shortest-priced Cox Plate favourite to win: Phar Lap (1/14 or $1.07 in 1931)
Last Cox Plate favourite to finish worse than third: Dundeel (8th in 2013)
The last Cox Plate favourites to salute are Lys Gracieux ($2.50 in 2019), Anamoe ($2.40 in 2022), Hong Kong visitor Romantic Warrior ($3.60 in 2023), and Via Sistina ($2.25 in 2025) for her second success.
Impressively, four-time Cox Plate champion Winx started favourite for all of her victories. The longest Cox Plate odds on the heroic mare were $4.60 for her first success in 2015. After that there was no value on the ultra-consistent equine superstar with Winx jumping odds-on at for her next three victories in the legendary event.
Overall, Cox Plate favourites have just over a 40% winning strike rate.
The worst official finish by a Cox Plate favourite was in 1995 when Our Maizcay ($4.50) ran 14th.
Naturalism meanwhile was a $2 favourite in 1992 but lost his rider. He also jumped the equal $3 favourite the following year but only managed to finish fourth behind the 1993 Cox Plate winner The Phantom Chance ($5).
The last Cox Plate favourite to finish worse than third and miss out on a spot in the Cox Plate trifecta was Dundeel who started at $4 before running eighth to Shamus Award ($19) in 2013.
Cox Plate Form
We offer a complete Cox Plate form guide and expert analysis on every horse in the Cox Plate field in addition to insider Cox Plate racing tips and betting odds.
Our Cox Plate form guides include:
- Cox Plate race preview and predictions
- Racing analysis on the event and runners
- Previous runs, barrier trials and lead-up statistics
- Key information on all horses in the race like trainer and jockey form
- Runner commentary
Whether you are just starting out tipping horses in the Cox Plate or you are an expert Cox Plate tipster, our form guide gives you all the statistics and information you need to make a smart bet on the Cox Plate.
How to Read the Cox Plate Guide
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how to interpret a horse’s form and performance indicators when looking at this year’s Cox Plate form guide:
Barrier Position: Evaluate the horse’s barrier draw and its historical performance from similar starting positions.
Recent Performances: Review the horse’s last few races, focusing on finish positions and the quality of competition faced.
Track and Distance Records: Check the horse’s performance on similar track conditions and distances to gauge suitability.
Jockey and Trainer Stats: Consider the success rates of the jockey and trainer combination, particularly in the Cox Plate race.
Weight Carried: Analyse how the weight carried in previous races compares to the Cox Plate as this can impact performance.
Cox Plate Day Betting
Cox Plate Day betting is dominated by online Cox Plate bets, but there are also a host of exciting support races that the TAB NZ offer top Moonee Valley racing odds on.
The Cox Plate is the only Group 1 event on the card, but the other Group status Cox Plate Day races to check out our insider Moonee Valley racing tips for include the:
- Group 2 A$400,000 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m),
- Group 2 A$300,000 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m),
- Group 2 A$300,000 Crystal Mile (1600m),
- Group 3 A$200,000 JRA Cup (2040m),
- Group 3 A$200,000 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m), and the
- Group 3 A$200,000 Teiso Stakes (1600m).
In Sydney on Cox Plate Day the action at Royal Randwick Racecourse is headlined by the three-year-old stayers facing off in the Group 1 A$2 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) ahead of a potential Victoria Derby bid over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Cox Plate Carnival
The Cox Plate Carnival is one of the mini-festivals of racing held in Victoria over the spring in Australia with the two-meeting carnival providing some unique betting opportunities for punters.
Strap in each October as Moonee Valley Racecourse comes alive across 24 hours of heart-stopping racing headlined by Cox Plate Day at The Valley.
The Cox Plate Carnival race meetings are:
Moonee Valley Gold Cup Night: Racing under the lights is headlined by the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) for potential Melbourne Cup horses.
Cox Plate Day: Racing is headlined by the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) for weight-for-age champions.
Get your Cox Plate Carnival bets on this spring at the TAB NZ!
Cox Plate Results
The Cox Plate results are known when the event takes place on a Saturday in late October with the race traditionally running around 5:10pm (AEDT) local time.
You can bet on the Cox Plate race results nearly all year round with our futures Cox Plate markets here at the TAB NZ.
Betting on the Cox Plate results entails picking the Cox Plate winning horse and we can help you place an informed bet on the Cox Plate with our Cox Plate tips and form guide.
Other Cox Plate results include the winning jockeys, trainers, successful barrier and finishing time.
The complete Cox Plate finishing order shows what position every horse in the traditional 14-horse field ran.
Some punters even like to place bets on what horse will finish last in the Cox Plate results!
Cox Plate exotic results show how all the exotic Cox Plate bet types resulted like the Cox Plate Quinella, Cox Plate Exacta, Cox Plate Trifecta, and Cox Plate First Four.
Cox Plate Jockeys
Securing a ride in the prestigious Cox Plate field is a highly sought-after achievement for jockeys worldwide. Winning this iconic race is the ultimate goal for many of Australia’s and the world’s top riders looking to cement their legacy in racing history.
What jockeys are riding in the Cox Plate field is determined by the owners and trainers of the horses, and official Cox Plate jockey announcements are made in the weeks and days leading up to the race.
James McDonald is the latest Cox Plate winning jockey and latest back-to-back champion hoop having ridden Anamoe in 2022, Romantic Warrior in 2023, and Via Sistina in 2024 & 2025 to victory on consecutive years.
In 2024 jockey James McDonald became the first to secure a third straight Cox Plate on three different horses since Brent Thompson in 1977, 1978 and 1979 with his eight-length demolition job on Via Sistina. He went on to ride his fourth straight Cox Plate winner with Via Sistina defending her title in 2025.
Who is the most successful Cox Plate jockey?
Darby Munro holds the Cox Plate jockey record having won the race a historic five times with his latest being aboard Hydrogen in 1952. Hydrogen returned to also salute in the 1953 edition but was ridden by Bill Williamson. Munro’s Cox Plate wins were aboard: Rogilla (1933), Young Idea (1987), Mosaic (1939), Beau Vite (1941), and Hydrogen (1952).
Who is the most well-known Cox Plate jockey?
Arguably, Hugh Bowman is one of the most recognised jockeys in Cox Plate history having ridden Winx to all four of her victories. He remains the only hoop to have ridden the same horse to four straight Cox Plate wins.
No female jockey has won the Cox Plate to date but with Australia and New Zealand producing a host of champion female riders that could soon change!
Stay tuned to the TAB NZ racing blog to see what jockeys lock in a confirmed ride on one of the 14 Cox Plate horses this spring.
Cox Plate Trainers
The late maestro horseman Tommy Smith (TJ Smith) is the most successful Cox Plate trainer of all time having prepared an impressive seven winners over his career including most famously three-time champion Kingston Town (1980-82). Smith’s last Cox Plate victory was with Red Anchor in 1984.
Bart Cummings was known as the ‘Cups King’ having prepared a record 12 Melbourne Cup winners and an impressive seven Caulfield Cup winners, but he also had a great affinity with the Cox Plate taking out the silverware on five occasions. Cummings’ Cox Plate wins were with: Taj Rossi (1973), Saintly (1996), Dane Ripper (1997), and dual champ So You Think (2009-10).
Chris Waller is the latest Cox Plate winning trainer having prepared his sixth champion with Via Sistina in 2024 and 2025.
New Zealand born and bred champion trainer Waller also famously won four consecutive Cox Plates with the same runner – superlative mare Winx dominating the race from 2015-18.
The only female Cox Plate winning trainer to date is Deirdre Stein who won with Rising Prince back in 1985.
Cox Plate Winners
Iconic Cox Plate winners throughout history include:
Violoncello (1922): The first Cox Plate winner who went on to win his next three starts that preparation.
Phar Lap (1930-31): One of the best known and most loved racehorses of all time, the Kiwi-bred champion is part of racing folklore for his incredible feats on the track including the Melbourne Cup (1930) as well as his untimely and mysterious death.
Ajax (1938): Racing sensation Ajax was on an 18-straight winning streak before going down at 40/1 to end the charmed run in 1939. Some of his best-known victories were three-peats in the Underwood Stakes, Memsie Stakes, Futurity Stakes, and All Aged Stakes between 1938 and 1940.
Flight (1945-46): One of the post-World War II era’s most popular race horses, this mare was the highest stakes winning mare in Australasia at the time beating some of the best male gallopers including Benborough and Shannon.
Rising Fast (1954): A champion Kiwi who remains history’s only Spring Grand Slam winner claiming the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup trophies in 1954.
Tulloch (1960): One of history’s greatest stayers who was prepared by Cox Plate record holding trainer TJ Smith.
Surround (1976): The only filly to win the Cox Plate in history to date. The bonny young grey entered Cox Plate folklore saluting at $5 for trainer Peter cook and jockey Geoff T. Murphy. The Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) in the autumn is named after her.
Kingston Town (1980-82): First three-time Cox Plate winner this incredible horse won all three of his trophies for Tommy Smith but was ridden by three different jockeys! He held his record as the most successful Cox Plate horse until the Winx era.
Bonecrusher (1986): A historic Cox Plate edition in 1986 with the gutsy New Zealander Bonecrusher going stride for stride with Our Waverly Star over the final 800m in a thriller never to be forgotten!
Saintly (1996): A goliath chestnut galloper who was known as ‘The horse from heaven’. He also won that year’s Melbourne Cup causing him to be named the 1997 Australian Champion Racecourse of the Year.
Sunline (1999-2000): The best mare to ever come out of New Zealand, the front-running Sunline was at the time the world’s highest earning race mare. This four-time New Zealand Horse of the Year and three-time Australian Horse of the Year set a plethora of records on the track and was the most winningest Group 1 New Zealand horse with 13 until surpassed by Melody Belle in 2021.
Makybe Diva (2005): Mention any list of great Australian stayers and Makybe Diva is on it as the only triple champion of the world’s richest handicap. But she was more than just a dour stayer, this mighty mare won a host of shorter distance features including the 2005 Cox Plate with Glen Boss aboard. The Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) race at Flemington over the spring is named in her honour.
Adelaide (2014): First Cox Plate winner trained outside of Australia or New Zealand.
Winx (2015-18): How do you sum up the feats of Winx who will go down as the greatest Cox Plate champion of all time with her unsurpassed four victories? She also holds the current record for fastest Cox Plate and biggest Cox Plate winning margin.
Lys Gracieux (2019): Japanese-trained Cox Plate winning mare who joined Adelaide (2014) as the only Northern hemisphere-trained champions of the great race at that time.
Anamoe (2022): Star Godolphin-raced horse who won at his second attempt after being narrowly denied the year before going down in a devastating photo-finish as a three-year-old in 2021.
Via Sistina (2024 & 2025): Chris Waller’s incredible mare overcame a less-than-ideal lead-up week to fly home for a historic eight-length Cox Plate win in 2024. Her trainer collected his fifth victory after the Winx four-peat, while she was ridden to a new race record success in 2 minutes 01.07 seconds by James McDonald who won his third on the trot aboard three different horses. Incredibly as an eight-year-old mare in 2025 she returned as the $2.25 favourite and narrowly denied stablemate in a thrilling finish to go back-to-back for the first time since Winx and add to both Waller’s (6 wins) and McDonald’s (4 wins) Cox Plate tallies.
Bet on the next Cox Plate winner with our comprehensive Cox Plate form guide and expert Cox Plate tips at the TAB NZ!
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