<p>The Group 1 Cox Plate is widely recognised as the “championship” race of Australia. It is a supreme test of speed and stamina over the tight-turning 2040m at Moonee Valley.</p> <p>The amphitheatre of the unique Moonee Valley racecourse makes a crowd of 30,000 sound like 100,000, especially when the Cox Plate field fans wide before the home turn.</p> <p>Some of Australia’s legendary racehorses have won the Cox Plate, including Phar Lap, Winx, Kingston Town, So You Think, Rising Fast, Sunline, Northerly, Flight, Surround, Makybe Diva and Sunline. The Hong Kong star Romantic Warrior heads a select list of international winners that also come from Ireland (Adelaide and State Of Rest) and Japan (Lys Gracieux).</p> <p>This year’s Cox Plate ends an era of racing on a track first built in 1883. The new track, surrounded by high-rise apartments, will have a state-of-the-art grandstand and a longer straight that finishes where the current home turn is. It will be ready in 2027. Next year’s Cox Plate will be run at Flemington.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Cox Plate 2025 Preview and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Track: </strong>Moonee Valley.</p> <p><strong>Distance/type: </strong>2040m. Weight-For-Age.</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Saturday, 25 October.</p> <p><strong>Total prize money: </strong>$6,000,000.</p> <p><strong>First prize: </strong>$4,000,000.</p> <p><strong>Race and Time: </strong>Race 10 (5.40 pm).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Weather and Track</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>The Moonee Valley track was rated Good 4 on Thursday. Expect the track to race in the good range.</p> <p>The rail is true, the same as it was on Friday night. If it’s wet on Saturday, expect horses to track away from the fence.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p>Trainer Chris Waller has dominated the Cox Plate in recent years. He won four on end with the incomparable Winx (2015-18) before winning last year with Via Sistina, who returns as favourite to win again. Waller also will saddle the well-fancied Aeliana and Buckaroo.</p> <p>Waller’s rival, Ciaron Maher, is looking for his first win as a sole trainer after winning in partnership with Dave Eustace in 2020. Maher’s Light Infantry Man will be one of the outsiders.&nbsp;</p> <p>Octogenarian John Hawkes (training with his sons Michael and Wayne) won his only Cox Plate with Octagonal in 1995. This year, the Hawkes team hopes to repeat it with another three-year-old, Nepotism.&nbsp;</p> <p>Also chasing their first win in the great race are Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr (Globe), Tony Gollan (Antino)&nbsp; and Mitch Freedman (Attrition).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p><strong>James McDonald</strong> (Via Sistina) is attempting to do what only two other jockeys have been able to achieve, by winning four Cox Plates in a row, having won year on Via Sistina, Romantic Warrior (2023) and Anamoe (2022). Brent Thomson did it from 1975 to 1979 on four different horses, and Hugh Bowman claimed his quartet on Winx (2015-19).</p> <p><strong>Hugh Bowman</strong> returns from Hong Kong to ride Aeliana for Winx’s trainer Chris Waller.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Damian Lane</strong>, who rides last season’s star filly Treasurethe Moment, won on the Japanese mare Lys Gracieux in 2019.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Craig Williams</strong> (Attrition) will have his 18th ride in the Cox Plate, for two wins on Pinker Pinker (2011) and Fields Of Omagh (2006).</p> <p><strong>Blake Shinn </strong>(Antino), <strong>Mark Zahra</strong> (Buckaroo), <strong>Ethan Brown</strong> (Light Infantry Man), <strong>Ben Melham</strong> (Globe) and <strong>Zac Lloyd</strong> (Nepotism) have yet to ride a Cox Plate winner.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Speed Map</h3> <p><strong>Tempo Prediction:</strong> moderate to good with high pressure from the 700m.</p> <p>With the scratching of the likely leader, Globe, on Thursday due to injury, the race map of the Cox Plate has changed. There is no standout replacement to lead, although horses such as Attrition and Nepotism could take up the challenge. We are guessing.</p> <p>Expect Treasurethe Moment, barrier one, to hold her position. Don’t be surprised if Antino and Buckaroo are ridden positively to go forward.&nbsp;</p> <p>Stalking them will be Via Sistina and Aeliana. Nepotism has drawn well to be closer, but he is a notorious slow beginner. This is the time, with a light weight, for him to be near the lead.</p> <p>If the pace is moderate, expect the fireworks to start early, especially if Blake Shinn on Antino is in a position to do “a Dulcify” and launch from the 700m.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Point of Interest</h3> <p>Wet trackers: With the prospect of rain-affected track, the best wet trackers are: Aeliana (unbeaten on slow ground);&nbsp; Antino (four wins on slow and heavy); Via Sistina (handles all going); Treasurethe Moment (unbeaten in three starts on slow ground); Nepotism (both wins are on slow and heavy).&nbsp;</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2>Cox Plate Field and Comments<br /> &nbsp;</h2> <p><strong>1. Light Infantry Man (FR) 59kg (barrier 9), trainer Ciaron Maher, jockey Ethan Brown</strong></p> <p>He won the G1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March, but he hasn’t looked like running a place in four runs since. Poor ninth behind Lindermann in the G2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at his most recent run. Goes back from wide draw. Hard to see him in the money.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>2. Antino (NZ) 59kg (barrier 6) Tony Gollan, Blake Shinn</strong></p> <p>Antino is building towards a win. A daring ride by Shinn in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m, Flemington) almost came off until Sir Delius ran him down. No Sir Delius in this race. Look for Shinn to be positive and he won’t mind some sting out of the ground.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>3. Attrition 59kg (2), Mitchell Freedman, Craig Williams</strong></p> <p>Returns from Sydney where he ran a game second behind Lindermann in the G2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill – a race he won in 2024. G1 Toorak Handicap winner, drawn nicely and Craig Williams rides. Can sneak into a place at long odds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>4. Buckaroo 59kg (4), Chris Waller, Mark Zahra</strong></p> <p>Placed in his three starts this campaign, including a second behind Sir Delius in the G1 Underwood Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield and third behind Globe in the G1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at the same track. Hasn’t been finishing off his races like he did last year, but he’s a proven weight-for-age horse, in the top stable, drawn well, and has an ace jockey on board.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>5. Globe (NZ) 59kg (7) Mick Price &amp; Michael Kent Jnr, Ben Melham</strong></p> <p>Scratched on Thursday morning due to injury.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>6. Via Sistina (IRE) 57kg (5), Chris Waller, James McDonald</strong></p> <p>Australia’s top ranked racehorse. She won this race last year by eight lengths in record time. She’s not going quite as well this campaign, however, expect trainer Chris Waller to have her peaking at the right time. She is the class factor. Jockey James McDonald is aiming for four Cox Plates in a row.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>7. Treasurethe Moment 55.5kg (1), Matt Laurie, Damian Lane</strong></p> <p>Last season’s top filly who won the VRC Oaks and Australian Oaks. She raced to the top of the Cox Plate markets after winning the G1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield in August.&nbsp;</p> <p>However, her campaign was hindered by a colic attack. Seconds in the Feehan and Might And Power were sound but not great. Capable of bouncing back from this perfect draw.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>8. Aeliana (NZ) 55.5kg (8) Chis Waller, Hugh Bowman</strong></p> <p>She won the G1 Australian Derby in the autumn by five lengths. It’s a rare feat by a filly against the colts. Although she has raced consistently this campaign, she hasn’t been as dynamic.&nbsp;</p> <p>Trainer Chris Waller thinks it has all come a bit too soon for her, but she’s very fit and we know the talent is there.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>9. Nepotism 49.5kg (3), John, Michael &amp; Wayne Hawkes, Zac Lloyd</strong></p> <p>Enigmatic three-year-old, who ran his best race this campaign when a luckless seventh behind Autumn Boy in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), in which he ran the best late sectionals coming from last. He’s a notoriously slow beginner, which will go against him if he can’t use his light weight and good barrier to advantage.&nbsp;</p> <p>If he jumps and settles close to the lead, he can win. Twenty three-year-olds have won the Cox Plate, but not since Shamus Award in 2013.&nbsp;</p> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2>Cox Plate 2025 Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cox Plate Top Tip&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>Via Sistina</strong></p> <p>She won last year’s Cox Plate in a canter in record time. Not going as well this year but she’s not going badly. Importantly, she doesn’t have to reproduce that performance to win again.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cox Plate Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Antino</strong></p> <p>The horse who is on the up, and who comes off the best form-line race, the Turnbull Stakes, when he was beaten by a topliner and beat home Via Sistina. A classic Blake Shinn ride will see him in the finish, and he’s the threat to Via Sistina.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Buckaroo</strong></p> <p>Stablemate of Via Sistina and Aeliana. Although he is racing consistently in the best company, he hasn’t been as brilliant as this time last year. He’s very fit, drawn perfectly and Zahra is a big-race jockey.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Treasurethe Moment</strong></p> <p>The illness setback has certainly hindered her campaign. She will be better for her two runs since and she’s drawn well, in barrier one, to get the perfect run. She can bounce back to her best and if she does, she can win.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Aeliana</strong></p> <p>Like Treasurethe Moment, she was a star last season. She hasn’t quite hit her straps, but she’s been far away in her three runs from a spell, not finishing far from Via Sistina each time. She will probably go back and come with a swoop.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cox Plate Roughie</h3> <p><strong>Nepotism</strong></p> <p>Looked a potential superstar when he won the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old, however, he’s struggled to recapture that form. His Caulfield Guineas run was encouraging and he’s drawn well, if he can jump with them. Worse three-year-olds than him have won a Cox Plate. Expect a cheeky run.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Cox Plate Same Race Multi (Pick a Combination)</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Via Sistina – </strong>top two.</p> <p><strong>Antino – </strong>top three.</p> <p><strong>Buckaroo &amp; Treasurethe Moment – </strong>top four.</p> <p><strong>Aeliana &amp; Nepotism – </strong>top six.</p>