2026 Cox Plate Day Tips & Preview

SPYWIRE (1) gets his first look at Flemington coming off a run in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes a few weeks ago at Caulfield. 

Ciaron Maher’s five-year-old found the front out of the turn but was disappointing under pressure, laying out to finish four lengths down the order in the end. 

That was just his second run back from a spell however, while he also found the 1100m too sharp fresh in a BM100 the start prior.  

Back slightly in trip now and drawn to receive all the favours from the inside gate, a bounce back effort could be on the cards if Blake Shinn gives him the right ride.  

Blake Shinn sticks aboard THE SPEED MACHINE (3) second-up.  

The pair settled much further back on the synthetic at Pakenham last time out, but really made up some ground in the run to flash home late for second.  

By Hanseatic, this is his first go over 1200m but everything about his latest run suggests he’s wanting further. If Shinn can cross and settle closer to the front this time from the wide gate, they’ll be hard to catch.  

TRUE REBEL (2) should be one of the hardest to beat for Danny O’Brien.  

An impressive winner second-up at Geelong, the son to Rebel Dane ate into the margin at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago for second in behind Mister Whiskers, who went like a bat out of hell in front and led all the way for a narrow win.  

True Rebel ate in the margin massively over the final 100m, so the extra trip plus the 1.5kg relief in the saddle is a big plus with Shinn taking over for the Moonee Valley Vase. 

ANGELS FURY (3) looks ready to return in a big way for Ciaron Maher. 

The filly to Harry Angel is two-from-three to start her career, winning a 2YO race at Caulfield back in July where she was up close to the speed early and simply too good in the run home. 

She was caught in a pocket in a recent jump out at Cranbourne but quickly rounded up the field, letting down with a serious turn of foot to go clear along the outside.  

Drawn a low gate with only 57kg on her back, she should be doing her best work late again under Ethan Brown. 

EXTRAGALACTIC (8) has been given a solid four-week gap since her runner-up effort in the Manikato Stakes in behind Jimmysstar. 

The Deep Field mare was midfield early before clicking into gear around the 800m mark, patiently waiting for a gap to open along the rail, only for the winner to get the better of her wider out.  

Her first-up run in the Moir Stakes at Sandown was equally likable, overcoming some early traffic to run fourth in a race that has produced some good form lines with the runner-up Cavalry Girl going on to win last week’s Caulfield Sprint. 

With fresher legs and James McDonald sticking in the irons, this girl ticks some important boxes third-up in the McEwen Stakes 2026. 

ON DISPLAY (13) was slow away in the Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield a couple of weeks ago over the same trip, eventually running on late to finish five lengths off Surfin’ Bird in fourth.  

She meets that same horse slightly better off at the weights on Saturday and only needs to settle closer in transit this time to be more of a factor.  

The wide gate also cost her fresh in the Let’s Elope Stakes, although she was far from disgraced running on well to grab third.  

Damian Lane gets back in the saddle for the Crystal Mile, and it’s worth mentioning she’s missed the money just once from five starts at Headquarters.  

KING PEDRO (11) brings different form lines into this race having competed in the Group 2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill first-up.

John O’Shea and Tom Charlton’s five-year-old was probably always too far back to score, but he still picked up nicely over the final furlong to run fourth, seemingly doing his best work through the line.

He clearly needed the run that day and was always looking for further, so providing the inside barrier doesn’t hamper him for running room too much, he’ll be right there when it counts.

AELIANA (10) in the big one.  

This is the race she’s always been aimed at coming off two solid place efforts behind Autumn Glow and Cosmic Crusader respectively, the latter coming in the Turnbull Stakes where she faced a very wet deck and was only seen doing her best work over the final 50m or so. 

With a run under her belt now over 2000m and the barrier likely forcing James McDonald into more of a forward position, she should be prominent early and tough to run down when it counts. 

SHOCKLETZ (3) has spent time racing against some top-quality horses this prep, notably running fourth in behind Saint George fresh from a spell at Caulfield in late August.  

She improved sharply to claim the Group 3 Archer Stakes at Flemington over 2500m second-up, landing in the front half of the field and letting down out wide with a big run to reel in the runaway leader for a comfortable victory. 

The wide barrier was to blame off a four-week break in the Herbert Power a couple of weeks ago, where she was shuffled a long way back and never much of a chance out of the turn. 

On less of a turnaround now and drawn a much better gate, she looks suited coming right back in distance with Harry Coffey retaining the ride.