Looking for this year’s Cox Plate betting tips, form guide and field preview? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
2026 Cox Plate Odds
The Cox Plate odds 2026 at Neds open early as punters track the major firmers heading toward Australia’s premier weight‑for‑age championship at Flemington. With elite WFA stars, international raiders and emerging middle‑distance talent all shaping the spring picture, the Cox Plate betting 2026 market is quick to react to key lead‑up runs, trial performances and stable confidence. Early shoppers look for proven 2000m performers and horses with tactical versatility, while futures punters chase value before the field tightens. Stay close to the Neds book for live Cox Plate odds, market movers and the latest betting insights as the spring’s biggest WFA contest takes shape.
The latest Cox Plate 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
Cox Plate 2026 Odds
| 1. Sir Delius | ||
| 2. Aeliana | ||
| 3. Autumn Boy | ||
| 4. Sheza Alibi | ||
| 5. Ceolwulf | ||
| 6. Autumn Glow | ||
| 7. Birdman | ||
| 8. Tron Bolt | ||
| 9. Cosmic Crusader | ||
| 10. Buckaroo | ||
| 11. Half Yours | ||
| 12. Lindermann | ||
| 13. Green Spaces | ||
| 14. Mr Brightside | ||
| 15. Yellow Jersey | ||
| 16. American Eagle | ||
| 17. Attica | ||
| 18. Blind Raise | ||
| 19. Campione Ditalia | ||
| 20. Central Europe |
Cox Plate 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Cox Plate tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full Cox Plate betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
The W.S. Cox Plate is considered the Australasian weight-for-age championship and runs at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley Racecourse* in late October each year.
*The 2026 Cox Plate will be held at Flemington Racecourse, marking the first time in history the race will be staged away from its traditional home at Moonee Valley. Moonee Valley Redevelopment: The Valley will be closed for at least 21 months from November 2025 to undergo a major transformation, including track reconfiguration and upgraded facilities.
The iconic The Valley event is contested over 2040m and now offers a lucrative $6 million in prize money as of 2025. First run in 1922, the Cox Plate is one of the ‘Big 3’ spring racing features following the Caulfield Cup and proceeded by the ‘race that stops a nation’ – the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November at Flemington.
The Cox Plate has been won by many champion racehorses throughout history including the historic four-time champion Winx (2015-18) who twice set the race record and surpassed Kingston Town (1980-82) with her fourth success in 2018.
A host or lead-up races off a Cox Plate ballot exemption to the winning horses, while the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) has been the key indicator in recent years with Winx (2016) and Anamoe (2022) the latest to do the double.
The Cox Plate winner is exempt from Melbourne Cup ballot but just seven champions have gone on to do the double with Makybe Diva, Might And Power, Saintly, Nightmarch, Phar Lap, Delta, and Rising Fast.
In 2023 the Ladbrokes Cox Plate was won by Hong Kong raider Romantic Warrior who went on to win the Group 1 Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin next start.
In 2024 the Ladbrokes Cox Plate was won by Chris Waller’s outstanding mare Via Sistina who set a new race record (2:01.07) when winning by eight lengths to hand her trainer his fifth win.
Via Sistina franked the 2024 Cox Plate form winning the Group 1 Champions Stakes at her next start. She also returned in the autumn of 2025 to add another three elite levels to her CV including a win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.
Via Sistina returned to successfully defend her title in 2025 with a thrilling finish over stablemate Buckaroo to hand trainer Chris Waller a sixth win and jockey James McDonald his fourth consecutive victory.
Cox Plate 2026 – Fast Facts
- Race Day: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Track Location: Moonee Valley Racecourse (Flemington in 2026)
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 2,040 metres
- Weight Conditions: Weight for age
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and over
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Moonee Valley Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $6,000,000
- Inaugural Race: 1922
- 2026 Cox Plate Winner: TBD 2026
Cox Plate 2026 Results
The official 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Cox Plate Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Cox Plate, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Cox Plate |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s the Cox Plate. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s the Cox Plate. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Cox Plate, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Cox Plate, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Cox Plate to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Cox Plate to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Cox Plate to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Cox Plate, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The Cox Plate in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make sure to check out the form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Cox Plate Field 2026
The official Cox Plate 2026 field of final acceptors is announced on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below.
Cox Plate 2026 Field & Acceptance Dates
- 2026 Cox Plate Nominations: Closed on Tuesday the 4th of August 2025 – 103 early entries (15 internationals).
- 2026 Cox Plate First Acceptances: Closed on Tuesday the 8th of September 2026 – 57 first acceptors (0 internationals).
- 2026 Cox Plate Second Acceptances: Close on Tuesday the 22nd of September 2026.
- 2026 Cox Plate Third Acceptances: Close on Tuesday the 6th of October 2026.
- 2026 Cox Plate Final Acceptances: Close on Tuesday the 20th of October 2026 at 8:30am (AEDT).
Which Horse Will Win the Cox Plate in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Cox Plate in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the Cox Plate barriers, look for the proven Group 1 performers, and back the genuine WFA stars.
Additional factors to consider when selecting the Cox Plate winner include:
- The Mares Have It: The mares have a strong recent record in the Cox Plate results thanks to the historic four-peat of the heroic Winx (2015-18), the Japanese-trained mare Lys Gracieux (2019) and most recently eight-length champion Via Sistina (2024) who then won again in 2025!
- Odds-On: Odds-on favourites in Cox Plate betting (starting at under $2) have a 70% winning strike rates and from 2015-19.
- Internationals: The international raiders and expats are building a strong record in the Cox Plate results including the 2021 victory by Irish-trained State Of Rest and 2023 win by Hong Kong raider Romantic Warrior.
Cox Plate 2026 Favourites
Favourites in Cox Plate 2026 betting at time of publish include the talented Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained multiple Group 1 winning WFA performer Sir Delius, Chris Waller’s class middle-distance mare Aeliana and the gun young Doncaster Mile winner Sheza Alibi from the Moody/Coleman yard.
Favourites have an excellent recent record winning all five editions from 2015-19.
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 victory are the latest Cox Plate favourites to salute for the punters.
In 2020 the Cox Plate favourite Russian Camelot ran third in the trifecta behind Sir Dragonet (1st) and Armory (2nd).
In 2021 the Cox Plate equal favourites Anamoe ($3.60) and Verry Elleegant ($3.60) ran second and third respectively behind the Irish-trained champion State Of Rest. Anamoe returned as the $2.40 Cox Plate favourite in 2022 and won.
Cox Plate 2026 Race Day
2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day takes place on Saturday, October 24, 2026. Along with the meeting’s marquee race – the $6 million W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) – there are six other Group status support races on the Cox Plate Day card. They are the:
- Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m),
- Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m),
- Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m),
- Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m),
- Group 3 Red Anchor Stakes (1200m), and the
- Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m).
What Time is the Cox Plate?
The 2026 Cox Plate race time is TBC for Saturday, October 24, 2026 but traditionally jumps around 5:00pm local Melbourne time.
Cox Plate 2026 Nominations
The Cox Plate 2026 nominations closed on Tuesday the 4th of August 2026 at 12:00pm (AEDT).
The 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate nominations are now out with 103 early entries, down from 108 last year, including 15 internationals with all-in Cox Plate betting led by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott’s triple Group 1 champion Sir Delius.
Cox Plate 2026 Nominations: Quick Glance
- 103 nominations lodged
- 15 internationals targeting Flemington
- O’Brien & Yahagi headline global entries
- Waller sends 27, including Aeliana
- McDonald chasing five straight Cox Plate wins
- Gstaad, Almaqam, Hawk Mountain, Hotazhell among G1 raiders
- Japan reps: Cosmo Kuranda & Shin Emperor
- Purview returns for Dermot Weld
- Map of Stars brings Royal Ascot form
- 38 Aussie G1 winners, led by Sir Delius
- Buckaroo & Treasurethe Moment back again
- 16 local three‑year‑olds in the mix
View the full list of 2026 Cox Plate nominations.
Cox Plate 2026 First Acceptances
The Cox Plate 2026 first acceptances closed on Tuesday the 8th of September 2026.
First acceptances for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2026 are now out leaving 57 hopeful WFA gallopers but no internationals with Sir Delius the clear all-in favourite.
2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate First Acceptances at a Glance
- Sir Delius firm favourite at $2.80
- Zero international entries remain
- 19 first acceptors for six-time winning trainer Chris Waller led by Aeliana
- Buckaroo (2nd) and Treasurethe Moment (3rd) the best out of last year’s Cox Plate back for redemption
- VRC Oaks winner Strictly Business the most notable local omission
- 11 three-year-olds remain led by Tron Bolt
View the full list of 2026 Cox Plate first acceptances once released.
Cox Plate 2026 Second Acceptances
The Cox Plate 2026 second acceptances close on Tuesday the 22nd of September 2026.
View the full list of 2026 Cox Plate second acceptances once released.
Cox Plate 2026 Third Acceptances
The 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate third acceptances close on Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
View the full list of 2026 Cox Plate third acceptances once released.
Cox Plate 2026 Weights
Weight for age conditions apply. The last announcement for weights will be on the Monday of race week, and the official 2026 Cox Plate weights will be published in our above Cox Plate Field section.
Cox Plate 2026 Acceptances (Final)
2026 Cox Plate final acceptances must be declared by 8:30am (AEDT) on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and will be published in our above Cox Plate 2026 Field section.
Cox Plate 2026 Jockeys
2026 Cox Plate jockeys are declared at 1 PM Wednesday the 21st of October 2026 and will be available in our above Cox Plate Field section.
In 2023 jockey James McDonald became the first hoop to go back-to-back in the Cox Plate on different horses (Anamoe in 2022 and Romantic Warrior in 2023) since Michael Clarke on Almaarad (1989) and Better Loosen Up (1990).
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.
Incredibly, James McDonald returned to win his fourth consecutive Cox Plate in 2025 aboard the defending champion Via Sistina to join Hugh Bowman who guided Winx to all four of her wins.
Cox Plate 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Cox Plate barrier draw announcement is at 9:00 am, Tuesday the 20th of October 2026 and published along with the final acceptances in our above Cox Plate Field section.
Cox Plate 2026 Scratchings
2026 Cox Plate scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
Cox Plate Race Number 2026
The 2026 Cox Plate race number is TBC for Saturday, October 24, 2026. The race is held on Cox Plate Day, part of the Cox Plate Carnival. There are nine races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
How to Watch the Cox Plate 2026 Live
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Cox Plate live, across the following mediums:
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Free to air television: 7 Network; Cannels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Cox Plate 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Cox Plate Form Guide following final acceptances.
Cox Plate Winners (Past Results)
Winners of the Cox Plate dating back to 2010 are listed in the table below. For a complete list of winners throughout history, visit our Cox Plate Winners page.
Via Sistina (2024) goes down as one of the best Cox Plate winners setting a new race record of 2 minutes 01.07 seconds.
She won again in 2025 to become the latest dual Cox Plate champion.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer/s | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Via Sistina | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2:05.03 |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 2:01.07 (R) |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior | James McDonald | Danny Shum | 2:03.16 |
| 2022 | Anamoe | James McDonald | James Cummings | 2:10.17 |
| 2021 | State Of Rest | John Allen | Joseph O’Brien | 2:06.97 |
| 2020 | Sir Dragonet | Glen Boss | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 2:08.46 |
| 2019 | Lys Gracieux | Damian Lane | Yoshito Yahagi | 2:04.21 |
| 2018 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 2:03.47 |
| 2017 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 2:02.94 |
| 2016 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 2:06.35 |
| 2015 | Winx | Hugh Bowman | Chris Waller | 2:02.98 |
| 2014 | Adelaide | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 2:03.76 |
| 2013 | Shamus Award | Chad Schofield | Danny O’Brien | 2:05.27 |
| 2012 | Ocean Park | Glen Boss | Gary Hennessy | 2:04.14 |
| 2011 | Pinker Pinker | Craig Williams | Greg Eurell | 2:05.39 |
| 2010 | So You Think | Steven Arnold | Bart Cummings | 2:07.45 |