The Cox Plate 2025 Preview

The Cox Plate 2025 Preview

The Cox Plate is one of Australia’s Grand Slam races and many argue the best Group 1 race in the country. It is run over 2,040 metres at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne.

When is the Cox Plate 2025?

This year’s Cox Plate will take place on Saturday, 25 October 2025. Held under weight-for-age conditions for horses aged three years and older, it is widely regarded as one of the best middle-distance contests in the world —often referred to as the “weight-for-age championship of Australasia.”

Who Won Last Year’s Cox Plate?

In 2024, Via Sistina took out the Cox Plate, capping a season of dominance rarely seen since the days of Winx. Her surge down the Moonee Valley straight saw her stamp herself as one of the great middle-distance horses of the modern era.

Race History

Since its inaugural running in 1922, the Cox Plate has set the standard for weight-for-age racing in Australia. Champions including Winx (winner 2015–2018), So You Think, Makybe Diva, Sunline, and Kingston Town have all triumphed at Moonee Valley, confirming the race’s legendary status. Recent editions have only added to its allure.

Previous Winners of the Cox Plate

Via Sistina took out the 2024 Cox Plate as part of a year where she simply dominated like no other has since Winx. In 2023, Romantic Warrior delivered a thrilling win, edging out Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood in one of the most hotly contested editions in recent years. Anamoe stormed to victory in 2022, following a controversial runner-up finish the year before. State Of Rest took out the race in 2021, fending off a protest to claim victory for Ireland.

Winx & Past Champions

Of course, no discussion of the Cox Plate is complete without Winx, who won it four years in a row from 2015 to 2018. Other legends like So You Think, Makybe Diva, Sunline, and Kingston Town have also made their mark. The Cox Plate remains the ultimate test of racing greatness around the iconic Valley track.

Final Field & Draw

The field is set for the final running of the Cox Plate at the current Moonee Valley layout, and all eyes are on defending champion Via Sistina, who’s drawn nicely in barrier 5.  Despite going winless in her past two starts, Via Sistina has been installed as the $2.30 favourite to go back-to-back in one of Australia’s most prestigious weight-for-age contests.

Final Field

1. Light Infantry Man (FR) – Ciaron Maher / Ethan Brown – 59.0kg – Barrier 9
2. Antino (NZ) – Tony Gollan / Blake Shinn – 59.0kg – Barrier 6
3. Attrition – Mitchell Freedman / Craig Williams – 59.0kg – Barrier 2
4. Buckaroo (GB) – Chris Waller / Mark Zahra – 59.0kg – Barrier 4
5. Globe (NZ) – Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr / Ben Melham – 59.0kg – Barrier 7
6. Via Sistina (IRE) – Chris Waller / James McDonald – 57.0kg – Barrier 5
7. Treasurethe Moment – Matt Laurie / Damian Lane – 55.5kg – Barrier 1
8. Aeliana (NZ) – Chris Waller / Hugh Bowman – 55.5kg – Barrier 8
9. Nepotism – M, J & W Hawkes / Zac Lloyd – 49.5kg – Barrier 3

Form Guide

This year’s Cox Plate is shaping as a wide-open affair. While Via Sistina is a worthy favourite and clearly has class, her recent form raises questions. Antino and Aeliana both look capable of producing peak performances, while Nepotism is the X-factor that could cause an upset with so little weight to carry.

There’s no clear standout in terms of current form heading into the race — only three runners have managed a win this spring. That said, several have shown glimpses of class, and many have been aimed squarely at this race all preparation. 

Via Sistina

She might not have won since her first-up run in early spring — a narrow victory over Aeliana — but there’s no question this has been the target all along. Waller has trained her with the Cox Plate in mind and the five gate gives James McDonald options. Still, punters will need to weigh up whether her recent defeats are cause for concern or simply part of the prep.

Antino

Currently the second pick at $3.80, Antino brings solid Queensland form and won the Doomben Cup over 2000m back in May. Has been consistent this prep without winning, but has the right profile for a big run here and should get a good run from barrier 6.

Globe

The surprise packet coming in. He’s the only horse in the field to win his last start — a modest four-horse race over 2000m at Caulfield — where he knocked off Treasurethe Moment and Buckaroo. That win has sparked interest, but the depth of that race is questionable.

Aeliana

Overshadowed for much of the spring by her stablemate Via Sistina, Aeliana is flying somewhat under the radar at $6.50. Don’t forget she took out the ATC Australian Derby over 2400m back in April, showing she can stay and sprint when needed. With Hugh Bowman aboard, she looms as a genuine threat.

Nepotism

The only three-year-old in the race, Nepotism carries 49.5kg, getting a significant weight advantage under the WFA scale. Trained by the Hawkes team and to be ridden by Zac Lloyd, he could surprise. While he’s been running over shorter trips, the step up to 2000m looks ideal. There might not have been a winning Southern Hemisphere 3YO for over 10 years but history could be rewritten today. 

Others

• Buckaroo and Treasurethe Moment have been thereabouts but look to need improvement to be winning.
• Attrition and Light Infantry Man are long shots with form queries — both are drifting in the market and hard to recommend on recent runs.

Latest Odds 

Tips for The Cox Plate 2025

At $21 to win and around $4.50 to place, Nepotism represents great each-way value. He’s well weighted, drawn nicely in barrier 3, and the rise in distance could be exactly what he needs. While he’s yet to prove himself at this level, the profile fits for a sneaky run — especially if the leaders go too hard up front and the tempo suits something swooping late with no weight on its back.

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