The Cox Plate

What Is The Cox Plate?

The Cox Plate is Australia’s most revered weight-for-age horse race, attracting the best local and international talent each year. Traditionally held at Moonee Valley, and with a heritage full of legendary horses and a reputation for thrilling finishes, the Cox Plate is the ultimate showcase for middle-distance champions, cementing its spot as a can’t-miss highlight on the Spring Racing Carnival calendar.

Key Facts

• Race Name: The Cox Plate
• Location: Moonee Valley
• Race Type: Thoroughbred (Weight-for-Age)
• Distance: 2,040 metres
• Race Class: Group 1
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• First Run: 1922
• Prize Money: $5,000,000 (2025)
• Eligibility: Horses three years old and up

When Was The Cox Plate First Run?

First run in 1922, the Cox Plate is a key highlight of the spring carnival and has an honour roll featuring many of the greatest horses in Australian turf history.

What Makes The Cox Plate Unique?

Its tight-turning circuit and tactical nature demand speed, stamina, and precision, making it a genuine test of all-round ability. The race often attracts a blend of locals and international contenders, with victory cementing a horse’s legacy in the sport. You’ll hear a lot of reference for this race being the best two minutes in sport!

When Is The Cox Plate Held?

The Cox Plate is scheduled each year in late October, during the peak of Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival. Final fields and race times are announced closer to the event, building anticipation for race day.

How Long Is The Cox Plate?

Contested over 2,040 metres, the Cox Plate demands a combination of speed and stamina. The challenging right-handed track at Randwick provides a fitting test for Group 1 middle-distance runners.

How Many Runners Are In The Cox Plate?

The Cox Plate usually fields up to 14 runners. These are hand-selected through a rigorous process, meaning only the very best line up for a shot at racing immortality.

Who Will Win The Cox Plate?

Each edition of the Cox Plate is hotly anticipated and wide open. Success in this race comes down to several key factors.

Watch for runners with strong showings in the Epsom Handicap, Caulfield Stakes, or Turnbull Stakes.

Previous Winners of The Cox Plate

Via Sistina’s 2024 triumph headlines recent editions, as she dominated the season in a fashion only rivalled by legends like Winx. In 2023, Romantic Warrior delivered a nail-biting win, edging out Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood in one of the closest finishes in Cox Plate memory. Anamoe stormed home in 2022 after a controversial runner-up the year prior. State Of Rest took the prize in 2021 after surviving a protest on behalf of the home side. Before these, Winx etched herself into history with four consecutive wins, a record unlikely to be matched.

Recent Cox Plate Winners