Twelve horses have accepted for the $6 million Cox Plate, run at Flemington this Saturday while Moonee Valley is redeveloped. Sir Delius, Aeliana and Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas winner Warwoven head the market.
Twelve horses have accepted for the $6 million Cox Plate (Group 1, 2040m, weight-for-age) on Saturday 24 October. For the first time the race will be run at Flemington, on behalf of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, while The Valley is redeveloped. The club plans to reopen in mid-2027. The barrier draw is on Tuesday evening, 20 October.
The field
- Ceolwulf (Joseph Pride)
- Light Infantry Man (Ciaron Maher)
- Sir Delius (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott)
- Attrition (Mitchell Freedman)
- Cosmic Crusader (Andrea Leek)
- Birdman (Chris Waller)
- Land Legend (Ciaron Maher)
- Middle Earth (Ciaron Maher)
- Saint George (Ciaron Maher)
- Aeliana (Chris Waller, James McDonald)
- Warwoven (Bjorn Baker)
- Blind Raise (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young)
The main contenders
Sir Delius has been at the top of the market for months, although he was beaten as favourite in the Turnbull Stakes. Aeliana has James McDonald aboard for Chris Waller. Warwoven comes in after the Golden Rose – Caulfield Guineas double. He won the Guineas by 1¾ lengths for Bjorn Baker and Rachel King, and the spring was planned around this race. Cosmic Crusader won the Turnbull Stakes and ran a strong fourth as favourite in the Caulfield Cup. Birdman won the Underwood Stakes.
Ciaron Maher has four runners: Light Infantry Man, Land Legend, Middle Earth and Saint George, who was second in the Caulfield Cup. Guineas runner-up Blind Raise also gets his chance.
Things to weigh up
Flemington's long straight and wide track take away the tight turns and on-pace bias that have shaped so many Cox Plates at The Valley. Barriers should matter less than usual, and horses that need time to wind up get more room to do it. Keep that in mind before marking runners down on past Moonee Valley form. We will look at the draw once it is out.