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Our Cox Plate 2026 tips: Sir Delius heads an open early market ahead of Warwoven and Aeliana, with the Caulfield Cup the last big guide before the race moves to Flemington.
The Cox Plate 2026. Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, a $6 million Group 1 over 2040m, runs on Saturday 24 October 2026, and for the first time in its history it will be staged at Flemington rather than its spiritual home, The Valley. This is our complete Cox Plate guide: the 2026 date and start times, the historic venue change, the field, tips and best bets, live odds, the form guide, how to watch, past winners and FAQs, updated through the spring with the latest field, odds and our best bets.
🏆 Early market, 15 October: Sir Delius heads the Cox Plate market at about $3.80, with Warwoven and Aeliana next. The final field and barriers follow acceptances in race week.
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The Cox Plate 2026: Key Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Race | Ladbrokes Cox Plate (Group 1, WFA) |
| Date | Saturday 24 October 2026 |
| Start time | ~4:45pm AEDT (confirmed race week) |
| Venue | Flemington Racecourse (first time ever, The Valley under redevelopment) |
| Distance | 2040m |
| Conditions | Weight-for-age, 3yo & up |
| Prize money | $6 million |
| Broadcast | Channel 7 / 7plus, Racing.com, Sky Racing + bookmaker streams |
The same Saturday in Sydney: Spring Champion Stakes and The Invitation. Looking ahead to the first Tuesday in November? See the Melbourne Cup field and the Melbourne Cup start time.
When is the Cox Plate & What Time?
The Cox Plate is run on the fourth Saturday of October, in 2026 that’s Saturday 24 October, headlining a nine-race program, with the feature jumping in the late afternoon (approximately 4:45pm AEDT; the exact time is confirmed race week). Local start times by state:
| State | Local start time |
|---|---|
| VIC / NSW / ACT / TAS | ~4:45pm AEDT |
| Queensland | ~3:45pm AEST |
| South Australia | ~4:15pm ACDT |
| Northern Territory | ~3:15pm ACST |
| Western Australia | ~1:45pm AWST |
The 2026 Venue Change: Cox Plate at Flemington
For the first time since it began in 1922, the Cox Plate moves away from Moonee Valley, The Valley is closed for at least 21 months from November 2025 for a major redevelopment, and Racing Victoria has confirmed Flemington as the 2026 host (the distance stays at 2040m). It’s a significant shift for punters: the Valley is a tight, turning, on-pace circuit where the draw and tactical speed are everything, whereas Flemington is a big, galloping, fair track with a long straight. Expect that to suit horses with a strong turn of foot and to reduce the “Valley specialist” edge that has shaped so many past results. We’ll factor the new track into every tip and form line this spring.
The Cox Plate 2026 Field & Barrier Draw
The Cox Plate is a select weight-for-age field, typically capped around 14 runners, drawn from the very best middle-distance horses in the country plus international raiders. The field firms through the spring as the major lead-ups are run. On the barrier draw, Flemington’s wide, fair layout takes some of the sting out of a bad gate compared with the Valley, but tactical speed and a clean run still matter in a small, class-laden field. After second acceptances on 6 October about 30 horses remain in the Cox Plate, with Sir Delius at the head of the market after he was taken out of the Caulfield Cup to go straight to the Cox Plate. The final field and barriers are confirmed in Cox Plate week, and we update this page then.
Cox Plate Tips, Best Bets & Predictions
Our early read. This looks like the most open Cox Plate in years. Sir Delius heads the market even though he was beaten into fourth as the $3 favourite in the Turnbull Stakes, and he skipped the Caulfield Cup to come here fresh. Warwoven is the danger: a Caulfield Guineas winner gets a big weight-for-age allowance as a three-year-old, and the long Flemington straight suits a horse with a sustained finish. Aeliana sits between them in the market.
We are not taking a price yet. The Caulfield Cup on Saturday will tell us whether Cosmic Crusader backs up for the double, and the barrier draw matters less at Flemington than it did at the Valley but still shapes the tempo. Our final best bet, each-way play and exotics go up here once the field is drawn.
Cox Plate 2026 contenders: the early market
The top of the fixed-odds market as of 12 October 2026. All prices will move after the Caulfield Cup and the barrier draw.
| Horse | Price (12 Oct) | Lead-up |
|---|---|---|
| Sir Delius | $3.80 to $3.90 | Fourth as the $3 favourite in the Turnbull Stakes; taken out of the Caulfield Cup to target this race |
| Warwoven | $4.60 | Won the Caulfield Guineas; a three-year-old gets a big weight-for-age pull |
| Aeliana | $4.60 to $4.80 | Near the top of the market all spring |
| Birdman | $9.00 | Third in the Might And Power at Caulfield |
| Cosmic Crusader | $11.00 | Won the Turnbull Stakes; runs in the Caulfield Cup first on Saturday |
| Blind Raise | $11.00 | In the early top six |
What still has to happen
| Date | Race or stage | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 17 October | Caulfield Cup (2400m) | Cosmic Crusader runs here first; a big run may confirm the Cox Plate double |
| Cox Plate week | Final acceptances and barrier draw | The field of up to 14 is set and the market reshapes around the gates |
| Sat 24 October | Cox Plate (2040m) | At Flemington for the first time in its history |
The winner of the Cox Plate often heads to the Melbourne Cup market discussion too, so keep an eye on both pages through the next three weeks.
How to Bet on the Cox Plate
The Cox Plate offers all the standard racing markets, win and each-way, plus exotics (quinella, exacta, trifecta and first-four) that suit a small, class field. Futures markets open months out and move with each lead-up run. Always shop around: prices vary between bookmakers, and taking the best available can add real value over a carnival. Compare the leading Australian bookmakers in our toplist below.
Cox Plate Odds & Favourites
Cox Plate markets are framed early and shorten through the spring carnival as the lead-ups are run and the field takes shape. As a true championship race it is usually dominated by proven Group 1 performers, Via Sistina won it in both 2024 and 2025, but a small, strongly run field can still throw up a surprise. In 2026 Sir Delius heads the early market at about $3.80, with Warwoven and Aeliana close behind. For live Cox Plate odds and the best price on every runner, compare the bookmakers below.
Cox Plate Form Guide
The key lead-ups are the spring weight-for-age and middle-distance features, the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Underwood Stakes and Toorak Handicap, along with international form from the likes of Hong Kong (Romantic Warrior won in 2023). Look for a horse with proven 2000m class, a sharp turn of foot and a clean recent campaign, and weigh up how the switch to Flemington reshapes the contest. The Cox Plate sits within the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, between the Caulfield Cup and the Melbourne Cup.
2026 lead-up form. In the Turnbull Stakes on 3 October the $3 favourite Sir Delius ran fourth, beaten 3.5 lengths by Cosmic Crusader ($8). In the Might And Power on 10 October, Land Legend ($61) beat the $1.40 favourite Sheza Alibi by a short head, with Birdman third and Treasurethe Moment fifth, which makes the weight-for-age picture harder to read.
Cox Plate Recent Winners & 2025 Result
The 2025 Cox Plate was won by Via Sistina, who held off stablemate Buckaroo in a thrilling finish to become the first horse since Winx to win back-to-back Cox Plates. Recent winners:
| Year | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Via Sistina | Back-to-back, first since Winx |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | Dominant WFA mare |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior | Hong Kong superstar |
| 2022 | Anamoe | Star colt’s crowning win |
| 2021 | State Of Rest | Irish raider upset |
History & The Roll of Honour
First run in 1922 and named after Moonee Valley founder William Samuel Cox, the Cox Plate is regarded as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, the race where the best meet the best at level weights. Its roll of honour is the sport’s finest: Winx won four straight (2015–18), Kingston Town three (1980–82), and champions from Sunline to So You Think to Might And Power line the honour board. The 2026 running is historic for another reason, the first ever held away from The Valley. It remains the spring’s great test of class alongside the Melbourne Cup.
How to Watch the Cox Plate (Live Stream & TV)
The Cox Plate is shown free-to-air on Channel 7 and 7plus, plus Racing.com and Sky Racing, and you can live stream the race free with most licensed Australian bookmakers once your account is funded. Replays are available on Racing.com shortly after the race.
Best Bookmakers for the Cox Plate
For a full comparison of the top Australian racing bookmakers, best odds, futures and live streaming, see our best horse racing betting sites in Australia guide.
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18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
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Cox Plate FAQs
Who is the favourite for the 2026 Cox Plate?
Sir Delius is the favourite at about $3.80 to $3.90 in the early market, ahead of Caulfield Guineas winner Warwoven ($4.60) and Aeliana ($4.60 to $4.80). Prices will move after the Caulfield Cup and the barrier draw.
Is the 2026 Cox Plate field final?
Not yet. About 30 horses remained after second acceptances on 6 October. The final field and barriers are set in Cox Plate week, and we publish our final tips once they are drawn.
When is the Cox Plate 2026?
Saturday 24 October 2026. And for the first time ever it is run at Flemington, over 2040m.
Why is the Cox Plate at Flemington in 2026?
The Valley (Moonee Valley) is closed for at least 21 months from November 2025 for a major redevelopment, so Racing Victoria moved the 2026 race to Flemington.
What time is the Cox Plate?
Late afternoon, approximately 4:45pm AEDT, with the exact jump time confirmed race week.
How much is the Cox Plate worth?
$6 million in 2026.
Who won the 2025 Cox Plate?
Via Sistina, becoming the first horse since Winx to win back-to-back Cox Plates.
What distance is the Cox Plate?
2040m, weight-for-age, for horses aged three and over.
How can I watch the Cox Plate?
Free-to-air on Channel 7 and 7plus, plus Racing.com and Sky Racing, with free live streams via most bookmakers.
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