Cox Plate

The Cox Plate, dubbed "The Race Where Legends Are Made," is Australia's pinnacle of horse racing, drawing the finest horses to Moonee Valley for a fierce 2040-metre contest. Since 1922, this Group 1 race has delivered legendary moments. Whether you're a punter interested in betting on the Cox Plate or just watching, our guide cuts through the noise to give you everything you need for the 2024 Cox Plate.

Table of Contents 

Cox Plate Details

Date tbc
Time tbc
Track Moonee Valley Racecourse
Distance 2040 Metres
Status Group 1
Prize Money $5,050,000

The Cox Plate is the second major race in the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and usally takes place one week after the Caulfied Cup at the Moonee Valley Racecourse. This race is a key highlight of the Spring Racing Carnival, offering a prize pool of $5,050,000. 

Winx waving to crowd cox plate 2017.jpg

2024 Cox Plate Odds

Runner

Win

Place
Prognosis 3.30 1.40
Via Sistina 4.40 1.60
Pride of Jenni 5.50 1.80
Broadsiding 5.50 1.85
Mr Brightside 9.50 2.50
Docklands 17.00 3.90
Evaporate 21.00 4.60
Kovalica 26.00 5.50
Royal Patronage 31.00 6.00

Latest Odds

These are the odds for the 2024 Cox Plate as of October 23, 2024 and may change. To view the latest odds, please click or tap on the button above.

Popular Cox Plate Betting Markets

Here are some popular betting markets for the Cox Plate that you will find on Unibet:

Bet Type How it Works
Win Bet Pick the horse you believe will finish first in the Cox Plate.
Place Bet Back a horse to finish in the top three at the Cox Plate. It offers a safer payout with higher chances than a win bet.
Each-Way Bet If your horse wins, you’ll collect both the Win and Place payouts. If it finishes 2nd or 3rd, you’ll only receive the Place payout.
Quinella Bet Pick two horses to finish 1st and 2nd in any order in the Cox Plate. Both must place for you to win the Quinella.
Exacta Bet Select the exact horses to finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order. Both must finish as predicted to win the Exacta.
Trifecta Bet Predict which horses will finish 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the exact order. All three must place exactly as selected to win the Trifecta.
First Four Select the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th horses in the correct order. All four must finish in those positions for you to win.
Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) Pick the winners of four specified races, including the Cox Plate. To win, all your selected horses must win their respective races.

How to bet on the Cox Plate

Step 1 : Browse the odds and markets for the Cox Plate by heading over to our horse racing page.

Step 2 : Place your bet. 

Step 3: If you are not a registered customer, you'll be redirected to our registration page.

Step 4: After signing up, deposit funds to cover your wagers.

If you need more information you can check out our guide on how to bet on horses.

Betting Tips for the Cox Plate

Lys Gracieux Cox Plate Moonee Valley October 26 2019.JPG

Tip #1 Analyse Track Conditions

Moonee Valley’s tight, turning track favours horses that handle pressure well. Study form on similar tracks, especially at Moonee Valley, to find those suited to the race.

Tip #2 Look for Proven Group 1 Performers

The Cox Plate is a high-class race. Focus on horses with Group 1 victories or top finishes in major races. Their proven ability in tough competition often translates into success.

Tip #3 Assess Weight-for-Age Form

Weight-for-age conditions make it a level playing field for top contenders. Prioritise horses that have performed well under these conditions, as it’s a good indicator of their ability to compete fairly.

Tip #4 Watch International Runners

International horses have made a strong impact in recent years. Keep an eye on overseas competitors with solid Group 1 form, especially from Europe and Japan, who bring class to the field.

Tip #5 Track Late Market Moves

Sharp changes in the betting market close to the race can reveal key information. Late money often signals confidence from stables or knowledgeable punters, so track market moves on race day.

2024 Cox Plate Field

The field for this year's Cox Plate will was released on Tuesday, October 22, 2024.

Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier
MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 2
PROGNOSIS (JPN) Mitsumasa Nakauchida Damian Lane 5
KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller Mark Zahra 9
ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Michael Dee 3
DOCKLANDS (GB) Harry Eustace Blake Shinn 1
PRIDE OF JENNI Ciaron Maher Declan Bates 7
VIA SISTINA (IRE) Chris Waller James McDonald 4
BROADSIDING James Cummings Ms Jamie Kah 8
EVAPORATE (NZ) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Karis Teetan 6

Cox Plate Odds

Favourites for the 2024 Cox Plate

Prognosis (JPN)

Profile

  • Jockey: Damian Lane (59kgs)
  • Trainer: Mitsumasa Nakauchida
  • Age: 7yoH

Career Performance:

  • 15 starts: 7 wins, 3 seconds, 2 thirds
  • Prize Money: $2.5M
  • Win Rate: 47%
  • Place Rate: 80%

Recent Form and Key Races:

  • 1st – March 2024, Chukyo (G2) over 2000m by 5 lengths, showcasing dominance at Group 2 level.
  • 2nd – April 2024, Sha Tin QEII Cup (G1), narrowly beaten by Romantic Warrior, one of the top horses in Asia.
  • 4th – August 2024, Japan (G2), solid performance but finished 3.1 lengths off the pace, indicating readiness but room for improvement.

Prognosis’s strong international form, experience over 2000m, and consistency at the Group level make him a deserving favourite for the 2024 Cox Plate. If he can replicate his Group 2 win from March and maintain his current form, he is well-positioned to clinch victory.

Via Sistina (IRE)

Profile

  • Jockey: James McDonald (57kgs)
  • Trainer: Chris Waller
  • Age: 7yo Mare
  • Career Performance: 18 starts: 8 wins, 4 seconds, 2 thirds
  • Prize Money: $3.7M
  • Win Rate: 44%
  • Place Rate: 78%
  • Last 10 Runs: 2x2x12x151
  • Season Form: 3 starts: 2 wins, 0 seconds, 0 thirds

Recent Form and Key Races:

  • 1st – October 2024, Turnbull Stakes (G1) at Flemington, 2000m (Soft 6), surged late to beat Buckaroo by 0.2L.
  • 1st – August 2024, Winx Stakes (G1) at Randwick, 1400m (Good 4), finished with a strong burst to defeat Zougotcha by 0.1L.
  • 5th – September 2024, Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at Flemington, 1600m (Heavy 9), battled but fell 6.5L behind Mr Brightside.
  • 2nd – April 2024, Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick, 2000m (Good 4), finished 6.5L behind Pride Of Jenni.
  • 1st – March 2024, Ranvet Stakes (G1) at Rosehill, 2000m (Good 4), held off Place Du Carrousel by 1.3L.

With Chris Waller’s guidance and James McDonald on board, Via Sistina is primed to contend in the Cox Plate, leveraging both form and experience to deliver a top performance. She has better track record of winning G1 races compared to Prognosis.

Winx winning Cox Plate october 28 2017.jpg

Pride of Jenni

Profile

  • Jockey: Declan Bates (57kgs)
  • Trainer: Ciaron Maher
  • Age: 7yo Mare
  • Prize Money: $9,959,490
  • Career Performance: 33 starts: 8 wins, 9 seconds, 3 thirds
  • Win Rate: 24%
  • Place Rate: 61%
  • Last 10 Runs: x2121x5212
  • Season Form: 4 starts: 1 win, 2 seconds
  • Recent Win: 3 weeks ago in the G2 Feehan Stakes at Moonee Valley

Recent Form and Key Races:

  • 2ndOctober 2024, King Charles III Stakes (G1) at Randwick, 1600m (Soft 5), fought strongly but narrowly beaten by Ceolwulf (NZ).
  • 1stSeptember 2024, Feehan Stakes (G2) at Moonee Valley, 1600m (Good 4), led throughout and finished 1.5L ahead of Mr Brightside.
  • 2ndSeptember 2024, Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) at Flemington, 1600m (Heavy 9), led most of the way but was overtaken by Mr Brightside in the final stages.
  • 5thAugust 2024, Memsie Stakes (G1) at Caulfield, 1400m (Good 3), led early but faded to finish 5.7L behind Pinstriped.
  • 1stApril 2024, Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick, 2000m (Good 4), dominated with a big lead to win comfortably by 6.5L over Via Sistina.

Pride Of Jenni’s ability to control races from the front and her strong finishing efforts make her a serious contender for the Cox Plate. With consistent Group 1 performances and a front-running style that challenges rivals to keep pace, she is a formidable opponent, especially under weight-for-age conditions.

Her recent victory in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and second-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes further highlight her readiness for another major success.

Past Winners of the Cox Plate

Romantic Warrior won the 2023 Cox Plate with a time of 02:03.2. This was the fastest time since 2017 when Winx finished with a time of 02:02.9. This was the fastest finishing time since Solvit’s victory in the 1994 Cox Plate. Winx had won 4 consecutive editions (2015-2018) with Hugh Bowman. James McDonald has won two consecutive editions. He won the 2022 edition with a different horse, Anamoe.

Here is a list of the winners of the Cox Plate in the last twenty-five years:

Year Winner Jockey Trainer Time
2023 Romantic Warrior James McDonald Danny Shum 02:03.2
2022 Anamoe James McDonald James Cummings 02:10.2
2021 State Of Rest John Allen Joseph O'Brien 02:07.0
2020 Sir Dragonet Glen Boss Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 02:08.5
2019 Lys Gracieux Damian Lane Yoshito Yahagi 02:04.2
2018 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 02:03.5
2017 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 02:02.9
2016 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 02:06.4
2015 Winx Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 02:03.0
2014 Adelaide Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 02:03.8
2013 Shamus Award Chad Schofield Danny O'Brien 02:05.3
2012 Ocean Park Glen Boss Gary Hennessy 02:04.1
2011 Pinker Pinker Craig Williams Greg Eurell 02:05.4
2010 So You Think Steve Arnold Bart Cummings 02:07.5
2009 So You Think Glen Boss Bart Cummings 02:04.0
2008 Maldivian Michael Rodd Mark Kavanagh 02:06.9
2007 El Segundo Luke Nolen Colin Little 02:06.3
2006 Fields Of Omagh Craig Williams David Hayes 02:06.9
2005 Makybe Diva Glen Boss Lee Freedman 02:09.3
2004 Savabeel Chris Munce Graeme Rogerson 02:06.9
2003 Fields Of Omagh Steven King Tony McEvoy 02:07.6
2002 Northerly Patrick Payne Fred Kersley 02:06.3
2001 Northerly Damien Oliver Fred Kersley 02:05.8
2000 Sunline Greg Childs Trevor McKee 02:07.7
1999 Sunline Greg Childs Trevor McKee 02:05.4
1998 Might and Power Jim Cassidy Jack Denham 02:03.5

2024 Cox Plate Tickets

You can buy the tickets for the Cox Plate on Moonee Valley Racing Club's website. At the time of writing on September 19, 2024 here are the packages and their prices for non-members:

Gold Cup Night

Ticket Type Price
General Admission $30
Lawn Party $400

Cox Plate Day

Here are the prices for the Cox Plate Day. The Value pack includes the price of admission, three drinks and a food voucher.

Ticket Type Price
General Admission $70
Lawn Party $400
Value Pack $110

 

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