Ws Cox Plate

Race Preview

The WS Cox Plate is a Group 1 event held annually at Moonee Valley racecourse late October. It is considered the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and carries Australia’s richest weight-for-age prize of $3 million. The race is held over a distance 2040 metres at weight-for-age conditions and is run by the Moonee Valley Racing Club. The Cox Plate is named after W.S. Cox, the club’s founder.

The race was first run in 1922 and has quickly become one of the most anticipated races on the Australian racing calendar. Only 14 horses are able to run in the Cox Plate, with fields generally smaller than the maximum of 14. There are many important lead up races for the Cox Plate, so pay close attention to form from such races as the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Memsie Stakes and the Victorian Derby from the year before.

Spotting Winners

Since the race began, 4-year-olds (25 wins) and 5-year-olds (22 wins) have been the most dominant horses. Tommy Smith is the leading trainer with seven wins and of the current trainers, Bart Cummings has the most with three.

Darby Munro is the leading jockey with five wins, of the current jockeys Greg Childs and Damien Oliver are tied with two. Barrier 7 has been the most prolific barrier producing ten wins, while saddlecloth number 1 is easily the most prolific with twenty wins.

Previous Ws Cox Plate Winners