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The 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate dream remains alive for the connections of 23 horses after third acceptances were taken on Tuesday.

2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Third Acceptances

The 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate dream remains alive for the connections of 23 horses after third acceptances were taken on Tuesday.Chris Waller leads all trainers with seven horses remaining in contention, including Aeliana, Autumn Boy and Birdman. Victory in this year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate would give Waller his seventh win in the race, drawing him level with T.J. Smith for the most by a trainer in W.S. Cox Plate history.Ciaron Maher has accepted with five horses, including Light Infantry Man, who finished fifth in the race in 2025. He is one of four runners from last year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate still in contention for the 2026 race, alongside Treasurethe Moment, Attrition and Aeliana.Sir Delius remains the early favourite as Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott chase their first Ladbrokes Cox Plate. The son of Frankel has finished fourth in both lead-up runs this preparation, in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Turnbull Stakes.Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader strengthened his Ladbrokes Cox Plate credentials with an impressive victory over 2000 metres on Saturday. The win was the third from five starts this preparation for the Andrea Leek-trained former Western Australian galloper.Four three-year-olds also feature among the third acceptors. Blind Raise, a winner of four of his five starts for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, was an impressive winner of the Guineas Prelude at his most recent start, while Warwoven rocketed into Ladbrokes Cox Plate calculations with a dominant Golden Rose victory. They are joined by the Chris Waller-trained pair Diameter and Tron Bolt.The 23 third acceptors represent an increase of seven from the corresponding stage in 2025.The final field for the $6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate will be declared at midday on Tuesday, 20 October, ahead of the race at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, 24 October.2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate – Third Acceptors 1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Aeliana (NZ) – Chris Waller&nbsp; 2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Attrition – Mitchell Freedman&nbsp; 3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Autumn Boy – Chris Waller&nbsp; 4.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Birdman (IRE) – Chris Waller&nbsp; 5.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blind Raise (NZ) – Trent Busuttin &amp; Natalie Young&nbsp; 6.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ceolwulf (NZ) – Joseph Pride&nbsp; 7.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cosmic Crusader (NZ) – Andrea Leek&nbsp; 8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Diameter – Chris Waller&nbsp; 9.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Half Yours – Tony &amp; Calvin McEvoy&nbsp; 10.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Light Infantry Man (FR) – Ciaron Maher&nbsp; 11.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lindermann – Chris Waller&nbsp; 12.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Middle Earth (GB) – Ciaron Maher&nbsp; 13.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Ohope Wins (NZ) – Chris Waller&nbsp; 14.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Royal Supremacy (IRE) – Ciaron Maher&nbsp; 15.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sabaj – Mick Price &amp; Michael Kent (Jnr)&nbsp; 16.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saint George (GB) – Ciaron Maher&nbsp; 17.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sir Delius (GB) – Gai Waterhouse &amp; Adrian Bott&nbsp; 18.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tom Kitten – Anthony &amp; Sam Freedman&nbsp; 19.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Treasurethe Moment – Matt Laurie&nbsp; 20.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tron Bolt – Chris Waller&nbsp; 21.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Warwoven – Bjorn Baker&nbsp; 22.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zahrann (IRE) – Ciaron Maher&nbsp; 23.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Zambardo (NZ) – Mick Price &amp; Michael Kent (Jnr)

The Valley will once again play host to a leg of the National Pony Racing Series, with the Victorian event set to take place on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day, Saturday 22 March.A collaboration between Pony Club Australia and Thoroughbred Industry Careers (TIC), the series is designed to educate young riders on careers in the racing and breeding industry, giving them a taste of professional competition on major racedays.The series features six race meetings across Australia, culminating in the national finals in June. Before the Victorian leg, Ballarat hosted a Jumpstart weekend, where participants received riding instruction, horse health education, career insights, and rider fitness training.&nbsp;In preparation for their big moment on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day, competitors will also take part in a training day at The Valley to familiarise themselves with the track.On Saturday, two pony races will be held for state finalists aged 9 to 15. The first, over 450m at 11:30 am, is for ponies not exceeding 12.2hh, while the second, over 700m, is for ponies not exceeding 14hh. That event will take place following Race 3 on the card at 1:30 pm.&nbsp;Moonee Valley Racing Club has enjoyed its association with TIC and Pony Club Australia, providing young riders with the opportunity to gain experience on a major racing stage. The Valley hosted a leg of the first National Pony Racing Series in 2023, and last year on 3 Point Motors William Reid Stakes Day held a Shetland Pony Race.With the next generation of riders set to take centre stage once again, The Valley looks forward to another thrilling chapter in this growing series.

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2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Third Acceptances has 23 horses still remaining in contention for the $6 million weight-for-age race at Flemington Racecourse. 

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