In winning the 2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, Romantic Warrior became the fifth international to win the race, following Adelaide 2014, Lys Gracieux 2019, Sir Dragonet 2020 and State Of Rest 2021.

2023 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Review

103rd (2023) - Romantic Warrior (James Cummings - Danny Shum). (102nd (2022) - Anamoe (James Cummings - James McDonals). 101st (2021) – State Of Rest (Joseph O'Brien – John Allen). 100th (2020) – Sir Dragonet (C.Maher & D.Eustace – Glen Boss). 99th (2019) – Lys Graceiux (Yoshito Yahagi – Damian Lane).

Honour Roll

HONOUR-ROLL

Conditions of entering a horse into the W.S Cox Plate

Conditions of Entry

Conditions of entering a horse into the William Reid Stakes

The Ladbrokes Cox Plate is a Group 1 Weight-For-Age race for horses aged three years and above, run over The Valley’s famous 2040m with a total prizemoney pool of $5 million. Known as the Weight-For-Age Championship of Australasia, the W.S. Cox Plate not only brings together the best middle-distance horses in Australia and New Zealand but more recently it has attracted the best middle-distance horses in the world.<img class="image_resized" style="float:left;margin-right:20px;width:400px;" src="https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/mvrc/racing/racing-content-hub/ws-cox-plate/silver-coxplate-trophey.png?h=254&amp;w=400&amp;la=en" alt="Greatness. Winx wins her fourth Cox Plate in 2018. " longdesc="Greatness. Winx wins her fourth Cox Plate in 2018. ">Over the years the W.S. Cox Plate has had an extraordinary ability to always produce and showcase the greatest horses in Australian Racing History, and you will not find an undeserving winner of the race over its 100 runnings.Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town, Octagonal, Makybe Diva, So You Think and Winx are just some of the champions of the Australian Turf who have won our great race, and every winner in the race’s history can be found on the wall in the Octagonal Lounge at The Valley.The best horses in the world going pound for pound in front of the amphitheatre that The Valley provides makes the Cox Plate a spectacle like no other, and the deafening roar of the crowd when the gates crash back is worth coming to experience in itself.&nbsp;The pinnacle of Australian Weight-For-Age Racing, there is no doubt it is Australia's best race.

<ul><li>Winx (2016)&nbsp;</li><li>Ocean Park (2012)&nbsp;</li><li>So You Think (2010)&nbsp;</li><li>Northerly (2001)&nbsp;</li><li>Might and Power (1998)&nbsp;</li><li>Almaarad (1989)&nbsp;</li><li>Bonecrusher (1986)&nbsp;</li><li>Kingston Town (1981/1982)&nbsp;</li><li>Family of Man (1977)&nbsp;</li><li>Gunsynd (1972)&nbsp;</li><li>Rising Fast (1954)&nbsp;</li><li>Amana (1943)&nbsp;</li><li>Tranquil Star (1942)&nbsp;</li><li>Ajax (1938)&nbsp;</li><li>Young Idea (1936)</li></ul>&nbsp;Winners record in the W.S. Cox Plate (last 40 years).&nbsp; 35 starters for:<ul><li>x10 wins<ul><li>Winx-2016</li><li>Ocean Park-2012</li><li>So You Think-2010</li><li>Northerly-2001</li><li>Might and Power-1998</li><li>Almaarad-1989</li><li>Bonecrusher-1986</li><li>Kingston Town-1981/1982</li><li>Family of Man-1977</li></ul></li><li>x5 placed second<ul><li>Criterion-2015</li><li>Fawkner-2014</li><li>Filante-1997</li><li>Rough Habit-1994</li><li>Sydeston-1990</li></ul>x3 placed third<ul><li>Lonhro-2003</li><li>Mr McGinty-1983</li><li>Russian Camelot-2020&nbsp;</li></ul></li><li>16 unplaced&nbsp;</li><li>1 Failed to Finish&nbsp;</li></ul>

Caulfield Stakes

<ul><li>Winx (2017/2018)&nbsp;</li><li>Makybe Diva (2005)&nbsp;</li><li>Northerly (2002)&nbsp;</li><li>The Phantom Chance (1993)&nbsp;</li><li>Better Loosen Up (1990)&nbsp;</li><li>Dulcify (1979)&nbsp;</li><li>Tobin Bronze (1966)&nbsp;</li><li>Sir Dane (1964)&nbsp;</li><li>Aquanita (1962)&nbsp;</li><li>Rising Fast (1954)</li></ul>&nbsp;Winners record in the Cox Plate (last 40 years).&nbsp; 21 Starters for:<ul><li>x5 wins<ul><li>Makybe Diva-2005</li><li>Northerly-2002</li><li>The Phantom Chance-1993</li><li>Better Loosen Up-1990</li><li>Dulcify-1979</li></ul></li><li>x4 placed second<ul><li>Hartnell-2016</li><li>Happy Trails-2013</li><li>Zipping-2010</li><li>Sunline-2001</li></ul></li><li>x2 placed third<ul><li>Sky Heights-1999</li><li>Redding-1994</li></ul></li><li>9 unplaced&nbsp;</li><li>1 Lost Rider</li></ul>

VRC TURNBULL STAKES

<ul><li>Winx (2015-4YO Mare)&nbsp;</li><li>Noholme (1959-3YO)&nbsp;</li><li>Chatham (1932-4YO)&nbsp;</li><li>Nightmarch (1929-4YO)&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;Winners record in the Cox Plate (last 40 years). 22 starters for:<ul><li>x1 win<ul><li>Winx-2015</li></ul></li><li>x4 placed second<ul><li>Filante-1996</li><li>Kinjite-1992</li><li>Super Impose-1991</li><li>Raffindale-1977</li></ul></li><li>x2 placed third<ul><li>Golden Sword-1993</li><li>Te Akau Shark 2019</li></ul></li><li>13 unplaced&nbsp;</li></ul>

ATC EPSOM HANDICAP

MRC UNDERWOOD STAKES

<ul><li>Winx (2017/2018)&nbsp;</li><li>Might and Power (1998)&nbsp;</li><li>Rising Prince (1985)&nbsp;</li><li>Battle Heights (1974)&nbsp;</li><li>Tulloch (1960)&nbsp;&nbsp;</li></ul>&nbsp;Winners record in the Cox Plate (last 40 years).&nbsp; 21 starters for:<ul><li>x2 wins<ul><li>Might and Power-1998</li><li>Rising Prince-1985</li></ul></li><li>x4 seconds<ul><li>Criterion-2015</li><li>Defier-2002</li><li>Sydeston-1990</li><li>Shivaree-1979</li></ul></li><li>x1 third<ul><li>Lonhro-2003</li></ul></li><li>x14 unplaced</li></ul>

ATC QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES

Winners of traditional Cox Plate lead-up races who went on to win the Cox Plate in the same year

KEY LEAD-UP FORM

<img style="float:right;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:20px;" src="https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/mvrc/racing/racing-content-hub/ws-cox-plate/1922-violoncello.png?w=400&amp;h=253&amp;la=en" alt="Violoncello winning the inaugural W.S. Cox Plate in 1922." width="400" height="253" longdesc="Violoncello winning the inaugural W.S. Cox Plate in 1922.">In honour of the founder of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, William Samuel Cox, the MVRC Committee decided to run a weight-for-age race over 2040m.&nbsp;Offering a purse of 1000 Pounds, the W.S. Cox Plate was first run in 1922 and was won by imported stallion Violencello. He was a seven-year-old who the previous year had won the Caulfield Cup at only his fifth start in Australia after being brought out from England.Strategically placed on the racing calendar between the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, the W.S. Cox Plate has become a race of great importance and prestige. It is regarded as the best weight-for-age race in Australasia and one of the most exciting race days in the world. Since it's introduction in 1922, the W.S. Cox Plate has always attracted a field of the best horses on offer – the who’s who of the Australasian turf have won this race.Phar Lap, Kingston Town, Rising Fast, Dulcify, Gunsynd, Super Impose, Octagonal, Might and Power, Sunline, Northerly and more recently champion mares Makybe Diva, So You Think and Winx, have all etched their names on the W.S. Cox Plate Wall of Champions that now takes pride of place in the Octagonal Member’s Lounge.<img class="image_resized" style="float:left;margin-right:20px;width:400px;" src="https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/mvrc/racing/racing-content-hub/ws-cox-plate/2018-winx4.png?h=254&amp;w=400&amp;la=en" alt="Greatness. Winx wins her fourth Cox Plate in 2018. " longdesc="Greatness. Winx wins her fourth Cox Plate in 2018. ">The achievements of Winx victorious in four consecutive years (2015 – 2016 – 2017 – 2018) now has her standing alone as the only four-time winner and the greatest we have ever seen at The Valley.&nbsp;The Cox Plate has been conducted over four different distances – 1900 metres (1922-1943), 2000 metres (1944-1973), 2050 metres (1974-1985) and 2040 metres (1986-current).Today the Ladbrokes Cox Plate carries total prize money of $5,000,000. The W.S. Cox Plate has provided racegoers with many great turf memories and will continue to for many more years to come.&nbsp;<img style="float:right;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:20px;" src="https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/mvrc/racing/racing-content-hub/ws-cox-plate/les-carlyon.png?w=400&amp;h=253&amp;la=en" alt="Violoncello winning the inaugural W.S. Cox Plate in 1922." width="400" height="253" longdesc="Violoncello winning the inaugural W.S. Cox Plate in 1922.">Renowned journalist and author Les Carlyon once wrote – “For a scribbler casting around pearls, the Cox Plate has become a tease. The problem is: how do you write about the race without appearing to slobber? I’ll explain.Moonee Valley Racing Club, rather like that good colt Shakespeare in his Classic year, insists on staging masterpiece after masterpiece. They gave us the Kingston Town trilogy; that used up a few pearls. Then as a variation, they staged the Bonecrusher – Our Waverley Star slugfest. And how do you follow that?”&nbsp;&nbsp;

History

Ladbrokes Cox Plate QualifierThe Group 2 Feehan Stakes is a Weight-for-Age race run over 1600m for horses aged three years old and above.Run in September, the Feehan Stakes is the only ballot exempt race into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and it always brings together a great mix of top milers and middle-distance horses early in their Spring preparations.The Feehan Stakes has been a ballot exempt race into the W.S. Cox Plate since 2004, but it wasn't until 2020 that it became the only ballot exempt race, as previously four other races also carried the golden ticket.Some of the Champion horses that have completed the Feehan Stakes / Cox Plate double in the same year include Rising Fast 1954, Strawberry Road 1983, Rubiton 1987, Better Loosen Up 1990, Sunline 2000, Northerly 2001 and El Segundo 2007.In 2021 Feehan Stakes prizemoney was uplifted from $250,000 to $500,000, but the main attraction remains the ‘win and you’re in’ ticket into our great race, the LEGENDARY Cox Plate.

Feehan Stakes

James Cummings: 'A name does not guarantee greatness, destiny is written by us, not for us'

The Beginning of Another Century

As our Cox Plate Carnival Charity Pin Partner, Make-A-Wish Australia makes the wishes of sick children come true as an important part of their treatment. Cox Plate Carnival Charity Pin ambassador Amy Evans tells her story and more about the charity.

COX PLATE CARNIVAL CHARITY PIN

A day for the history books. James Cummings & James McDonald forever etch their names into W.S. Cox Plate folklore in front of a sell-out crowd. Australia's best horse wins Australia's Best Race.

W.S. Cox Plate - Centenary Highlights

The Valley has stood empty for the last two years, and the excitement is building for a memorable two days of thrilling racing, delicious dining, and live entertainment.

The Valley Roar Is Back!

It's not luck, it's not chance, it's LEGENDARY

What is Legendary - Glen Boss

An ode to Australia’s Best Race, 𝘼 𝘾𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙊𝙛 𝙇𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 by Rupert McCall. 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒏, 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒆𝒓𝒂 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒄𝒌𝒔   𝑨 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔, 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒂𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑴𝒓. 𝑪𝒐𝒙...

Rupert McCall - A Century of Legends

On the morning of the 100th running of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, it's greatest champion Winx was immortalised in a brilliant bronze statue located in Tote park.

Making of the Winx Statue

As we began our Cox Plate Tour, racegoers at the Ladbrokes Elwick Park meeting in Hobart had their photos taken with the W.S. Cox Plate and got to meet racing legend Glenn Boss and AFL champion Campbell Brown.

The Centenary Tour Reaches Hobart

The Valley is like Madison Square Garden. The heavyweights go there to fight...

An Ode to the W.S. Cox Plate

It's time to Celebrate 100 years of the W.S. Cox Plate. Where history is made. Where Champions become Legends. Secure your spot and witness history at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival.

Australia's Best Race

Videos

RACE FIRST RUN: Saturday, October 28, 1922LONGEST PRICED WINNERS 50/1 (Leonard-1946, Mosaic-1939); 40/1 (Dane Ripper-1997)SHORTEST PRICED WINNERS 1/14f (Phar Lap-1931); 1/7f (Phar Lap-1930)LEADING TRAINERS Tommy Smith (7), Jack Holt (6), Bart Cummings (5), Chris Waller (4), Colin Hayes, Frank McGrath, Roy Shaw (3)LEADING JOCKEYS Darby Munro (5), Hugh Bowman, Jack Purtell, Brent Thomson, Glen Boss (4), Harold Badger, Neville Sellwood (3)

Key Stats

<figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td style="width:60%;">SATURDAY 28th OCT 2023</td><td style="width:20%;">PRIZEMONEY</td><td style="width:20%;">DISTANCE</td></tr><tr><td>Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Handicap</td><td>$150,000</td><td>1000m</td></tr><tr><td>Listed Inglis Banner</td><td>$500,000</td><td>1000m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 3 Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes</td><td>$200,000</td><td>1600m</td></tr><tr><td>Listed PFD Food Services Crockett Stakes</td><td>$175,000</td><td>1200m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 2 McCafe Crystal Mile</td><td>$300,000</td><td>1600m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 2 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic</td><td>$300,000</td><td>1600m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase&nbsp;</td><td>$400,000</td><td>2040m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 1 Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes</td><td>$2,000,000</td><td>1200m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate</td><td>$5,000,000</td><td>2040m</td></tr><tr><td>Group 3 Sharp EIT Solutions Red Anchor Stakes</td><td>$200,000</td><td>1200m</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> &nbsp;

2023 Race Program

2022 Winner: James McDonald2021 Winner: Jye McNeil2020&nbsp;Winner:&nbsp; Jamie Kah, 15 points&nbsp;2019 Winners: Jamie Kah/ Dwayne Dunn, 10 points2018 Winners: Hugh Bowman/ John Allen, 9 pointsNamed in honour of LEGENDARY rider Brent Thomson - ‘The Babe’ enjoyed a long and fruitful career in the saddle with over 2500 winners to his name worldwide. He was born in New Zealand in 1958 and by the time he turned 16 was champion apprentice.It would be the following year as a 17-year-old that Thomson would win his first W.S. Cox Plate aboard Fury’s Order and begin one of the most dominant runs of any rider in the history of the race.In the four years that followed, Thomson would win three consecutive W.S. Cox Plates from 1977-1979 aboard Family of Man and the Colin Hayes pair So Called and the brilliant Dulcify.Given Thomson’s remarkable success in Australasia’s Weight-for-Age Classic, the Brent Thomson Jockey Challenge was first introduced in 2018.&nbsp;<img class="image_resized" style="float:left;margin-right:20px;width:400px;" src="https://cdn.racing.com/-/media/mvrc/racing/racing-content-hub/ws-cox-plate/jamie-kah.png?la=en" alt="Jamie Kah" longdesc="Jamie Kah">All riders competing at the race meeting(s) will be eligible, including apprentices and those visiting Victoria from interstate or overseas. The Moonee Valley Racing Club will run 18 races across the 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Carnival with eight races on Friday night 22 October 2021 and ten races on Saturday 23 October 2021.Points will be allocated on all races across the race meeting to the first three official placegetters on a 3-2-1 points.In the event of a dead heat, the points will be split as follows:&nbsp;<ul><li>Dead heat for first – first 2.5 points each, third 1 point;&nbsp;</li><li>Dead heat for second – first 3 points, second 1.5 points each; or&nbsp;</li><li>Dead heat for third – first 3 points, second 2 points, third 0.5 points each.</li></ul>If the highest points scorer is suspended for breaching AR 131 and/or 132 as the result of any ride during the race meeting, then the prize will be awarded to the second highest points scorer and so on until such time as the best and fairest jockey is determined.In the case of a tie the cash prize will be shared equally by those eligible riders on the highest number of points and a countback will not be conducted.

BRENT THOMSON JOCKEY CHALLENGE

The Cox Plate's greatest winners:<ul><li>Winx (2015/16/17/18)</li><li>Phar Lap (1930/31)</li><li>Tulloch (1960)</li><li>Kingston Town (1980/81/82)</li><li>Rising Fast (1954)</li><li>Ajax (1938)</li><li>Tobin Bronze (1966/67)</li><li>Amounis (1927)</li><li>Gunsynd (1972)</li><li>Dulcify (1979)</li><li>Makybe Diva (2005)</li><li>So You Think (2009/2010)</li><li>Bonecrusher (1986)</li><li>Chatham (1932/34)</li><li>Surround (1976)</li><li>Delta (1949)</li><li>Redcraze (1957)</li></ul>

Notable Winners

Horses who have won 2 or more W.S. Cox Plates:<ul><li>Winx (2015/2016/2017/2018)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Kingston Town (1980/1981/1982)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Phar Lap (1930/1931)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Young Idea (1936/1937)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Beau Vite (1940/1941)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Tranquil Star (1942/1944)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Flight (1945/1946)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Hydrogen (1952/1953)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Tobin Bronze (1966/1967)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Sunline (1999/2000)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Northerly (2001/2002)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">Fields of Omagh (2003/2006)&nbsp;</li><li style="text-align:left;">So You Think (2009/2010)</li></ul>

MULTIPLE WINNERS

Mares who have won the W.S. Cox Plate:<ul><li>Lys Gracieux 6YO 2019</li><li>Winx-2015 4YO, 2016 5YO, 2017 6YO &amp; 2018 7YO</li><li>Pinker Pinker-2011 4YO</li><li>Makybe Diva-2005 7YO</li><li>Sunline-1999 4YO &amp; 2000 5YO</li><li>Dane Ripper-1997 4YO</li><li>Flight- 1945 5YO &amp; 1946 6YO</li><li>Tranquil Star-1942 5YO &amp; 1944 7YO</li></ul>

WINNING MARES

The Ladbrokes Cox Plate is a prestigious Weight-For-Age horse race in Australia, held at The Valley over 2040m. Join us for thrilling Melbourne Spring Racing action!

W.S. Cox Plate

W.S. Cox Plate - Australia's Best Race

Experience the excitement of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate - Australia's premier Weight-For-Age race. Witness top thoroughbred horses compete at The Valley over 2040m.