Ladbrokes Tip: Four-year-olds have a gun recent record winning the Cox Plate at weight-for-age
Australasia’s weight-for-age championship the Ladbrokes Cox Plate is known as “the race where legends are made” and each year attracts the best WFA horses from both Australia and overseas. Run at the notoriously tight Moonee Valley circuit in Melbourne each spring, the 2040m classic is now worth $5 million in prize money and has been run since 1922 when Violoncello won.
Named in honour of W.S. Cox who founded the Melbourne Racing Club, the Cox Plate has been won by many turf champions over the years including racing legend Phar Lap (1930-31), New Zealand hero Rising Fast (1954) who also won that year’s Melbourne and Caulfield Cups, and triple Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva (2005).
The brilliant mare Winx was the most recent winner of the Cox Plate in October of 2018 after successfully defending her three titles, overtaking Kingston Town (1980-82) as the only four-time Cox Plate champion in history.
The latest edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate ran on Saturday October 24, 2020 and was won by the Irish expat Sir Dragonet first-up down under.
2020 Cox Plate Results
The official 2020 Cox Plate Results & Finishing Order will be available in full below once the spring feature takes place on Saturday October 24, 2020 .
- 1st: #7 Sir Dragonet
- 2nd: #12 Armory
- 3rd: #11 Russian Camelot
Jockey Glen Boss celebrated his fourth success in the 100th edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in 2020, results dominated by Irish expat Sir Dragonet ($7.50) who defeated former stablemate Armory ($7.50) with the race favourite Russian Camelot ($3.50F) in third.
| |
Finish |
No. |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Margin |
Bar. |
Weight |
Penalty |
Starting Price |
| |
1 |
7 |
SIR DRAGONET (IRE) |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
Glen Boss |
|
6 |
59kg |
|
$7.50 |
| |
2 |
12 |
ARMORY (IRE) |
Aidan O’Brien |
Ben Melham |
1.25L |
5 |
56.5kg |
|
$7.50 |
| |
3 |
11 |
RUSSIAN CAMELOT (IRE) |
Danny O’Brien |
Damien Oliver |
2L |
14 |
56.5kg |
|
$3.50F |
| |
4 |
5 |
MUGATOO (IRE) |
Kris Lees |
John Allen |
3.5L |
8 |
59kg |
|
$26 |
| |
5 |
9 |
ARCADIA QUEEN |
Grant & Alana Williams |
William Pike |
3.8L |
7 |
57kg |
|
$7 |
| |
6 |
3 |
FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) |
Matthew Smith |
Luke Currie |
4.3L |
11 |
59kg |
|
$21 |
| |
7 |
13 |
PROBABEEL (NZ) |
Jamie Richards |
Kerrin McEvoy |
4.5L |
2 |
55.5kg |
|
$10 |
| |
8 |
4 |
MASTER OF WINE (GER) |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
Michael Rodd |
9L |
1 |
59kg |
|
$31 |
| |
9 |
10 |
NETTOYER |
Wendy Roche |
Billy Egan |
9.4L |
12 |
57kg |
|
$101 |
| |
10 |
15e |
BUCKHURST (IRE) |
Joseph O’Brien |
Jamie Kah |
9.5L |
10 |
59kg |
|
$26 |
| |
11 |
6 |
ASPETAR (FR) |
Roger Charlton |
Damian Lane |
12.25L |
3 |
59kg |
|
$21 |
| |
12 |
2 |
HUMIDOR (NZ) |
Chris Waller |
Craig Williams |
12.75L |
13 |
59kg |
|
$21 |
| |
13 |
1 |
KOLDING (NZ) |
Chris Waller |
James McDonald |
14.5L |
9 |
59kg |
|
$16 |
| |
14 |
14 |
GRANDSLAM |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
Jye McNeil |
14.6L |
4 |
49.5kg |
|
$31 |
| |
|
8 |
MAGIC WAND (IRE) |
Aidan O’Brien |
Mark Zahra |
|
0 |
|
|
|
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Ladbrokes Cox Plate Race Info
- Date: Saturday October 24, 2020
- Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
- Distance: 2040m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $5 million
- First Run: 1922
Ladbrokes Cox Plate Betting
Early Cox Plate betting opens during the winter months before the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival even kicks off and features a list of all-in prices on possible runners. While there is good value on offer in these futures markets many punters prefer to wait until a few days out when the confirmed field is released.
Upsets are not uncommon in the Cox Plate and since 2000 when Sunline (11/8F) saluted for the first of her two victories only six other favourites have won the race including Winx (2015-18) and most recently the Japanese raider Lys Gracieux (2019).
Winx was the first three time defending Cox Plate winner to jump favourite in her forth attempt, which she also won for the punters making the Cox Plate history books.
2020 Cox Plate Odds
The latest Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 Betting Odds will be updated below as the lead-up to Australasia’s weight-for-age championship heats up this season.
Ladbrokes Cox Plate Tips
Cox Plate tips flood in during October every year and usually the pro punters and tipsters put three and four-year-olds on top of their selections as this age group won every Cox Plate from 2009 – 2015, the weight-for-age conditions suiting the younger horses.
Tipping a Cox Plate winner also involves looking at the lead-up form with gallopers coming off a top three run the best performed in this spring classic.
A key lead-up races into the Cox Plate is the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington earlier in the month with Winx (2017 and 2018) completing the Turnbull Stakes – Cox Plate double twice in recent history.
2020 Cox Plate Tips
Our exclusive Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 betting tips will be detailed in full below the week of the race so stay tuned to see the horses to back and sack in your exotic Cox Plate selections this season.
Cox Plate Field
The Cox Plate field is released on the Tuesday before the race runs on a Saturday in late October each year as part of the two meeting Cox Plate Carnival that kicks off on the Friday night with Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Night. The race has a capacity of 14 starters plus four emergencies and is open to horses aged three years and older.
Many horses come into the race via earlier spring features including the Caulfield Stakes and Turnbull Stakes. Cox Plate nominations, which typically feature over 200 early entries, are taken in August before a number of declaration stages whittle down the line-up to the confirmed final acceptors.
Typical lead-up races into the Cox Plate field including the Group 1 Caulfield Ladbrokes Stakes, a double recently achieved by Winx (2016) and Ocean Park (2012).
2020 Cox Plate Acceptance Dates
- 2020 Cox Plate Nominations: Closed on August 4, 2020 and drew 182 hopefuls
- 2020 Cox Plate First Acceptances: Closed on September 8, 2020 attracting 109 entries including 17 internationals
- 2020 Cox Plate Second Acceptances: Closed on September 22, 2020 leaving 66 hopefuls including 4 internationals
- 2020 Cox Plate Third Acceptances: Closed on October 6, 2020 with 27 left in the mix
- 2020 Cox Plate Final Acceptances: Closed on October 20, 2020 final field featuring 14 starers plus an emergency
Champion mare Winx won the 2015 Cox Plate in record-breaking time and saluted for the punters again in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos
2020 Cox Plate Field
The 2020 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Field of weight-for-age contenders to take each other on in one of the best races on the Australian Racing calendar will be announced and published below the week of the race.
The official Cox Plate 2020 final field features 14 confirmed starters, including controversially the Caulfield Guineas third placegetter Grandslam.
The Danny O’Brien-trained Russian Camelot sits top of the markets despite drawing the outside Cox Plate barrier, while his last start conqueror in the Caulfield Stakes Arcadia Queen is drawn in gate eight.
- Scratched: #8 Magic Wand (4) is out due to ongoing lameness in her off fore leg. Fellow international Buckhurst gains a run for Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien.
| No |
Last 10 |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight |
Penalty |
Hcp Rating |
| 1 |
45778×0211 |
KOLDING (NZ) |
Chris Waller |
James McDonald |
10 |
59kg |
|
117 |
| 2 |
96x085x123 |
HUMIDOR (NZ) |
Chris Waller |
Craig Williams |
14 |
59kg |
|
114 |
| 3 |
1x2348x313 |
FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) |
Matthew Smith |
Luke Currie |
12 |
59kg |
|
117 |
| 4 |
1x114x0450 |
MASTER OF WINE (GER) |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
Michael Rodd |
1 |
59kg |
|
114 |
| 5 |
11126×1112 |
MUGATOO (IRE) |
Kris Lees |
John Allen |
9 |
59kg |
|
118 |
| 6 |
14x1x0x21x |
ASPETAR (FR) |
Roger Charlton |
Damian Lane |
3 |
59kg |
|
118 |
| 7 |
x44x2x222x |
SIR DRAGONET (IRE) |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
Glen Boss |
7 |
59kg |
|
117 |
| 8 |
01229×1458 |
MAGIC WAND (IRE) |
Aidan O’Brien |
Mark Zahra |
4 |
57kg |
|
116 |
| 9 |
1x105x5231 |
ARCADIA QUEEN |
Grant & Alana Williams |
William Pike |
8 |
57kg |
|
116 |
| 10 |
0x1410x002 |
NETTOYER |
Wendy Roche |
Billy Egan |
13 |
57kg |
|
108 |
| 11 |
12x411x212 |
RUSSIAN CAMELOT (IRE) |
Danny O’Brien |
Damien Oliver |
15 |
56.5kg |
|
118 |
| 12 |
11232×4413 |
ARMORY (IRE) |
Aidan O’Brien |
Ben Melham |
6 |
56.5kg |
|
120 |
| 13 |
111228×211 |
PROBABEEL (NZ) |
Jamie Richards |
Kerrin McEvoy |
2 |
55.5kg |
|
115 |
| 14 |
517×423 |
GRANDSLAM |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
Jye McNeil |
5 |
49.5kg |
|
112 |
| 15e |
2112×21657 |
BUCKHURST (IRE) |
Joseph O’Brien |
Jamie Kah |
11 |
59kg |
|
114 |
2020 Cox Plate Third Acceptances
The Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 Third Acceptances are announced in early October as the final stage of acceptances before the field is confirmed the week of the race.
The 2020 Cox Plate third acceptances were taken on Tuesday October 6 leaving 27 chances to line-up in the 100th edition of the weight-for-age classic including the clear favourite Russian Camelot and five three-year-old hopefuls.
2020 Cox Plate Second Acceptances
The make-up of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 Field further takes shape with the 2020 Cox Plate Second Acceptances closing in early September.
The 2020 Cox Plate First Acceptances closed on September, 2020 featuring 66 hopefuls including:
- 4 Internationals
- 2 for Irish Horseman Aidan O’Brien
- 26 Group 1 Winners
- 9 Previous Moonee Valley Winners
- 21 Three-Year-Olds
- 32 Trainers
- 9 Previous Cox Plate Performers
- 5 for Danny O’Brien Led By Favourite Russian Camelot
2020 Cox Plate First Acceptances
The make-up of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 Field further takes shape with the 2020 Cox Plate First Acceptances closing in early September.
The 2020 Cox Plate First Acceptances closed on September 8, 2020 featuring 109 hopefuls including:
- 17 Internationals
- 12 for Irish Horseman Aidan O’Brien
- 37 Group 1 Winners
- 13 Previous Moonee Valley Winners
- 33 Three-Year-Olds
- 44 Trainers
- 9 Previous Cox Plate Performers
- 6 for Danny O’Brien Led By Favourite Russian Camelot
2020 Cox Plate Nominations
The first hint at the likely Ladbrokes Cox Plate Horses for 2020 are revealed when Racing Victoria take 2020 Cox Plate Nominations in early August, the early entries often attracting in excess of 150 hopefuls.
The 2020 Cox Plate Nominations closed on August 4, 2020 featuring 182 hopefuls including:
- 51 Group 1 winners
- 42 Southern Hemisphere three-year-olds
- 14 Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds
- Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (2019)
- The Danny O’Brien-trained SA Derby winner Russian Camelot
- Star Queenslander Alligator Blood
- The inaugural two All-Star Mile champions Mystic Journey (2019) and Regal Power (2020)
- 28 Internationally-trained raider
Cox Plate Form Guide
The Cox Plate form guide is a key reference for any smart punter wanting to place the winning bet on the race and features all the information you need to determine the chances of the horses in the field. The best form guides feature basic information like saddlecloth numbers, barriers and jockeys as well as more detailed statistics like lead-up form, win / place percentages and records at the track / distance.
The Caulfield Stakes – now known as the Ladbrokes Stakes – is one of the best lead-up races into the Cox Plate with the double most recently achieved by Winx (2016). The Caulfield Guineas is also a key lead-up race producing the likes of Shamus Award (2013) and So You Think (2009) in recent years, while the Turnbull Stakes has also produced two Cox Plate winners in the past decade with El Segundo (2007) and Makybe Diva (2005).
In 2017 and 2018 the champion mare continued to frank the Turnbull Stakes form winning that Group 1 race before her last two Cox Plate triumphs.
Cox Plate Form Facts
- Winx (2016, 2017, 2018) became the first Cox Plate winner older than four to salute since 2008 taking out the race as a 5YO in 2016, 6YO in 2017 and 7YO in 2018; Winx also won the 2015 Cox Plate as a 4YO
- No horse has finished worse than third in the lead-up to a Cox Plate win since So You Think (Caulfield Guineas 5th in 2009)
- In the past decade three horses have won multiple editions of the Cox Plate with So You Think (2009-10) and Winx (2015-18)
- Three Cox Plate champions from 2011 – 2020 saluted from a double-digit barrier most recently Lys Gracieux (11 of 14 in 2019)
2020 Cox Plate Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2020 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Ladbrokes Cox Plate Results
The Cox Plate results are known after the classic jumps as Moonee Valley Race 9 at the late October meeting each spring. As well as listing the complete Cox Plate finishing order the results show the trainer and jockey of each horse as well as the margin between each place, the weight they carried and their starting price in the betting markets.
Cox Plate Winners
| Year |
Winner |
2nd |
3rd |
Time |
| 2020 |
Sir Dragonet |
Armory |
Russian Camelot |
2:08.4 |
| 2019 |
Lys Gracieux |
Castelvecchio |
Te Akau Shark |
2:04.2 |
| 2018 |
Winx |
Benbatl |
Humidor |
2:03.4 |
| 2017 |
Winx |
Humidor |
Folkswood |
2:02.9 |
| 2016 |
Winx |
Hartnell |
Yankee Rose |
2:06.35 |
| 2015 |
Winx |
Criterion |
Highland Reel |
2:02.9 |
| 2014 |
Adelaide |
Fawkner |
Silent Achiever |
2:03.7 |
| 2013 |
Shamus Award |
Happy Trails |
Fiorente |
2:05.2 |
| 2012 |
Ocean Park |
All Too Hard |
Pierro |
2:04.1 |
| 2011 |
Pinker Pinker |
Jimmy Choux |
Rekindled Interest |
2:05.3 |
| 2010 |
So You Think |
Zipping |
Whobegotyou |
2:07.4 |
| 2009 |
So You Think |
Manhattan Rain |
Zipping |
2:03.9 |
| 2008 |
Maldivian |
Zipping |
Samantha Miss |
2:06.9 |
| 2007 |
El Segundo |
Wonderful World |
Haradasun |
2:06.3 |
| 2006 |
Fields Of Omagh |
El Segundo |
Pompeii Ruler |
2:06.9 |
| 2005 |
Makybe Diva |
Lotteria |
Fields Of Omagh |
2:09.3 |
| 2004 |
Savabeel |
Fields Of Omagh |
Starcraft |
2:06.9 |
| 2003 |
Fields Of Omagh |
Defier |
Lonhro |
2:07.6 |
| 2002 |
Northerly |
Defier |
Grandera |
2:06.3 |
| 2001 |
Northerly |
Sunline |
Viscount |
2:05.8 |
| 2000 |
Sunline |
Diatribe |
Referral |
2:07.7 |