2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day Preview

A quality, short and sharp sprint to kick off 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day and a case to be made for a few of them, including TONKIN.

Tonkin won each of three starts last time in, including one at this track and trip, while she returned to action to beat home a decent BM78 field at Sandown in August.

She has been freshened since finishing second down the straight at Flemington, sent back to the trial and will appreciate getting back here to The Valley with a light weight.

This is an open edition of the Red Anchor and there’s a case to be made for most of them, but I’ve ultimately landed on NAPOLEONIC.

Napoleonic returned to action with a dominant victory in maiden company up at Wyong and progressed immediately into another victory at metro grade.

Having held ground on a leader-biased day when fourth in the Group 2 Roman Consul at Rosehill last time out, he’s fit, boasts an experience edge over a lot of these rivals and can take a forward position in the run this week.

EXCENIA has been knocking on the door since resuming and the Crockett Stakes looks a lovely race for her.

Having ended her debut with a maiden race win, the Exceed And Excel filly was only just denied in a photo fresh from a break and repeated that effort to only just miss again last time.

This is a harder race, but she’s open to further improvement, while the booking of Jamie Melham further boosts her winning claims.

ENVIABLE profiles as an ideal Moonee Valley Fillies Classic horse.

She’s yet to strike in five runs since debuting, but there’s no doubt that Enviable has continued to improve, and she was tough behind the likes of Apocalyptic and Within The Law when fourth in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last time out.

This looks to be a notably weaker race and sticking at the mile looks perfect for her.

FUTURE HISTORY’s last race win came in this race last year, and I am confident he can defend his crown in Friday night’s 2025 JRA Cup.

The talented stayer has been known to mix his form since arriving in Australia but typically, he’s turned in some competitive performances this time in and filled the minors of the Coongy Cup last time out.

He steps out this week a fit horse, we know he likes the unique conditions at The Valley, and he can make all of his own luck up on the speed.

SHE’S A HUSTLER faces a rise in class into the Tesio Stakes field, but she is open to plenty of improvement.

The Ace High mare hasn’t turned in a poor performance since debuting, winning five of eight career starts and finishing the runner up on the other three occasions.

She was an eye-catching winner from a prominent position in the run when resuming at Flemington last month, she’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race, and Jordan Childs can take her straight to the lead again this week from an inside draw.

RISE AT DAWN rates as a key winning chance in the 2025 Crystal Mile field.

The Almanzor gelding turned in some excellent performances earlier this year, while he’s arguably returned a better horse this time, finishing third in Listed company first up before running second in the Group 2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill last time out.

He’s another that has been kept up to the mark with a trial since his latest appearance and getting out to the mile looks perfect.

NIANCE can bounce back third up in the McEwen Stakes.

She was below her best, but still not disgraced when seventh in the Moir Stakes here fresh from a break, while Niance was good through the line behind a very smart Giga Kick in the Schillaci Stakes a fortnight ago.

Fitter third-up, she’s well placed in barrier 7 and this really does look an ideal race for her.

A key Derby and Oaks form race, we’re set for another intriguing edition of the Moonee Valley Vase and a horse like HIGHVOL comes right into calculations after missing the abandoned Geelong Classic on Wednesday.

He’s yet to win a race in four appearances this time in, but he’s continued to build to the case and was good through the line in the Stutt Stakes here two back before a tough run in the Caulfield Guineas.

Getting out to 2040m this week looks to suit, and he looms as an each way contender at a double figure price.

Just nine horses make up the 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate field but what this race lacks in size, it certainly makes up for in quality, excitement and overall anticipation.

James McDonald chases a fourth-consecutive Cox Plate win aboard 2024 champion, VIA SISTINA, and I am confident they can win the race again.

She’s a champion of the turf and a multiple Group 1 winner – you certainly don’t need me to tell you how good Via Sistina is, and after winning the Winx Stakes fresh in August, she’s since tuned up for this race with minor placings in the Makybe Diva Stakes and the Turnbull.

While Sir Delius would have seen Via Sistina’s quote in 2025 Cox Plate betting longer, his scratching does look to make her task a little easier.

I’m also going to have a small each way saver on NEPOTISM at Ladbrokes Cox Plate odds of $21 (at publish).

He’s been a little below his best this time in, but we saw how good Nepotism can be during a two-year-old prep that peaked with Group 1 success.

He’ll carry only 49kgs in the 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate field and can look to make his luck up on the speed, similarly to previous three-year-old winners like Shamus Award.

Check out our full runner-by-runner 2025 Cox Plate preview here.