2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day Preview

ICE KOOL (8) takes winning form and peak order into the first on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day.

The Zoustar gelding has won three of five runs this time in, and while he needed his first run back from freshen up to tune up, he was impressive in BM100 company at Warwick Farm last time out.

He steps out this week a fit horse and this looks a perfect opportunity to win in Saturday metro company.

BARRACKS (6) looks well placed in an open edition of the Red Anchor Stakes.

Barracks broke his maiden over 1200m at Rosehill when resuming last month and hit the line to only just miss in the Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield last Saturday.

Fitter third-up, he should be able to find some cover from barrier 6 before calling on that big turn of speed once more.

TRUE REBEL (3) is yet to turn in a poor performance, and the Moonee Valley Vase looks a lovely black type target for him.

While he has only made three appearances since debuting, True Rebel broke his maiden impressive at Ladbrokes Geelong second up before working home well to only just miss behind Mister Whiskers at Caulfield last time out.

With plenty of upside, getting further out in trip this week looks to suit, and he has drawn to receive the run of the race under Blake Shinn.

In what shapes as a wide-open edition of the Crockett Stakes, JACARANDA (1) is one that I thought could give us a sight at odds ($12 at publish).

While yet to strike in five runs back from a break, Jacaranda has raced in consistent form around some quality opposition, and she was last seen filling the minors behind an impressive Sequinned at Caulfield.

In peak order this week, Damian Lane can take her forward from the rails draw and make all of her own luck.

JIGSAW (4) goes on top of my McEwen Stakes tips.

He’s always been a good horse, but Jigsaw has undoubtedly gone to another level throughout the last year and steps out this week on an eight-race winning streak that includes last year’s edition of this race, two Group 1 features and a Quokka.

Having returned to action a fortnight ago to lead all the way in a Group 2 Schillaci Stakes, I’m only expecting him to improve for that effort and lead all the way again.

The Crystal Mile always attracts a classy and open field, and I think it’s a great opportunity for EVAPORATE (10) to bounce back.

Evaporate is a horse that has always performed admirably in strong black type company without breaking through at the highest level.

Having won the So You Think Stakes over 1500m at Sandown last month, he’s since finished off the pace in a couple of stronger Group 1 races, without being disgraced.

There’s no doubting his fitness and condition this week, and with Craig Williams in form and jumping into the saddle, something like this looks a more appropriate target, in my opinion.

This is one of the better races on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day this year and there is a case to be made for many of them in the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

Second emergency KIZLYAR (6) will gain a start and rates as a key winning chance at nice odds ($8 at publish).

Kizlyar ended his earlier preparation this year with consecutive victories at Killarney and Royal Ascot, the latter of which saw him beat home Melbourne Cup fancy and stablemate Defiantly, while he was last seen finishing second in the Group 3 St Leger Trial at the Curragh.

Bringing that form into a race like this would see him extremely difficult to beat, and he’ll carry just 56kgs; a drop of 5kgs off his latest run.

This is an outstanding edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, featuring several proven weight-for-age horses and a couple of three-year-olds that look to be on the short and narrow towards stardom.

With a case to be made for nearly every horse in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate field, I think it’s going to be a year for the three-year-olds, and WARWOVEN (2) is the one I have on top.

He’s always shown above-average ability, but Warwoven has undoubtedly gone to a whole new level this time in, breaking through for his first win at the highest level in the Golden Rose two runs back before repeating the dose in the Caulfield Guineas last time out.

Obviously, this is another big rise in class, but he’s hard fit and has the runs on the board, and he’s drawn to receive every chance with just 49.5kgs in tow.

Third up and dropping in class, I’m keen to stick with PANOVA (14) in the last on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day 2026.

Panova broke through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks back in April, while she was only just denied in a Queensland Oaks before going for a break.

While yet to place in two runs back from a spell, both were amongst substantially stronger fields than she meets this week, and her latest run in the Toorak Handicap looked to be that of a horse crying out for further.

She gets out to the 2040m this week, and with James McDonald jumping back into the saddle, I think she gets plenty of ticks.