The countdown is on for the 103^rd running of the Australasian weight-for-age championship, and below punters will find our exclusive Races.com.au two-word Cox Plate 2023 form guide.

There is $5 million in stakes up for grabs in the second of the ‘Big 3’ Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival races, and we have a dozen of the world’s premier gallopers on show in Moonee Valley Race 9 at 5:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

Danny Shum’s Sha Tin star Romantic Warrior is top elect at $4.60 through race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au to improve on his eye-catching fourth first-up down under in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

The internationals have a strong record in the Cox Plate results over the years but the Hong Kong hero will take on plenty of tough local rivals.

It is one of the most open editions of the ‘Race Where Legends Are Made’ with five other runners under $10 for the win including Might And Power Stakes winner over the distance last time out Alligator Blood ($5.50) from the Waterhouse/Bott stable.

There is plenty of talent and form lines to consider as punters gear up for the greatest two minutes in sport.

So, which galloper will add their list to the esteemed honour roll of Cox Plate champions?

Will it be the highly-spruiked favourite or one of the Aussie-trained challengers such as last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip?

Throw a couple of outstanding three-year-old Group 1 winners into the mix with Militarize and King Colorado taking on the older gallopers and we are set for another intriguing running of the high-quality classic.

To help you sort the standout Cox Plate contenders from the second-tier pretenders of the country’s highest-rated race, below is our succinct summery of each horse’s winning chances!

Click here to bet on your 2023 Cox Plate tips at Ladbrokes.com.au.

No. Horse (Barrier)

1. Romantic Warrior (7) – Love Affair

Odds: $4 – BET NOW

2. Zaaki (12) – Too Wide

Odds: $17 – BET NOW

3. Mr Brightside (2) – Right Track

Odds: $6.50 – BET NOW

4. Alligator Blood (5) – Draws Well

Odds: $5.50 – BET NOW

5. Gold Trip (8) – Next Start

Odds: $8.50 – BET NOW

6. My Oberon (4) – Wrong Race

Odds: $41 – BET NOW

7. Pinstriped (11) – Mile Only

Odds: $67 – BET NOW

8. Fangirl (9) – Big Fan

Odds: $8.50 – BET NOW

9. Duais (1) – Ollie Farewell

Odds: $26 – BET NOW

10. Victoria Road (6) – Dark Horse

Odds: $12 – BET NOW

11. Militarize (3) – Best Youngster

Odds: $9 – BET NOW

12. King Colorado (10) – Out Classed

Odds: $27 – BET NOW

*All Cox Plate 2023 odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of publication, and subject to change. 

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