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The 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate is set to light up The Valley today, Saturday October 25, with a cracking field of weight-for-age stars assembled for Australia’s premier weight-for-age contest.
Below punters will find the ultimate Races.com.au guide to the Cox Plate with the latest odds, late mail, and expert tips ahead of today’s $6 million feature – everything you need to back a winner in the great race is right here!
Closing the Moonee Valley card as Race 10 at 5:40pm (AEDT), this year’s Group 1 $6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) will be the final race held at the “cauldron” track as we know it before it closes for renovations.
Via Sistina set the track on fire last year with her historic eight-length romp home and Chris Waller‘s queen is the current $2.25 favourite in Cox Plate betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to go back-to-back.
But the late mail suggests an upset could be pending!
Moonee Valley Track Report – Cox Plate Day 2025
- Rail: True Entire
- Weather: Overcast
- Dual Track Meeting: N
- Track Type: Turf
- Track Rating: Good 4
- General Comment: Finalised 25/10 – 7:45am/Late Scratching R.8 No.7
- Irrigation: 4mm last 24 hours, 20.5mm last 7 days
- Rainfall: nil last 24 hours, 12mm last 7 days
- Track Information: Inspection 6AM 25/10
Track Rating: Good 4 The surface is in excellent condition, offering a fair and consistent racing profile across all lanes. Turf management has been spot-on, with the track presenting well for the feature meeting.
Rail Position: True The rail is in the true position, which typically favours horses settling on pace or just off it, especially in the middle-distance events. Expect tactical rides to be rewarded, particularly in the Cox Plate over 2040m.
Weather: Fine and mild No rain is forecast for the afternoon, with temperatures hovering around the low 20s. Wind is light and variable, unlikely to play a major role in race outcomes.
Bias Watch: Historically, Moonee Valley can favour leaders and those close to the speed, especially when the rail is true. However, with the track in top order and no significant wear, backmarkers should still get their chance if tempo is genuine.
Race Pattern Insight: Early races will give punters a clearer picture of how the track is playing. Keep an eye on how horses are finishing — if they’re making ground wide, it could open the door for swoopers in the Cox Plate.
Moonee Valley Race 10 (5:40PM AEDT) – Ladbrokes Cox Plate
- Scratchings: No. 5 Globe (7)
Globe was withdrawn from the Cox Plate field on Thursday on vet’s advice. Click here for the full story.
Cox Plate 2025 Late Mail
- Globe scratched: The early speed map has shifted with Globe out, likely handing control to something capable of rolling forward to turn it into a staying contest.
- Track rated Good 4: Ideal conditions at The Valley, with the rail in the true position — expect leaders and midfield runners to be favoured.
- Via Sistina: Despite back-to-back defeats, she’s drawn ideally in gate 5 and retains James McDonald. Connections are confident she’ll bounce back.
- Antino: Turnbull Stakes runner-up with form franked by Half Yours in the Caulfield Cup. He’s peaking at the right time.
Cox Plate 2025 Odds Update
Via Sistina remains the dominant favourite at $2.25, with Antino firming as the clear danger at current Cox Plate odds of $3.90. Late mail suggests tactical changes following Globe’s scratching, and expert tips lean toward the top two in betting.
Market Moves
Standout Market Mover:
- No. 7 Treasurethe Moment – $9 into $6
Originally rated a $9 outsider, Treasurethe Moment has firmed right into $6, thanks to strong late support and a favourable barrier one draw. She’s expected to settle just off the speed and use her turn of foot around The Valley’s tight circuit. With Globe scratched and the tempo likely to ease, her tactical versatility and recent form have caught the attention of sharp punters.
Favourite:
- No. 6 Via Sistina – $2.10 out to $2.25
After opening around $2 earlier in the week, Via has drifted slightly to $2.25, with punters showing renewed interest in her key rivals Antino and Treasurethe Moment. While she still holds top billing, the softening in price suggests some caution in the market — possibly due to her two lead-up defeats.
Drawn ideally and retaining James McDonald, Via Sistina still profiles as the class runner, but the late drift adds intrigue to an already wide-open contest. Keep an eye on further moves — especially if support continues to build for the chasing pack.
Market Firmers:
- No. 3 Attrition – $41 into $31
- No. 4 Buckaroo – $15 into $14
- No. 9 Nepotism – $21 into $16
Market Drifts:
- No. 2 Antino – $3.50 out to $3.90
- No. 8 Aeliana – $7 out to $7.50
Rank Outsider:
- No. 1 Light Infantry Man – $51 into $35
Speed Map Predictions
- On Pace: No. 7 Treasurethe Moment
- Midfield: No. 3 Attrition, No. 6 Via Sistina, No. 8 Aeliana
- Off Midfield: No. 2 Antino, No. 4 Buckaroo, No. 9 Nepotism
- Off Pace: No. 1 Light Infantry Man
Speed Map Betting Tips
- Antino maps beautifully just off the speed and could get the run of the race.
- Via Sistina typically settles midfield and will rely on a genuine tempo to unleash her finish.
- Rank outsider Light Infantry Man at big odds looks the likely last-to-first hope, needing pace and luck to feature.
With only eight runners, expect a more tactical affair than usual. The rail is in the true position, and the track rated a Good 4, so settling close to the speed could be an advantage.
Late Mail Contenders
Top Seed
- No. 6 Via Sistina (5)
VIA SISTINA (5) is the queen bee and there’s every chance the defending champ will go back-to-back. She’s out of odds-on territory having lost her last two on the trot – the first time the reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year has suffered successive losses since arriving down under. An emphatic eight-length hero in this event 12 months ago, she remains the class horse in the field and her record speaks for itself. She’s at her pet distance (16:9-4-1), is proven at Moonee Valley and was absolutely airborne in her track gallop this week. She broke the clock in 2024 on the back of a Turnbull Stakes win but wasn’t able to win that lead-up this time round when third to Sir Delius. The Turnbull remains the superior form line to follow, Waller is a master of timing his horses to peak in their grand finals, and if she gets anywhere near her best, she’ll leave the rest chasing shadows.
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1st
6. Via Sistina (5)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
The Danger
- No. 2 Antino (6)
There’s plenty of buzz around the Queenslander ANTINO (6) as he returns to The Valley for his third-up run in the Cox Plate. The Tony Gollan-trained seven-year-old has proven he belongs at the top level, overcoming a tough wide run in the Memsie Stakes first-up to finish midfield, before improving sharply in the Makybe Diva when ridden closer to the pace. His Turnbull Stakes effort was particularly eye-catching — launching a bold move to challenge then-favourite Sir Delius and stamping himself as a genuine threat. With a strong tempo expected again on Saturday, Antino should find a forward position early, and the stable reports he’s in the same vein of form that saw him claim the Doomben Cup earlier this year. Given the recent strength of Queensland form, he’s a serious Top 3 contender.
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8th
2. Antino (6)
J: Blake Shinn 59kg
T: Tony Gollan |
The Value
- No. 7 Treasurethe Moment (1)
TREASURETHE MOMENT (1) was terrific value earlier in the week around $9 but has been smashed into $5.50 at time of publish after the withdrawal of Globe and the likelihood Matt Laurie’s VRC Oaks – Australian Oaks double winning mare will now take up the position of front runner. She was a revelation last season, stringing together eight straight wins before making that nine on the trot when stamping herself as a rising star with a dominant Memsie Stakes victory first-up. While her recent defeats in the Feehan and Might And Power were inconclusive due to small fields and muddling tempos, Laurie remains bullish, noting her strong work at Mornington and sound recovery. She’ll get all the favours from the inside alley and Damian Lane sticks with. She has shown nothing but top-grade ability all along, has an explosive turn of foot when required and a return to a genuinely run race could see her deliver a career-defining performance at The Valley.
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3rd
7. Treasurethe Moment (1)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Matt Laurie |
Best Roughie
- No. 9 Nepotism (3)
NEPOTISM (3) has the ability to produce something special and run Top 4 against the older horses at WFA this weekend at a price. The Hawkes Racing trained Brutal colt is a proven Group 1 winner having claimed the Champagne Stakes over the Randwick mile as a two-year-old and, while his three-year-old form this prep hasn’t been as solid as hoped, he is one who I think has enough upside to surprise going up in trip. At his latest he was luckless running ninth with excuses in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. Plummets in the kilos from 57kg to just 49.5kg and gets the in-form Zac Lloyd jumping on in another plus. Three-year-olds have a great overall record in the Cox Plate and look, I’m not saying he can win but he can outrun his price.
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7th
9. Nepotism (3)
J: Zac Lloyd 49.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
Industry Expert Cox Plate 2025 Tips
- Top Pick: Via Sistina (No. 6) – Class mare, proven at WFA, and drawn to get every chance.
- Best Value: Treasurethe Moment (No. 7) – Rails draw and tactical speed could see her sneak into the placings.
- Danger: Antino (No. 2) – Form lines are strong, and he’s well suited to The Valley’s tight turns.
Lucy Henderson’s Same Race Multi Selections ($14 at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 6 Via Sistina
- Top 2 – No. 7 Treasurethe Moment
- Top 4 – No. 9 Nepotism
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1st
6. Via Sistina (5)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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3rd
7. Treasurethe Moment (1)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Matt Laurie |
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7th
9. Nepotism (3)
J: Zac Lloyd 49.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2025 Results
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1st
6. Via Sistina (5)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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2nd
4. Buckaroo (4)
J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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3rd
7. Treasurethe Moment (1)
J: Damian Lane 55.5kg
T: Matt Laurie |
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4th
3. Attrition (2)
J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Mitchell Freedman |
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5th
1. Light Infantry Man (8)
J: Ethan Brown 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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6th
8. Aeliana (7)
J: Hugh Bowman 55.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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7th
9. Nepotism (3)
J: Zac Lloyd 49.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
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8th
2. Antino (6)
J: Blake Shinn 59kg
T: Tony Gollan |
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