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Past Cox Plate Winners: Complete Cox Plate History, Results & Champions (1922-2026)
The Cox Plate is widely regarded as Australia’s premier weight-for-age race and proudly carries the nickname, “The Race Where Legends Are Made.” First run in 1922 and named in honour of Moonee Valley Racing Club founder William Samuel Cox, the Group 1 classic has produced some of the greatest champions in turf history. Here, Races.com.au take a look over the full list of past Cox Plate winners, history and results to help unearth the winning staying champion this season.
From inaugural winner Violoncello and legendary champions like Phar Lap, Kingston Town, Sunline, and So You Think, through to modern-day superstars Winx and Via Sistina, the honour roll of Cox Plate winners reads like a who’s who of Australasian racing greatness.
For punters, studying past Cox Plate winners, analysing past Cox Plate results, and understanding key historical trends can provide valuable insights into the type of horse capable of conquering the famous 2040m championship including the 105th edition of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate running for the first time at Flemington on Saturday October 24.
Below, we take a deep dive into Cox Plate history, recent winners, famous champions, jockey and trainer records, and the trends that continue to influence Cox Plate betting every spring.
Cox Plate Winners by Year
The Cox Plate is run annually during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and offers $6 million in prize money, including a lucrative $4 million winner’s cheque.
Recent Cox Plate Winners
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBC | TBC | TBC | TBC |
| 2025 | Via Sistina | Buckaroo | Treasurethe Moment | 2:05.03 |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | Prognosis | Broadsiding | 2:01.07 (R) |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior | Mr Brightside | Alligator Blood | 2:03.16 |
| 2022 | Anamoe | I’m Thunderstruck | El Bodegon | 2:10.17 |
| 2021 | State Of Rest | Anamoe | Verry Elleegant | 2:06.97 |
| 2020 | Sir Dragonet | Armory | Russian Camelot | 2:08.46 |
| 2019 | Lys Gracieux | Castelvecchio | Te Akau Shark | 2:04.21 |
| 2018 | Winx | Benbatl | Humidor | 2:03.64 |
| 2017 | Winx | Humidor | Folkswood | 2:02.94 |
| 2016 | Winx | Hartnell | Yankee Rose | 2:06.35 |
| 2015 | Winx | Criterion | Highland Reel | 2:02.98 |
| 2014 | Adelaide | Fawkner | Silent Achiever | 2:03.80 |
| 2013 | Shamus Award | Happy Trails | Fiorente | 2:05.30 |
| 2012 | Ocean Park | All Too Hard | Pierro | 2:04.14 |
| 2011 | Pinker Pinker | Jimmy Choux | Rekindled Interest | 2:05.39 |
| 2010 | So You Think | Zipping | Whobegotyou | 2:03.90 |
| 2009 | So You Think | Manhattan Rain | Zipping | 2:03.90 |
| 2008 | Maldivian | Zipping | Samantha Miss | 2:06.90 |
| 2007 | El Segundo | Wonderful World | Haradasun | 2:06.30 |
| 2006 | Fields Of Omagh | El Segundo | Pompeii Ruler | 2:06.90 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Lotteria | Fields Of Omagh | 2:09.30 |
| 2004 | Savabeel | Fields Of Omagh | Starcraft | 2:06.90 |
| 2003 | Fields Of Omagh | Defier | Lonhro | 2:07.60 |
| 2002 | Northerly | Defier | Grandera | 2:06.30 |
| 2001 | Northerly | Sunline | Viscount | 2:05.80 |
| 2000 | Sunline | Diatribe | Referral | 2:07.70 |
Cox Plate Winners: Year-by-Year Highlights
2025 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Via Sistina
Champion mare Via Sistina successfully defended her title, narrowly defeating stablemate Buckaroo in a thrilling finish. The Chris Waller-trained superstar became the first back-to-back winner since Winx and further enhanced her standing among the greatest Cox Plate winners in history.
2024 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Via Sistina
One of the most dominant performances in Cox Plate history came when Via Sistina demolished her rivals by eight lengths and set a new race record of 2:01.07, eclipsing the previous benchmark.
2023 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Romantic Warrior
Hong Kong superstar Romantic Warrior delivered an unforgettable international victory, narrowly denying Mr Brightside in one of the closest and most exciting Cox Plate results of the modern era.
2022 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Anamoe
After a heartbreaking second in 2021, Godolphin’s superstar Anamoe returned to dominate the race as favourite, giving James Cummings a long-awaited Cox Plate triumph.
2021 Cox Plate Results & Winner – State Of Rest
Irish raider State Of Rest continued the growing international influence on the race, becoming another Northern Hemisphere-trained winner after surviving a protest to secure victory.
2020 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Sir Dragonet
Irish import Sir Dragonet made an immediate impact in Australia, winning first-up for Ciaron Maher & David Eustace in his Australian debut.
2019 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Lys Gracieux
Japanese champion mare Lys Gracieux produced one of the most dominant international victories seen in the race, further strengthening Japan’s rising influence on Australian racing.
2015-2018 Cox Plate Results & Winner – Winx
No discussion of past Cox Plate winners is complete without Winx. Her incredible four consecutive victories rewrote the record books and cemented her status as the greatest Cox Plate horse of all time.
Multiple Cox Plate Winners
The weight-for-age conditions of the Cox Plate have often allowed champion horses to return and defend their crowns.
Multiple Cox Plate Winners
| Horse | Wins |
|---|---|
| Winx | 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| Kingston Town | 1980, 1981, 1982 |
| Via Sistina | 2024, 2025 |
| So You Think | 2009, 2010 |
| Fields Of Omagh | 2003, 2006 |
| Northerly | 2001, 2002 |
| Sunline | 1999, 2000 |
| Tobin Bronze | 1966, 1967 |
| Hydrogen | 1952, 1953 |
| Flight | 1945, 1946 |
| Tranquil Star | 1942, 1944 |
| Beau Vite | 1940, 1941 |
| Young Idea | 1936, 1937 |
| Chatham | 1932, 1934 |
| Phar Lap | 1930, 1931 |
Who Has Won The Most Cox Plates?
Winx stands alone as the only four-time Cox Plate champion, winning every edition from 2015-2018. Prior to her era, Kingston Town held the benchmark with three consecutive victories from 1980-1982.
Most Successful Cox Plate Jockeys
Winning a Cox Plate is a career-defining achievement and some of Australia’s greatest riders have built their legacies around the race.
| Jockey | Wins |
|---|---|
| Darby Munro | 5 |
| Hugh Bowman | 4 |
| James McDonald | 4 |
| Glen Boss | 4 |
| Bill Williamson | 3 |
Most Successful Cox Plate Jockey
Darby Munro remains the most successful jockey in race history with five victories.
Modern Cox Plate Stars
James McDonald has dominated recent editions aboard Anamoe (2022), Romantic Warrior (2023), and Via Sistina (2024, 2025), becoming one of the most successful modern Cox Plate riders.
Most Successful Cox Plate Trainers
The Cox Plate honour roll includes many of Australia’s greatest trainers.
| Trainer | Wins |
|---|---|
| T.J. Smith | 7 |
| Chris Waller | 6 |
| Bart Cummings | 5 |
| Colin Hayes | 4 |
| Tommy Corrigan | 3 |
Who Is The Most Successful Cox Plate Trainer?
T.J. Smith holds the record with seven Cox Plate victories, highlighted by Kingston Town’s famous three-peat.
Chris Waller’s Cox Plate Legacy
Chris Waller sits second all-time with six victories thanks to the four-win reign of Winx and back-to-back triumphs from Via Sistina in 2024 and 2025.
Famous Cox Plate Winners
Phar Lap (1930-31)
The legendary Kiwi-bred superstar remains one of the most celebrated horses in world racing and won consecutive Cox Plates during the peak of his remarkable career.
Kingston Town (1980-82)
Kingston Town became the first horse to win the Cox Plate three times and held the record for decades before Winx arrived.
Sunline (1999-2000)
The champion New Zealand mare dominated Australian racing and became one of the most popular Cox Plate winners of the modern era.
Makybe Diva (2005)
The only three-time Melbourne Cup winner also added the Cox Plate to her incredible résumé, showcasing her versatility and class.
Winx (2015-2018)
Widely regarded as the greatest Cox Plate winner of all time, Winx won four consecutive editions and shattered numerous records along the way.
Romantic Warrior (2023)
The Hong Kong champion delivered an international masterclass and confirmed his standing as one of the world’s elite middle-distance horses.
Via Sistina (2024-25)
Via Sistina’s record-breaking victory in 2024 and successful title defence in 2025 rank among the finest performances in modern Cox Plate history.
International Cox Plate Winners
International challengers have enjoyed growing success since Adelaide broke new ground in 2014.
| Horse | Country | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Adelaide | Ireland | 2014 |
| Lys Gracieux | Japan | 2019 |
| State Of Rest | Ireland | 2021 |
| Romantic Warrior | Hong Kong | 2023 |
International runners are now a major force in Cox Plate betting and regularly shape race markets.
Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup Double Winners
Only seven horses have completed one of racing’s most prestigious doubles.
| Horse | Year |
|---|---|
| Delta | 1949 |
| Rising Fast | 1954 |
| Phar Lap | 1930 |
| Nightmarch | 1929 |
| Saintly | 1996 |
| Might And Power | 1998 |
| Makybe Diva | 2005 |
The Ultimate Triple Crown
Rising Fast (1954) remains the only horse in history to complete the extraordinary achievement of winning the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same spring.
Recent Cox Plate Results
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Via Sistina | Buckaroo | Treasurethe Moment |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | Prognosis | Broadsiding |
| 2023 | Romantic Warrior | Mr Brightside | Alligator Blood |
| 2022 | Anamoe | I’m Thunderstruck | El Bodegon |
| 2021 | State Of Rest | Anamoe | Verry Elleegant |
| 2020 | Sir Dragonet | Armory | Russian Camelot |
| 2019 | Lys Gracieux | Castelvecchio | Te Akau Shark |
| 2018 | Winx | Benbatl | Humidor |
| 2017 | Winx | Humidor | Folkswood |
| 2016 | Winx | Hartnell | Yankee Rose |
Key Cox Plate Records & Trends
| Record | Holder |
|---|---|
| Inaugural winner | Violoncello (1922) |
| Most wins by a horse | Winx (4) |
| Most wins by a trainer | T.J. Smith (7) |
| Most wins by a jockey | Darby Munro (5) |
| Fastest winning time | Via Sistina – 2:01.07 (2024) |
| Largest winning margin | Winx (2016), Via Sistina (2024) – 8 lengths |
| Shortest-priced winner | Phar Lap ($1.07 equivalent, 1931) |
| Longest-priced winners | Leonard (1946), Mosaic (1939) – 50/1 |
| Only filly winner | Surround (1976) |
| Most recent international winner | Romantic Warrior (2023) |
Cox Plate Betting Trends
Looking at past Cox Plate results reveals several key trends for punters:
- Favourites have a winning strike-rate of over 40%.
- Weight-for-age conditions favour elite horses returning to defend their titles.
- International horses have won four editions since 2014.
- Barrier 6 has been the most successful draw since 2000.
- Barrier 12 has never produced a Cox Plate winner.
- Four-year-olds are the most successful age group in modern history.
- Recent favourites to salute include Anamoe (2022), Romantic Warrior (2023), and Via Sistina (2025).
The strongest lead-up races continue to be the Turnbull Stakes, Underwood Stakes, Might And Power Stakes, and the Hill Stakes for Sydney-based runners.
Cox Plate History At A Glance
Few races anywhere in the world boast the prestige, history and superstar performers of the Cox Plate. Since Violoncello won the inaugural running in 1922, the race has produced icons including Phar Lap, Kingston Town, Sunline, Northerly, So You Think, Winx and Via Sistina.
Known as the “Race Where Legends Are Made”, the Cox Plate has consistently crowned the best weight-for-age horse of the season and remains one of the most important contests on the Australian racing calendar.
For punters, analysing past Cox Plate winners, reviewing past Cox Plate results, and understanding key historical trends remains one of the smartest ways to identify the next champion seeking to join one of the sport’s most prestigious honour rolls.
With the historic 2026 edition set to be run at Flemington for the first time while Moonee Valley undergoes redevelopment, a fascinating new chapter in Cox Plate history is about to be written.
Bet on the Cox Plate 2026 Winner
Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2026 Odds
| 1. Sir Delius | ||
| 2. Ceolwulf | ||
| 3. Aeliana | ||
| 4. Warwoven | ||
| 5. Birdman | ||
| 6. Cosmic Crusader | ||
| 7. Blind Raise | ||
| 8. Light Infantry Man | ||
| 9. Autumn Boy | ||
| 10. Land Legend | ||
| 11. Saint George | ||
| 12. Tom Kitten | ||
| 13. Attrition | ||
| 14. Lindermann | ||
| 15. Treasurethe Moment | ||
| 16. Diameter | ||
| 17. Middle Earth | ||
| 18. Royal Supremacy | ||
| 19. Sabaj | ||
| 20. Zahrann |
