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The countdown to the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate took another significant step on Tuesday with third acceptances released, leaving 23 horses still in contention for Australasia’s weight-for-age championship at Flemington later this month.
The latest acceptance stage saw the list trimmed from 37 entries down to 23, with a host of notable withdrawals including Autumn Glow, Mr Brightside, Militarize, Buckaroo, Gringotts, Central Europe, Evaporate, Green Spaces, and Stormy Marco. Also absent from the latest declarations were champion gallopers Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi, widely regarded as two of the best horses in training.
2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Third Acceptances at a Glance
- Sir Delius retains favouritism at $3 through Ladbrokes
- 7 third acceptors for six-time winning trainer Chris Waller led by Birdman and Aeliana
- Treasurethe Moment (3rd) the best out of last year’s race still in contention
- 4 three-year-olds remain led by Golden Rose winner Warwoven
- 3 mares still in contention looking to go back-to-back for the girls following Via Sistina (2025) last year
Sir Delius Remains Cox Plate Favourite
Despite failing to fire as the beaten favourite, Sir Delius remains the horse bookmakers expect to beat in the $6 million feature.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained son of Frankel continues to hold favouritism at around $3 in all-in Cox Plate betting through Ladbrokes after connections elected to bypass the Caulfield Cup, where he was notably absent from Tuesday’s second acceptances. The decision signals a clear focus on the Cox Plate, with connections chasing their first victory in Australia’s premier weight-for-age race.
Sir Delius has finished fourth in both starts this campaign in the Makybe Diva Stakes and Turnbull Stakes, but his previous elite-level form continues to keep him at the head of betting markets.
Waller Chasing Record-Equalling Seventh Victory
Six-time Cox Plate-winning trainer Chris Waller once again dominates the nominations list with seven of the 23 remaining contenders.
Leading Waller’s charge are his impressive 1.5 length Group 1 Underwood Stakes winner Birdman ($6) and talented mare Aeliana ($7), with the latter also withdrawn from Caulfield Cup contention to concentrate solely on the Cox Plate.
Victory this year would see Waller claim a seventh Cox Plate triumph, drawing level with legendary trainer T.J. Smith for the most wins in race history.
Other Waller-trained runners still in contention include last season’s Caulfield Guineas-Rosehill Guineas double champ Autumn Boy, while the stable also holds a particularly strong hand among the three-year-olds with both Diameter and Tron Bolt remaining in the mix.
Cosmic Crusader Strengthens Claims
One horse whose Cox Plate credentials received a major boost over the weekend was Cosmic Crusader.
The Andrea Leek-trained galloper enhanced his standing with an impressive victory in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes over 2000 metres, continuing a breakout preparation that has now produced three wins from five starts this campaign.
His latest success has seen him firm considerably in from $26 to $8 in Cox Plate betting and emerge as one of the leading threats to Sir Delius.
Aeliana Among Leading Chances
Another horse to emerge from the Turnbull Stakes with enhanced Cox Plate prospects is Aeliana, who finished a strong third in the Flemington feature.
With connections opting to scratch her from Caulfield Cup consideration, all attention now turns towards HQ where she is currently prominent in betting around the $7 mark.
The mare is one of just three females still among the third acceptors as the girls look to make it back-to-back Cox Plate victories following Via Sistina’s memorable success in 2025.
Treasurethe Moment Keeps Cox Plate Dream Alive
Among the familiar names remaining is the Matt Laurie-trained Treasurethe Moment, the best performed horse from last year’s race still in contention after finishing third in the 2025 Cox Plate.
The talented mare headlines a group of four runners from last year’s edition still chasing redemption alongside Aeliana, Attrition, and Light Infantry Man, the latter representing the powerful Ciaron Maher stable.
Maher has accepted with five horses overall, giving the leading trainer another significant presence in the race.
Four Three-Year-Olds Stay in Contention
The classic generation continues to hold a strong presence among the remaining hopefuls.
Golden Rose Stakes hero Warwoven is the highest-profile three-year-old after his dominant Rosehill victory catapulted him into Cox Plate calculations.
Joining him among the third acceptors are Blind Raise, Diameter, and Tron Bolt.
Blind Raise has emerged as an exciting prospect after winning four of his five starts and comes off an impressive Guineas Prelude victory for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
Importantly, connections of three-year-olds still have an additional pathway into the race through the Cox Plate’s late-entry clause. Three-year-olds can be entered up until October 19 for a $100,000 fee, while older horses can gain a late spot for $200,000.
Several Big Names Fall Away
Fourteen horses were withdrawn at the latest acceptance stage:
- Attica
- Autumn Glow
- Buckaroo
- Campione d’Italia
- Central Europe
- Evaporate
- Green Spaces
- Gringotts
- Idle Flyer
- Militarize
- Mr Brightside
- Panova
- She’s A Hustler
- Stormy Marco
Their departures have further clarified the shape of the race as the countdown continues.
Field Taking Shape
The 23 third acceptors represent seven more horses than were paid up at the corresponding stage in 2025, highlighting the depth and competitiveness of this year’s edition.
With Sir Delius remaining favourite, Waller holding a powerful seven-horse team, Cosmic Crusader bringing elite lead-up form, and a talented crop of three-year-olds headed by Warwoven still in the mix, the 2026 Cox Plate is shaping as one of the most intriguing editions in recent years.
The final field for the 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate will be declared at midday on Tuesday, October 20, ahead of the Group 1 showdown at Flemington on Saturday, October 24, with Moonee Valley closed for redevelopment.
Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2026 Odds
| 1. Sir Delius | ||
| 2. Birdman | ||
| 3. Aeliana | ||
| 4. Cosmic Crusader | ||
| 5. Warwoven | ||
| 6. Ceolwulf | ||
| 7. Blind Raise | ||
| 8. Autumn Boy | ||
| 9. Light Infantry Man | ||
| 10. Half Yours | ||
| 11. Tom Kitten | ||
| 12. Tron Bolt | ||
| 13. Ohope Wins | ||
| 14. Sabaj | ||
| 15. Treasurethe Moment | ||
| 16. Lindermann | ||
| 17. Royal Supremacy | ||
| 18. Saint George | ||
| 19. Zahrann | ||
| 20. Zambardo |
2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate Third Acceptances
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 246x80x903 | ATTRITION | H | 7 | Mitchell Freedman | 59kg | ||||
| 2 | x411521x61 | BIRDMAN (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 59kg | ||||
| 3 | 11x66x5232 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | G | 6 | Joseph Pride | 59kg | ||||
| 4 | 3112×11321 | COSMIC CRUSADER (NZ) | G | 6 | Andrea Leek | 59kg | ||||
| 5 | 11x9444x65 | HALF YOURS | G | 6 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 59kg | ||||
| 6 | 2x1415x482 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||||
| 7 | 1x3922x918 | LINDERMANN | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 59kg | ||||
| 8 | 33x891x878 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||||
| 9 | 50x0331x91 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||||
| 10 | 110x244x00 | SABAJ | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 59kg | ||||
| 11 | 6114×41120 | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||||
| 12 | 211x331x44 | SIR DELIUS (GB) | H | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | ||||
| 13 | 53x117x003 | TOM KITTEN | G | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 59kg | ||||
| 14 | 217x53x410 | ZAHRANN (IRE) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 59kg | ||||
| 15 | 12x9627x34 | ZAMBARDO (NZ) | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 59kg | ||||
| 16 | 1x3212x827 | AUTUMN BOY | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 57.5kg | ||||
| 17 | 6x2211x023 | AELIANA (NZ) | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 57kg | ||||
| 18 | 34x313x402 | TREASURETHE MOMENT | M | 5 | Matt Laurie | 57kg | ||||
| 19 | 211141×096 | OHOPE WINS (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 55.5kg | ||||
| 20 | 119×11 | BLIND RAISE (NZ) | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 49.5kg | ||||
| 21 | x34813x661 | DIAMETER | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 49.5kg | ||||
| 22 | 3111×75 | TRON BOLT | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 49.5kg | ||||
| 23 | 11416×511 | WARWOVEN | C | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 49.5kg |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
