Following on from the release of the 12-horse field, the official Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2026 barrier draw has been confirmed with connections of race favourite Sir Delius drawing ideally in barrier five.

Running for the first time outside of Moonee Valley, Saturday’s 106th edition of the iconic Group 1 $6 million Cox Plate (2040m) race will light up Flemington Racecourse putting a whole new twist on the weight-for-age championship.

Twelve of the best middle-distance gallopers and stayers will take to the track at HQ chasing the $4 million Cox Plate winners‘ cheque and bragging rights, and the barriers are sure to play an integral part in how the event plays out once the gates are up.

The official barrier draw for Saturday’s 2026 Ladbrokes Cox Plate field at delivered immediate drama, with the connections of last-start Group 1 giant-killer Land Legend making a bold statement by deliberately selecting the outside alley in the 12-horse field.

In one of Australian racing’s most unique pre-race traditions, connections are able to choose their barrier as horses are drawn from the barrel. The first horse selected on Tuesday night was the Ciaron Maher-trained Land Legend, and rather than opting for an inside gate, owner Boniface Ho’s team stunned onlookers by locking in barrier 12 which hasn’t produced a Cox Plate champion in over 25 years.

The move appears to confirm the stable’s intentions to utilise the import’s natural speed after his all-the-way upset over hot favourite Sheza Alibi in the Group 1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m), a performance that convinced connections to pay the $200,000 late entry fee for a crack at Australasia’s weight-for-age championship.

Land Legend eased out from $26 to $34 in Cox Plate betting at Ladbrokes following the bold move.

Maher will launch a four-pronged assault on the Cox Plate and now controls much of the expected early tempo, with fellow on-speed runner Light Infantry Man also drawing wide in barrier 11 which Japanese raider Lys Gracieux won from in 2019.

The veteran galloper comes into the race in strong form after his Australian Cup success earlier in the season and a narrow defeat in the Turnbull Stakes. With Land Legend and Light Infantry Man occupying the two outside gates, Saturday’s Cox Plate tempo already looks set to be genuine.

Favourites Receive Mixed Fortune

The barrier draw resulted in contrasting outcomes for the market leaders.

Chris Waller’s star mare Aeliana, who opened the week favourite but is now on the second line of betting at $4.50, will jump from barrier 10 under champion jockey James McDonald. Despite the wider draw, the mare remains one of the headline contenders.

Meanwhile, current co-favourite Sir Delius arguably received one of the best results of the evening after securing barrier five, a gate that should allow Craig Williams to settle prominently without expending early energy.

Another major player, Ceolwulf, fared well with barrier three after connections confirmed the Joseph Pride-trained star would back up from his outstanding second-place finish behind Autumn Glow in the King Charles III Stakes.

The Cox Plate barrier draw also generated significant interest around the two three-year-old challengers.

Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas winner Warwoven landed perfectly in gate two, giving Rachel King every opportunity to secure an economical run. The Bjorn Baker-trained colt is striving to become the first locally trained three-year-old winner of the Cox Plate in over a decade.

Fellow three-year-old Blind Raise was less fortunate in barrier nine, but jockey Jamie Melham remained upbeat after Tuesday night’s draw.

“This was the race I grew up dreaming of winning,” Melham said.

“This was my number one race I wanted to win. Obviously, I’m very happy to win a Melbourne Cup and a Caulfield Cup. I’m not going to give those back, but I would love to add the Cox Plate to that.

“I’m happy with the barrier, with the speed on our outside. We should be able to be positive enough, but get a nice trail, maybe in the one-one.

“I think it should have won last start… it was massive, most other horses would have folded in that. It wasn’t entitled to run as good as it did and I’m very excited to be given the chance on Saturday.

“If it means I’m thirsty and hungry all week, so be it.”

Birdman Lands Coveted Inside Draw

One of the biggest winners from the barrier draw was Waller’s second representative Birdman, who secured the prized inside position in barrier one.

The Underwood Stakes winner will be partnered by Ben Melham, who believes the rail draw could prove a significant advantage if the race unfolds as expected.

“It’s the shortest way home isn’t it,” Melham said.

“If Land Legend leads like everyone anticipates and judging by the draw, they’ve kind of shown their hand, I think the shortest way home in fast run races is probably not a bad way to go.”

Turnbull Stakes winner Cosmic Crusader will jump from barrier eight, while last year’s fourth-placed Cox Plate finisher Attrition landed barrier four.

Late Jockey Switch for Maher Runner

There was also a notable rider change confirmed shortly before the draw.

Dual Cox Plate-winning jockey Mark Zahra was forced to relinquish his booking aboard Middle Earth after medical advice ruled him out of riding this weekend following injuries sustained in last Saturday’s Caulfield Cup fall.

Zahra escaped serious injury but remains sidelined, opening the door for experienced hoop John Allen, who famously partnered State Of Rest to Cox Plate glory in 2021.

Allen takes over on Middle Earth, which will jump from barrier seven, while Maher’s Caulfield Cup placegetters Saint George and Middle Earth both back up into Saturday’s contest.

Cox Plate Barrier Statistics Worth Noting

While the 2026 Cox Plate will be run at Flemington during the ongoing Moonee Valley redevelopment, barrier history still provides valuable insight for punters assessing the field.

Historically, barriers five and seven are the most successful draws in Cox Plate history with eight winners apiece, making Sir Delius and Middle Earth immediate statistical standouts.

Inside gates traditionally perform strongly in small Cox Plate fields, and Birdman’s draw in barrier one could prove advantageous given the expected speed engaged out wide.

Conversely, no horse has historically enjoyed significant success from the extreme outside barriers, meaning Land Legend and Light Infantry Man will need to overcome both history and circumstance if they are to control the race from the outset.

However, with Flemington’s spacious layout replacing Moonee Valley’s tighter circuit in 2026, the impact of the wide gates may not be as severe as in previous years, adding another fascinating layer to an already open edition of the race.

With co-favourites Aeliana and Sir Delius drawing contrasting gates, a pair of exciting three-year-olds receiving their chance, and Maher’s stable electing to launch its speed brigade from the outside, the stage is now set for one of the most intriguing renewals of the Ladbrokes Cox Plate in recent memory. Saturday’s Flemington feature promises a tactical battle every bit as captivating as the race itself.

Cox Plate Barriers Fast Facts –

• Barrier 5 was the last Cox Plate winning barrier with Via Sistina in 2025
• Barrier 6 was the last barrier to produce back-to-back Cox Plate winners with Sir Dragonet (2020) and State Of Rest (2021)
• Barrier 13 is the widest gate to produce a Cox Plate winner since the year 2000 with Adelaide (2014) and Sunline (2000)
• The only other double-digit Cox Plate barrier to produce a winner since the year 2000 is barrier 11 with Lys Gracieux (2019) and Pinker Pinker (2011)
• Barriers 4 (three winners), 5 (4 winners) and 6 (six winners are the most successful in the past 25 years
• Barrier 6 is the most successful Cox Plate barrier from the year 2000 – 2025 with six winners, most recently State Of Rest (6)

List of Cox Plate Winning Barriers (2000-2025)

• 2025 – Via Sistina (5)
• 2024 – Via Sistina (4)
• 2023 – Romantic Warrior (7)
• 2022 – Anamoe (4)
• 2021 – State Of Rest (6)
• 2020 – Sir Dragonet (6)
• 2019 – Lys Gracieux (11)
• 2018 – Winx (6)
• 2017 – Winx (5)
• 2016 – Winx (3)
• 2015 – Winx (1)
• 2014 – Adelaide (13)
• 2013 – Shamus Award (3)
• 2012 – Ocean Park (9)
• 2011 – Pinker Pinker (11)
• 2010 – So You Think (5)
• 2009 – So You Think (7)
• 2008 – Maldivian (6)
• 2007 – El Segundo (7)
• 2006 – Fields Of Omagh (7)
• 2005 – Makybe Diva (4)
• 2004 – Savabeel (6)
• 2003 – Fields Of Omagh (6)
• 2002 – Northerly (5)
• 2001 – Northerly (3)
• 2000 – Sunline (13)