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The horse to beat in the 2025 Cox Plate
Connor Scanlon • October 24th, 2025 5:13 pm
The Group 1 weight-for-age Cox Plate for horses aged three years and older will be run over 2040m at Caulfield on Saturday.
Via Sistina won last year’s edition after Romantic Warrior (2023), Anamoe (2022), State Of Rest (2021) and Sir Dragonet (2020) before him.
Snapshot of the race below:
It feels the horse to beat is VIA SISTINA as all reports suggest she is peaking at the perfect time.
However, the eight-year-old mare has some things going against her.
The champions form this preparation has not been up to her usual standards, winning only the Winx Stakes (1400m) in her first-up run. Additionally, the only eight-year-old to win the Cox Plate was Super Impose in 1992.
While this may not sound appealing, keep in mind that the 2025 Cox Plate's field isn't overly competitive and the mare's trainer Chris Waller is a Grand Final specialist.
James McDonald is also in the saddle, which is a big tick, and there is no reason why he shouldn't be able to win his fourth consecutive Cox Plate.
The star may not be going as well as she was when she won the 2024 Cox Plate by 8 lengths, but if she can get anywhere remotely close to that form, then she should win this Group 1 with ease.
AELIANA and ANTINO both appear to be the biggest threats to Via Sistina, as Aeliana is a classy four-year-old who had a very strong final 100m in the Turnbull and Antino will stalk Via Sistina wherever she goes in this race.
There are still question marks around TREASURETHE MOMENT, following her colic setback.
While three-year-old NEPOTISM provides value at juicy odds.
It’s a small Cox Plate field with 8 runners, but Via Sistina should prove supreme.
Selections
6 - Via Sistina2 - Antino8 - Aeliana7 - Treasurethe Moment
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