Australia’s premier weight-for-age race headlines the racing action in Melbourne on Saturday with our insider Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2024 tips and best bets found below.
We look set for a fast-paced and exciting edition of the iconic 2040m showdown that has been run and won since 1922.
There are a host of previous Group 1 winners in the mix including last year’s runner-up Mr Brightside, Ciaron Maher’s champion mare Pride Of Jenni, and Godolphin’s top three-year-old colt Broadsiding.
The Cox Plate is always a thrilling contest and is the second of the spring’s ‘Big Three’ races with the Melbourne Cup to follow on the first Tuesday of November.
Can Japanese raider Prognosis salute as the favourite and go back-to-back for the internationals to break his Group 1 maiden?
Or will Chris Waller‘s fifth win come from Turnbull Stakes winning mare Via Sistina after her Tuesday morning mishap?
Are we about to crown another three-year-old Cox Plate champion with Broadsiding one of two along with Caulfield Guineas placegetter Evaporate?
Or can Mr B atone for the narrow loss last year at his third attempt at Cox Plate glory?
Read on to see the horses we are backing and sacking in Moonee Valley Race 9 at 5:10pm (AEDT) on Saturday before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to lock in your selections at the right price.
To Win: #6 Pride Of Jenni ($5 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Sticking with a form mare who looks excellent on the quick back-up despite her loss in Sydney last weekend as the beaten favourite behind Ceolwulf in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m).
A front runner leading all the way in a Cox Plate? She has certainly proved she can do it before when running her rivals ragged at Randwick to claim the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth over this distance by a powerhouse 6.5 lengths.
That was a huge effort and she’s been excellent in all her runs since even if she’s not unbeaten this prep.
Lys Gracieux (2019) was the last Cox Plate winning mare and Pride Of Jenni ticks plenty of boxes in her bid to be the next in the Australasian weight-for-age championship.
Barrier seven is okay for Declan Bates to get her into the front-running position she’s tipped to take and she’s proven at The Valley track having beaten Mr Brightside here two back by 1.5 lengths over the mile in the Feehan.
Like her on the quick back-up, she lost few irers last weekend and will appreciate being back in Melbourne.
Pressure and pace are on and so is this mare!
Back up in trip is another tick and she’ll get conditions to suit.
The Danger: #2 Prognosis ($3.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW
You cannot bet on the Ladbrokes Cox Plate this year and leave the visiting Japanese galloper Prognosis out.
This horse rates perfectly to go back-to-back for the internationals following the Romantic Warrior victory for Hong Kong last year and Japan already have a Cox Plate trophy from Lys Gracieux in 2019.
Damian Lane partners the talented and well-rated galloper and he was the very hoop that got the job done for Japan back in 2019.
A well-bred Deep impact stallion, Prognosis brings in great international form lines including running second to last year’s Cox Plate champion in a Group 1 back in April narrowly denied.
He’ll gets options from gate five and his 2000m record is undeniable (11:5-2-1).
His first-up record is imposing, and he’ll be flying fresh down under.
May not have a Group 1 on the CV yet but that takes nothing away from his class and what he’s been doing at the top level overseas.
Track whispers are that he’ll love the tight turns here too.
Pace will suit. Huge danger.
Each Way: #8 Broadsiding ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Broadsiding has been near the top of Cox Plate betting markets all spring and continues to deserve a spot in all the Cox Plate best bets.
This talented James Cummings-trained colt is by the sire of the moment, Too Darn Hot, and is third-up and fit now.
It has been over a decade since the three-year-olds finished on top of the Cox Plate results with Shamus Award (2013) the last but the Godolphin team have a big chance with this exciting youngster who already has a trio of Group 1 wins in the bag.
He won the Group 1 Golden Rose fresh over Traffic Warden who, if he hadn’t been scratched in the final seconds pre-race, would have been a genuine The Everest winning hope last weeked.
Last seen running fourth in the Caulfield Guineas fourth as the beaten odds-on favourite but that run wasn’t without merit as he suffered interference.
Needs to run out the 2040m but with 49.5kg he’s given every chance. Anamoe lost it in a photo as a 3YO before winning the next and this horse looks a similar type.
The Roughie: #1 Mr Brightside ($8.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Calling Mr B a race roughie is crazy considering what this incredible seven-time winner from the Hayes’ boys has achieved.
In his past 18 starts this ultra-consistent son of Bullbars has missed out on a spot in the trifecta just once (Australian Cup 5th).
He continues to show his form as a seven-year-old this prep with a Memsie second, win in the Makybe Diva in the mud, Feehan placing behind Pride Of Jenni, and the last start second to all-the-way winner Deny Knowledge in the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) at Caulfield.
One of the best Moonee Valley performers in the race (6:3-2-0) and lines-up in a Cox Plate field for the third year running.
Connections were narrowly denied the silverware with the close second 12 months ago and the horse is going as good now.
Gets thing his way from barrier two with big race specialist Craig Williams aboard.
A gear change has him donning winkers now so he’ll be focused and ready for the challenge.
Has been outstanding in his lead-up trackwork.
Now or never Mr B!
Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2024 Odds & Results
Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
7. Via Sistina (4) J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
2nd
2. Prognosis (5) J: Damian Lane 59kg
T: Mitsumasa Nakauchida |
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|
3rd
8. Broadsiding (8) J: Jamie Kah 49.5kg
T: James Cummings |
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|
4th
1. Mr Brightside (2) J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
||
|
5th
5. Docklands (1) J: Blake Shinn 59kg
T: Harry Eustace |
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|
6th
3. Kovalica (9) J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Chris Waller |
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|
7th
4. Royal Patronage (3) J: Michael Dee 59kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
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|
8th
6. Pride Of Jenni (7) J: Declan Bates 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
9th
9. Evaporate (6) J: Karis Teetan 49.5kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Data retrieved: 26/05/2025 11:10:11 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
All 2024 Cox Plate odds are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of publication, and subject to change without notice.
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