Cox Plate 2026 Betting Odds - Sir Delius Out in Front
The 2026 Cox Plate, Australia’s storied weight-for-age horse race, will be held at Flemington on October 24 due to redevelopment at Moonee Valley. Sir Delius is the early favourite at $2.90, following solid spring form. Birdman and Aeliana are both priced at $6.00 after notable recent performances, while a group of challengers including Autumn Boy, Autumn Glow, Ceolwulf, and Warwoven are among the $11.00 chances. The historic race boasts past champions like Winx and Phar Lap, and this year’s betting market is wide open as spring form develops.
- 2026 Cox Plate moves to Flemington due to Moonee Valley redevelopment
- Sir Delius leads early betting at $2.90, with Birdman & Aeliana at $6
- Market remains open with several contenders under $26
Sir Delius winning the 2026 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. (Getty)
The 2026 Cox Plate will be staged at Flemington on Saturday, October 24, with the $6 million weight-for-age championship temporarily shifting away from Moonee Valley while The Valley undergoes its major redevelopment.
Sir Delius remains the horse to beat in early betting, with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained entire rated the $2.90 favourite with EliteBet.
The defending Turnbull Stakes winner resumed with a fourth behind Sheza Alibi in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m at Flemington, finishing 3.9 lengths from the winner over a trip short of his best.
Aeliana and Birdman share the second line at $6, with the pair arriving through different spring pathways.
Aeliana continued her progression when runner-up to Autumn Glow in the Group 2 7 Stakes over 1600m at Randwick, finishing 1.25 lengths from the winner as she worked towards the longer distances that produced her best form during the autumn.
Birdman has been one of the big movers in Cox Plate betting after an emphatic victory in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield, where he defeated Cosmic Crusader by 1.75 lengths.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper produced a sharp turn of foot to put the race away and connections immediately identified the Cox Plate as a suitable spring target, with the move to 2000m-plus at Flemington expected to suit.
Autumn Boy sits at $11 after a much-improved second-up performance in the Makybe Diva Stakes, where he chased home Sheza Alibi to finish second over the Flemington mile.
Autumn Glow is also $11 after maintaining her outstanding record with victory in the 7 Stakes at Randwick, defeating Aeliana and Ceolwulf over 1600m.
The champion mare's publicly outlined spring program currently has the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick on October 17 followed by a race during Melbourne Cup Week, meaning the Cox Plate is not part of her confirmed schedule at this stage despite her prominent position in betting.
Ceolwulf shares the $11 quote after finishing third behind Autumn Glow and Aeliana in the 7 Stakes, continuing his build through the spring after showing improvement at his previous start.
Warwoven has also shortened into $11 following a dominant victory in Saturday's Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill, where he defeated St Gotthard by more than three lengths to complete the Run To The Rose-Golden Rose double.
The Caulfield Guineas is his next confirmed target, although trainer Bjorn Baker has indicated the Cox Plate remains a possible option later in the spring if the three-year-old continues to progress.
With Sir Delius holding favouritism, Birdman surging into contention and several high-class mares and three-year-olds prominent in betting, the Cox Plate market has taken on a very different shape as the spring moves deeper into the major weight-for-age races.
Cox Plate 2026 Betting Odds
| Horse | Win |
|---|---|
| Sir Delius | $2.90 |
| Aeliana | $6.00 |
| Birdman | $6.00 |
| Autumn Boy | $11.00 |
| Autumn Glow | $11.00 |
| Ceolwulf | $11.00 |
| Warwoven | $11.00 |
| Blind Raise | $15.00 |
| Buckaroo | $18.00 |
| Cosmic Crusader | $26.00 |
| Half Yours | $26.00 |
| Light Infantry Man | $26.00 |
| Mr Brightside | $26.00 |
| Tron Bolt | $26.00 |
| Idle Flyer | $34.00 |
| Shes A Hustler | $34.00 |
| Treasurethe Moment | $34.00 |
| Others | $51.00+ |
Odds courtesy of EliteBet & correct on 28/09/2026.
Cox Plate History
The Cox Plate is without question the greatest two minutes in Australian racing, a 2040m weight-for-age contest traditionally staged at the cauldron of Moonee Valley. With the track undergoing redevelopment, the 2026 edition will instead be held at Flemington.
Inaugurated in 1922 when Tangalooma claimed the first running, it’s a genuine who’s who of racing that has captured the event since.
The champions list includes the likes of four-time winner Winx, three-time winner Kingston Town, star galloper Northerly and the inimitable Phar Lap.
Romantic Warrior (2023) and Via Sistina (2024 and 2025) have claimed the last three editions of the W.S. Cox Plate.
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