Cox Plate Day 2026 - Full Fields, Race History & Key Facts

Fast Five

• First run in 1985: The Red Anchor Stakes was first staged in 1985, with Seiger winning the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Napoleonic (2025), Bittercreek (2024), Archo Nacho (2023), Sejardan (2022) and Generation (2021).
• Named after a champion: The race honours Red Anchor, whose outstanding three-year-old season included victories in the Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate and Victoria Derby in 1984.
• Cox Plate connection: Rubiton won the race in 1986 before returning to Moonee Valley a year later to capture the Cox Plate.
• Group 1 springboard: Portland Sky won the 2020 edition before progressing to victory in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate the following autumn.

• Buggsy: Blinkers FIRST TIME, Tongue Tie FIRST TIME
• Inner Gold: Blinkers FIRST TIME

• First run in 1981: The Moonee Valley Vase was first staged in 1981, with Vinaka winning the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Observer (2025), Red Aces (2024), Apulia (2023), Berkeley Square (2022) and Forgot You (2021).
• Derby double: Observer won the Vase in 2025 before taking out the Victoria Derby, becoming the first horse since Efficient in 2006 to complete the double.
• Proven Derby pathway: Efficient, Plastered, Helenus, Blevic, Raveneaux and Observer have all won both the Vase and the Victoria Derby.
• Oaks connection: Jameka remains the only filly to have completed the Moonee Valley Vase-VRC Oaks double.

• Lepolo: Blinkers OFF FIRST TIME, Visors FIRST TIME
• Hierarchy: Ear Muffs (Pre-Race Only) FIRST TIME
• Bohemian Boy: Cross-over Nose Band FIRST TIME, Tongue Tie FIRST TIME

• Last five winners: Stardom (2025), Certain Rise (2024), Gumdrops (2023), Wee Nessy (2022) and Dream Queen (2021).
• Black Caviar beginning: Black Caviar won the Crockett Stakes in 2009 at just her third start, making her first appearance at Moonee Valley before going on to retire unbeaten in 25 starts.
• J-Mac double: James McDonald has ridden two of the past four winners, partnering Wee Nessy in 2022 and Stardom in 2025.
• Price-Kent double: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr won consecutive editions with Wee Nessy in 2022 and Gumdrops in 2023.
• Strong honour roll: Black Caviar, Angelic Light, Lake Geneva, La Mexicana and Stardom are among the notable fillies to have won the Crockett Stakes.

• First run in 1995: The McEwen Stakes was first staged in 1995, with Sequalo winning the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Jigsaw (2025), Baraqiel (2024), Imperatriz (2023), Rothfire (2022) and The Inferno (2021).
• Group 1 production line: 12 of the past 20 winners have been Group 1 winners, underlining the quality regularly attracted to the race.
• Jigsaw's launchpad: Jigsaw won the 2025 McEwen Stakes before adding the Group 1 Railway in New Zealand, the Group 1 William Reid Stakes and The Quokka during a remarkable run.
• Elite honour roll: Imperatriz, Nature Strip, Chautauqua, Buffering, Hay List, Miss Andretti, Russian Revolution and Testa Rossa are among the outstanding sprinters to have won the race.

• Rey Magnerio: Visors OFF FIRST TIME, Winkers FIRST TIME

• First run in 1982: The Crystal Mile was first staged in 1982, with Getting Closer winning the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Von Hauke (2025), Plenty Of Ammo (2024), Prowess (2023), My Oberon (2022) and Just Folk (2021).
• Rare repeat winner: Weasel Will remains the only dual winner of the race, taking consecutive editions in 2000 and 2001.
• Cantala connection: Only Dazzling Duke and Turn Me Loose have completed the Crystal Mile-Cantala Stakes double, with Turn Me Loose achieving the feat in 2015.
• Quality honour roll: Prowess, Homesman, The United States, Silent Achiever, Rangirangdoo, Niconero, Lucky Hussler and Turn Me Loose are among the standout winners.

• Since 1883: The Moonee Valley Gold Cup is the club’s oldest race, first run as the Moonee Ponds Cup in 1883, when Castaway won the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Onesmoothoperator (2025), Okita Soushi (2024), Cleveland (2023), Francesco Guardi (2022) and Lunar Flare (2021).
• Twice for Precedence: Precedence is the only dual winner this century, taking the race in 2010 and 2013.
• Melbourne Cup connection: Kingston Rule won the race before his record-breaking 1990 Melbourne Cup victory, while Prince Of Penzance won here in 2014 before returning to Flemington to claim the Melbourne Cup a year later.
• International takeover: Four of the past five winners have been Northern Hemisphere-bred stayers, with Onesmoothoperator, Okita Soushi, Cleveland and Francesco Guardi continuing the race’s increasingly international flavour.

• Pinhole: Synthetic Hoof Filler FIRST TIME
• Future History: Ear Muffs (Pre-Race Only) FIRST TIME, Nasal Strip FIRST TIME
• Point Of Law: Lugging Bit FIRST TIME
• Omni Man: Cheekers FIRST TIME, Ear Muffs (Pre-Race Only) FIRST TIME

• Since 1922: The Cox Plate was first run in 1922, with Violencello winning the inaugural edition.
• Last five winners: Via Sistina (2025, 2024), Romantic Warrior (2023), Anamoe (2022) and State Of Rest (2021).

• Winx unmatched: Winx remains the only four-time winner of the race, completing her extraordinary run from 2015 to 2018, while Kingston Town won three straight from 1980 to 1982.
• Via Sistina double: Via Sistina joined the list of multiple Cox Plate winners with victories in 2024 and 2025, with her first success coming in a then-track-record 2:01.07 and by eight lengths.
• All-time greats: Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town, Bonecrusher, Might And Power, Sunline, Northerly, Makybe Diva, So You Think, Winx, Romantic Warrior and Via Sistina feature on one of Australian racing’s greatest honour rolls.

• Land Legend: Blindfold OFF FIRST TIME
• Middle Earth: Blinkers AGAIN, Winkers OFF AGAIN
• Saint George: Blinkers FIRST TIME