Cox Plate 2025: Why Hot Favourite Via Sistina Is Worth Taking On

The 2025 Cox Plate runners will be headed by hot favourite Via Sistina, who romped away with the Moonee Valley race in 2024, but if you are looking to take on the Chris Waller-trained mare – there might be something to cling to. 

Will Age Be Against Big Cox Plate Runner Via Sistina?

Last year, the classy mare Via Sistina made no mistake in the Cox Plate – winning by an impressive eight lengths – and the best horse racing betting sites are suggesting it will be more of the same.

Most firms are making the former George Boughey-trained mare around 5/4 in the market and well clear of the rest.

It’s easy to see why too – since last year’s Moonee Valley win, she’s added five more Group One wins to her CV and will also be looking to give jockey James McDonald a fourth straight Cox Plate win.

With McDonald having also won the race in on Anamoe (2022) and Romantic Warrior (2023).

While the Waller barn, who train Via Sistina, have won the prize no fewer than five times – having also been responsible for the wonder mare Winx, who won four Cox Plates.

However, anyone looking to take on Via Sistina might have something to cling to – HER AGE.

She’ll be back as a 2025 Cox Plate runner aged 8 – and since 1993 (32 runnings) there has only been ONE winner aged 8+.

This was in 2006 when the 9 year-old Fields Of Omagh defied his age to win for trainer David Hayes.

How Many Older Horses Have Run In The Last 10 Cox Plates?

Okay, so this could be a good reason to look elsewhere for the 2025 Cox Plate winner.

But how many older horses have run in the race since 2015?

You can see below that in the last ten runnings of the Cox Plate, there have been 16 runners aged 8+.

Plus, of these 16 older Cox Plate runners – only one has finished in the top three.

The Cox Plate carries a prize purse of AUS $6m – which is $4m less than the Melbourne Cup prize money purse on offer this year.

With the Melbourne Cup run ten days later on Tuesday 4th November.

The last horse to win both these top Australian races in the same season was Makybe Diva in 2005.

WATCH: Via Sistina Winning The 2024 Cox Plate 

Cox Plate Runners 2025: Via Sistina Heads Field Of Nine

See below the nine 2025 Cox Plate runners, including jockeys, trainers, odds and draws (in brackets).

Who Is The Main Cox Plate Runner To Take Via Sistina On With?

According to the betting the main Cox Plate runner that Via Sistina should fear most is ANTINO.

This Tony Gollan-trained 7 year-old gelding was last seen running second in the Group One Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in early October.

He was only beaten 1 3/4 lengths that day, but more importantly had Via Sistina another 1/2 length back in third (watch below).

Why Are Racehorses Older In The Southern Hemisphere?

When looking at a racehorse’s age in the Southern Hemisphere it can often be confusing.

As some will appear on racecards as a YEAR OLDER than Northern Hemisphere horses.

Of course, horses are born at all times of the year – but when it comes to racehorses – they all have the same birthdays.

But this depends on which part of the world they are racing in.

Why is this?

In short, racehorses in the Southern and Northern have different birthdays.

Those running of being trained in the Southern Hemisphere have their birthdays on the 1st January.

While the Northern Hemisphere horses have their birthdays on the 1st August.

Meaning racehorses born and trained in countries like Australia will be shown as a year older.

This process is said to make the management of racehorse’s age more manageable – especially in certain races where only certain age horses can run in.

When Will The Cox Plate 2025 Be Run?

See below the Cox Plate time for UK viewers – with the race set to be run on Saturday morning at 6:10am.

With the race being shown on Sky Sports Racing.

📅Date: Saturday 25th October 2025
⌚Time: 6:10am (GMT)
🏇Racecourse: Moonee Valley
💰Winning Purse: $6,000,000 AUS
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing

Cox Plate Winners (Last 10 Years)