The 2025 Cox Plate has arrived and what is the last ever Group 1 on this famous track before it gets upgraded over the next few years, 2024 winner, Via Sistina is the overwhelming favoutite for Chris Waller at $2.20.
The big race is the last race on the program (5:40pm AEDT) with race one starting us off at 12:10pm (AEDT). Globe has been scratched by VRC veterinarians as its strict protocols continue and he will not take part in the race. Treasurethe Moment ($6.50) and Antino ($4.00) are the next two fancied horses with Aeliana on the fourth line of betting at $8.50.
We bring you our best bets for each race on the card below and if you're keen to back in our tips, consider doing so at Dabble!
Moonee Valley Racing Tips: Saturday, October 25th 2025
Race 1: Strathmore Community Bank Bendigo Bank Imperatriz Sprint 1000m - 12:10 (AEDT)
(9) Tonkin has had a six week freshen up since running 2nd at Flemington last start up the straight. I reckon with good pace in the race he gets the right sit in around 4th and is too strong for them late.
(8) Don’t Hope Do is a last start winner who will fight for the lead with Red Hot Nicc who burns early. He is up in class and may go too quick and get overtaken late.
(5) Major Share has won 4 from 6 on Good tracks and has won 4 races over this distance. Will be one of the best finishers in this.
(9) Tonkin WIN
$2.40 (3 units)
Race 2: HKJC World Pool Red Anchor Stakes Group 3 1200m - 12:40pm (AEDT)
(1) Prince Tycoon is resuming and is 1 from 1 on Dry ground. That win was at Caulfield on May 10 where on that occasion the Prince settled outside the leader and was too good late. I think he will settle 2nd in the run again and win again. Did win a Cranbourne jumpout in fine fashion two weeks ago.
(2) Napoleonic has the widest barrier and may get caught out wide. Has JMAC on though and he has won twice on top before.
(4) St Edward won at this track last start when favourite and he will look to settle in the top few early. Blake Shinn is on for the first time for the gelding who is up in class.
(1) Prince Tycoon WIN
$3.70 (1 unit)
Race 3: Symal Crocket Stakes 1200m - 1:15pm (AEDT)
(4) Rohesia has drawn well in barrier 2 and she should be able to position up in 3rd or 4th position when settling. She did just that at this track on September 25 and stuck on well for 3rd but only beaten a half a length. Has started $3.50 or under her last three starts and she is 100 percent fit now with this being her 4th run of the prep.
(10) Proficient is 1 from 1 and that was on a Dry track which she gets again. Settled outsite the leader and got there by a head at Hillside when on debut.
(11) Excenia has the Caulfied Cup winning combination of Tony & Calvin McKevoy and Jamie Melham on her side. Is third up and fitter but this is her toughest task yet.
(4) Rohesia WIN
$4.20 (1 unit)
Race 4: 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic Group 3 1600m - 1:50pm (AEDT)
(1) Salty Pearl got too far back at Caulfield on October 18 and ran on strongly for 4th (Group 1) Thousand Guineas but he should settle closer this time and prove very hard to beat. Before that it was a similar run when he ran 3rd at Hillside. Ben Allen stays on and barrier 4 should enable him to get to a midfield position in the run.
(3) Enviable is an interesting runner who is yet to Place on a Dry track. He got too far back in the Group 1 Flight Stakes last start but ran on well for 4th. JMAC has barrier 10 but he will go back anyway.
(5) Ruska Roma would have liked some rain about but can still feature with luck. Might trail Salty Pearl in the run with Enviable trailing her.
(1) Salty Pearl WIN
$2.60 (3 units)
Race 5: Schweppes JRA Cup Group 3 2040m - 2:25pm (AEDT)
(1) Middle Earth has not been setting the world alight with his efforts so far this campaign but with his Grand Final of a Melbourne Cup start, there is still a flame but he needs to run well in this. He has been getting a long way back in his races and has been running on like a dour stayer. He was 11th in the Caulfield Cup last week after I tipped him and Zahra wasn’t happy with his lack of acceleration. Ethan Brown is on this time and this horse should 100 percent fit now. The reduced distance is a slight concern but the stable knows what its doing.
(2) Point King likes Dry tracks and his Melbourne Cup dreams are still alive too. Will want to be placing in this field though.
(10) Lincoln Rocks drops 7.5kg for this and he does like The Valley having won here twice previously.
(1) Middle Earth Each-Way
$4.60/$1.75 (1U/2U)
Race 6: Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes Group 3 2040m - 3pm (AEDT)
(8) She's A Hustler has always run either a 1st or 2nd when on Good tracks (7 starts). She has been freshened for this and she does go well when first up. All of her wins have been for Jordan Childs as jockey and he is on again. Drops 6kg for this but is up in class.
(9) She's Unusual has early speed and will try and get across again from barrier 8. She was a last start Rosehill winner over 1900m but is another who faces her toughest test yet.
(1) Jennilala gets Shinn on again but the top weight may prove too hard late. Is quick early and should settle in the top 4.
(8) She’s A Hustler WIN
$2.80 (2 units)
Race 7: Alinta Energy Crystal Mile Group 2 1600m - 3:35pm (AEDT)
(4) Rise at Dawn may lead or sit second in this race and control the speed. He has an excellent winning strike rate despite not winning in 9 months and Michael Dee has a good association with this gelding. He has won at this track before and being third up he should be ready to fire.
(1) Pinstriped hasn’t won in over a year but has raced in harder races than this. He has won 2 from 3 starts at The Valley and he is one of the fittest horses in this races after four runs in.
(7) Von Hauke will be one of the best late but may get too far back. Unplaced in both runs here.
(4) Rise At Dawn WIN
$4.20 (1 unit)
Race 8: Cirka McKewen Stakes Group 2 1200m - 4:10pm (AEDT)
Toughest race of the day and I have let this one go through to the keeper. You could make cases for every horse in this race.
TIP: No Bet
Race 9: Drummond Gold Vase Group 2 2040m - 4:50pm (AEDT)
(1) Observer box seated and finished 3rd last start at Caulfield (Group 1 Caulfield Guineas) and he paid good place odds that day. He was caught a little wide on that occasion and then was trapped for a run when darting back to the rails with 150m to go. With luck and a senior jockey on in Zahra, he should be winning this time. Third up and ready for a run over the Cox Plate start of 2040m for the second last time.
(5) Providence will go back from barrier 9 but will run on well. The worry is he might get too far back like he did at Rosehill his last couple of starts. Waller and JMAC combine.
(9) Crown Of Russia led the Super Impose at Flemington last start but folded to be 7th. Deserves another chance if keen.
(1) Observer WIN
$1.90 (4 units)
Race 10: Ladbrokes Cox Plate GROUP 1 2040m - 5:40pm (AEDT)
(6) Via Sistina is last year's Cox Plate winner and the favourite for this one. Waller and JMAC combine again and despite being beaten as fav her latest couple, this race has always been the Grand Final. She closed off well in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last start after getting a little too far back (3rd) and she will settle midfield in this race. There will be more pace in this race too and that will suit her when she takes off from the 500m. A winner of 14 from 27 starts and 10 of those have been on Dry ground. A win here and she joins the likes of Tulloch, Kingston Town, Makybe DIva, Tulloch, Winx and Phar Lap as Australia’s top 10 ever racehorses.
(2) Antino is another who likes Good tracks and all the talk this week is whether his jockey Blake Shinn makes an early run and takes off at the 800m. He has done that before on Antino with good results and it will take something special like that for him to beat the former champ.
(7) Treasurethe moment has drawn inside and might settle midfield and will want a truly run race. She has won 10 of 14 starts for Matt Laurie and she hasn’t been disgraced when placing when favourite in her last couple of starts. She suffered a minor colic attack a few months ago and some talk has been whether or not that may have cost her a couple of lengths this prep. Probably wanted a Soft track here which she is unlikely to get. Damien Lane is on.
(4) Buckaroo will be working home at the end after getting back in the run. First try at The Valley but his latest couple of runs have been very good when running on. Waller trained who was initially targeted for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Is still 12th favourite for the Melbourne Cup and will shorten up if places.
(6) Via Sistina WIN
$2.20 (3 units)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8
Leg two: 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9
Leg three: 1
Leg four: 6
