Flemington hosts a nine-race card on Saturday, October 24, headlined by the Group 1 Cox Plate, alongside four Group 2 races, two Group 3 races and a Listed race. It is the first Cox Plate held away from Moonee Valley. The rail is in the true position and the track is currently rated Good, although up to 20mm of rain is forecast on race day, so monitor conditions.
The first race starts at 12:25pm AEDT, with the final race scheduled for 5:50pm AEDT.
Shannon Buckley is in the saddle with his preview of every race on the Flemington card for you below!
Flemington Cox Plate Day Best Bets – October 24, 2026
| Race |
Best Bet |
Odds |
| Flemington R2 |
Barracks – Win |
$4.20 (1 unit) |
| Flemington R3 |
True Rebel – Win |
$2.30 (3 units) |
| Flemington R4 |
Chayan – Win |
$3.80 (1 unit) |
| Flemington R5 |
Smooth Chino – Win |
$6.50 (1 unit) |
| Flemington R6 |
Buckeroo – Win / Place |
$8.00 win (0.5 units) / $2.50 place (1.5 units) |
| Flemington R7 |
Juja Kibo – Win |
$6.00 (1 unit) |
| Flemington R8 |
Ceolwulf – Win / Place |
$7.00 win (1 unit) / $2.20 place (3 units) |
Race 1 – Manhari Imperatirz Sprint - 1000m (12:25pm AEDT)
(1) Spywire – 5YO Gelding who has been sound enough in his first and second up run in tougher company. He has had two weeks since his last run and has a very good third up record. Drawn ideally and gets a nice booking of Blake Shinn. Will be there abouts.
(4) Ice Kool – 4YO gelding with a handy CV in his 8 run career. He is unbeaten from 4 attempts over the 1000m sprint and has had a nice three week break since his last win over this trip in a BM100. Deserves to be favourite and looks the one to beat.
Race assessment: No bet
Race 2 – HKJC World Pool Red Anchor Stakes – 1200m (1:00pm AEDT)
(1) Big Wigs – 3YO Colt who has going great guns and was well supported in the market at Listed grade last start, but pulled up with mucus, which was disappointing, but a genuine excuse. He has since been freshened up and if he is back to his normal self he looks a genuine chance here. Drawn fairly and probably only getting the price due to the recent excuse. Value play.
(4) Barracks – 3YO Colt who is progressing nicely. Won nicely first up and then was nabbed on the line in Group 3 company last start. Form is still solid. Stripping fitter for his third up run, drawn well and is one to watch going forward. On top.
Our Flemington Race 2 Tip
Race 3 – Drummond Golf Vase – 2040m (1:40pm AEDT)
(2) True Rebel – 3YO Gelding who has been sound in all three career runs and continues to tick things over nicely. Handy winner second up to break maiden and then only just missed over 1600m in a BM70 when having to peel widest and launched down the outside to only just miss on the leader who had a softer run. The rise in trip looks to suit and with this being his fourth up run he will be match fit.
(11) Joely – 3YO Filly who won her maiden first up nicely and then jumped straight into a couple of Group 2 affairs and was far from disgraced. If the rain does come, she will come right into play as she looks to be a genuine wet tracker with her two handy runs on the wet. Hard fit and keeps Craig Williams in the saddle. Value play.
Our Flemington Race 3 Tip
True Rebel
$2.30 (3 units)
Race 4 – Symal Crockett Stakes - 1200m – LISTED (2:20pm AEDT)
(1) Chayan – 3YO Filly who rates very well in this field and looks the one they will all have to beat. Gets a lovely draw from barrier 5 and J-Mac is sticking with her. She has had excuses in her first two runs when wide first up and slowly away second up. Third up now and maps fairly. She was dominant at Group 2 level over this trip in Sydney in March, so just needs to bring that to here. Major player.
(11) Aroused – 3YO Filly who looks to be smart type when winning arrogantly at Ballina first up. Stable are bullish with her going straight into this Listed race second up. Barrier the only concern.
Our Flemington Race 4 Tip
Race 5 – Cirka Mcewen Stakes – 1200m - GROUP 2 (3:00pm AEDT)
(2) Jigsaw – 8YO Gelding who has been excellent in the back end of his career stringing together 8 wins on the trot. Made it look easy to last start when back from a break over 1100m in Group 2 company at Caulfield. Continues to race well, but the slight query is the Flemington straight where he is 0/4. Looks to be the best horse in the race on current form, but the straight is the worry. Worth thought at $3 or more.
(5) Smooth Chino – 5YO Gelding who we tipped last time out, and he was brilliant down the Flemington straight for his first time, but the jockey was fined $1000 for giving up riding as did the winner, but was hitting the line intently and only narrowly missed behind SKYBIRD. Third up now and looks to be progressing in the right way this campaign. Drawn an inside barrier and will be given every chance again. Looks a nice bet at the price.
(8) Extragalactic – 4YO Mare who has been very good in defeat this time in and has continued her good form from last campaign. She flew home up the inside last start at Group 1 level and was only beaten by JIMMYSTAR. Third up now, J-Mac sticks and gets her chance again. Major player
Our Flemington Race 5 Tip
Smooth Chino
$6.50 (1 unit)
Race 6 – Kia Ora Stud Mile - 1600m – GROUP 2 (3:40pm AEDT)
(6) Buckeroo – 8YO Gelding whose been working home well in his first two runs this campaign, showing plenty of fight, before the Heavy surface over 2000m proved beyond him last start. He gets a chance to bounce back here, dropping to Group 2 level and returning to his preferred 1600m. The booking of James McDonald for the Waller stable is a big tick, while the good draw should allow him to settle into a favourable position. Back on a better surface, he’s capable of turning his form around and making his presence felt. At the odds, he appeals as a solid each-way play.
(12) Surfin Bird – 5YO Mare who bounced back terrifically last start dominating the Group 3 affair at Caulfield over the mile. Rises back to Group 2 company now and will be stripping rock hard fit third up. Of note, she is unbeaten when third up. Drawn nicely and gets conditions to suit and relishes this trip. Major player
Our Flemington Race 6 Tip
Buckeroo E/W
$8.00/$2.50 (0.5u/1.5u)
Race 7 – Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup – 2500m – GROUP 2 (4:20pm AEDT)
(2) Juja Kibo – 6YO Gelding who has been ticking things over sensationally and was dominant winning last start over 2400m at Randwick in the Group 2 metropolitan. Scratched last weekend and saved for this. Looks capable of going on with things here.
(3) Pinhole – 5YO Gelding who has a lovely turn of foot and has been racing in career best form. Continues to time his runs to perfection and again looks a good chance here. J-Mac continues to ride and will give him every chance. Hard fit.
(12) Aethewlwulf – 4YO gelding who won four in a row and then was beaten by Juja Kibo last start in the Metropolitan. Capable of bouncing back now with a weight swing in his favour. Sticky gate the main danger.
Our Flemington Race 7 Tip
Race 8 – Ladbrokes Cox Plate – 2040m – GROUP 1 (5:10pm AEDT)
(1) Ceolwulf – 6YO Gelding who has been racing as well as ever this campaign without winning and arguably should have broken through two starts ago in the Epsom, where he was badly held up before savaging the line once clear to grab an excellent second. He backed that up with another bold effort behind the very talented AUTUMN GLOW last start and now looks ready to relish the step up to 2040m. His racing pattern suggests the extra trip will suit, while the long Flemington straight gives him plenty of time to wind up from the rear and unleash that powerful finish. His late splits have been impressive and he’s going as well as ever. At the price, he goes on top. Each-way play.
(3) Sir Delius – 6YO who is one of the best horses racing in Australia now and was dominant last campaign. The stable has always had this race picked out as his grand final and he has been sound in his two lead up runs. First up finished fourth over the mile and then again over 2000m on the heavy deck in the Turnbull. Third up now where he is 3 from 3, back on top of the ground unless the rain comes, enjoys this distance and maps to get the run of the race. Will be finishing strongly.
(11) Warwoven – 3YO Colt who has strung together three dominant victories in a row and continues to win well. Rises in trip again now, but the stable have done a tremendous job and she looks very capable of going well here. Gets in with only 49.5kg, draws well and Rachel King gets every chance to be the first female rider to win the Cox Plate. Worth thought.
Our Flemington Race 8 Tip
Ceolwulf E/W
$7.00/$2.20 (1u/3u)
Race 9 – Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes– 2040m – GROUP 3 (5:50pm AEDT)
(3) Shockletz – 5YO Mare who is a genuine stayer but has mixed form this prep. Dominant over 2500m two runs back and did run on from the rear last start, but left it too late. Drops right back to 2000m now and goes back to Group 3 company. Drawn okay and Coffey stays on. Will be running on again. Each way.
(13) Soverato – 4YO Mare who has been specked $7.00 into $5.50 in the early market and will be ready to fire now third up after two sound lead up runs. Handy form line behind UNLEESHING last start who has since franked the form. Worth thought.
Race assessment: No bet
Odds quoted at time of writing and subject to change. 18+ Gamble Responsibly.
