Tim's Tips for Cox Plate Day
TIM HABEL was a racing journalist with the Sun, then Herald-Sun for 36 years and now works as a contributor for The Age. His selections are published mid-week and each Saturday.
FLEMINGTON Saturday (Moonee Valley Racing Club meeting) , October 24, 2026, true, good 4
RACE 1: ICE KOOL 1, Spywire 2, Stokke 3, Way To The Stars 4
RACE 2: BIG WIGS 1, Buggsy 2, Half Pipe 3, Peyton 4
RACE 3: TRUE REBEL 1, Salaan 2, Joely 3, Heirachy 4
RACE 4: ANGEL'S FURY 1, Chayan 2, Aroused 3, Caddington 4
RACE 5: EXTRAGALACTIC 1, Jigsaw 2, Rey Magnerio 3, Smooth Chino 4
RACE 6: VON HAUKE 1, Surfin' Bird 2, Buckaroo 3, Pondalowie 4
Von Hauke won this race last year when it was run at the Valley and can repeat. This is a drop in grade from the Toorak when he was one of several runners who had restricted room in the straight- none more so than Pandalowie who always needs a 'miracle' because of her racing style. Surfin' Bird is short odds for a mare rising to open class but she's in-form and makes her own luck while at his best Buckaroo has lengths on these. He was a close Cox Plate runner-up to Via Sistina last year, but jury out how well he is going.
RACE 7: KIZLYAR 1, Pinhole 2, King Pedro 3, Aethelwulf 4
Irish raider Kizlyar is an intriguing runner in a very open Cup. Trained by wizard Joseph O'Brien he chased home a genuine Group 1 performer Qeenstown in the Irish St Leger trial. Stablemates ran second and third in the Geelong Cup. Emerging Sydney stayers Pinhole, King Pedro and Aethelwulf are best of the locals.
RACE 8: COSMIC CRUSADER 1, Sir Delius 2, Aeliana 3, Ceowulf 4
Widest Cox Plate for many a year. There promises to be a proper pace which will suit a tough, in-form galloper such as Cosmic Crusader who was gallant running fourth from a wide draw in the Caulfield Cup. He's had three seven day back-ups for two wins and a second. Sir Delius and Aeliana, both defeated by Cosmic Crusader in the Turnbull, are primed to peak, several other hopes.
RACE 9: SOVERATO 1, Too Darn Discreet 2, Shockletz 3, Sunset Park 4
Soverato was good coming from second last over 1600m at Randwick and looks suited out to 2000m. Too Dark Discreet closed strongly in the Group 1 Toorak and is much better suited out to 2000m and back to mares company. The 60kg is the concern. A host of other chances.
BEST BETS. True Rebel, Angel's Fury, Extragalactic. VALUE: Soverato
THE $20 FLEXI QUADDIE
1st leg: 1, 6, 11, 12
2nd leg: 3, 11, 12, 18
3rd leg: 1, 3, 5, 10
4th leg: 1, 13
For a $20 outlay you would receive 16 per cent of a $1 dividend.