Cox Plate Winners: Every Winner Since 1922 and Race Records

Cox Plate winners include Phar Lap, Kingston Town and four-time champion Winx. Here is every winner of Australia’s weight-for-age championship since Violoncello in 1922, plus the race records for horses, jockeys and trainers, ahead of the first Cox Plate run at Flemington on Saturday 24 October.

The 2026 Cox Plate (2040m) will be the first in the race’s history held away from Moonee Valley, with the Valley closed for its redevelopment. The club is aiming to bring the Cox Plate home in 2027, but for one year the $6 million Group 1 moves to Flemington, where 12 runners were accepted on Tuesday.

History is on the line, too. James McDonald has won the past four Cox Plates and rides the Chris Waller-trained Aeliana, chasing a fifth in a row, something no jockey has done. A win would also draw him level with Darby Munro’s record of five Cox Plate wins as a jockey, while Waller is one win away from equalling Tommy Smith’s record of seven as a trainer.

Before the gates open, here is the full honour roll, checked against the Moonee Valley Racing Club’s official Cox Plate records.

Cox Plate winners: the quick facts

First run: Saturday 28 October 1922, won by Violoncello.
Most wins by a horse: Winx, four (2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018). Kingston Town is the only other horse to win three (1980, 1981 and 1982).
Most wins by a jockey: Darby Munro, five (1933, 1937, 1939, 1941 and 1952).
Most wins by a trainer: Tommy Smith, seven (1957 to 1984).
Biggest winning margin: eight lengths, by Winx (2016) and Via Sistina (2024).
Shortest-priced winner: Phar Lap at 1/14 in 1931.

Every Cox Plate winner since 1922

Each winner is listed with the jockey first, then the trainer. The 1946 race was run in two divisions, so that year has two winners.

The 2020s

2025: Via Sistina (James McDonald, Chris Waller)
2024: Via Sistina (James McDonald, Chris Waller)
2023: Romantic Warrior (James McDonald, Danny Shum)
2022: Anamoe (James McDonald, James Cummings)
2021: State Of Rest (John Allen, Joseph O’Brien)
2020: Sir Dragonet (Glen Boss, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace)

The 2010s

2019: Lys Gracieux (Damian Lane, Yoshito Yahagi)
2018: Winx (Hugh Bowman, Chris Waller)
2017: Winx (Hugh Bowman, Chris Waller)
2016: Winx (Hugh Bowman, Chris Waller)
2015: Winx (Hugh Bowman, Chris Waller)
2014: Adelaide (Ryan Moore, Aidan O’Brien)
2013: Shamus Award (Chad Schofield, Danny O’Brien)
2012: Ocean Park (Glen Boss, Gary Hennessy)
2011: Pinker Pinker (Craig Williams, Greg Eurell)
2010: So You Think (Steven Arnold, Bart Cummings)

The 2000s

2009: So You Think (Glen Boss, Bart Cummings)
2008: Maldivian (Michael Rodd, Mark Kavanagh)
2007: El Segundo (Luke Nolen, Colin Little)
2006: Fields Of Omagh (Craig Williams, David Hayes)
2005: Makybe Diva (Glen Boss, Lee Freedman)
2004: Savabeel (Chris Munce, Graeme Rogerson)
2003: Fields Of Omagh (Steven King, Tony McEvoy)
2002: Northerly (Patrick Payne, Fred Kersley)
2001: Northerly (Damien Oliver, Fred Kersley)
2000: Sunline (Greg Childs, Trevor McKee)

The 1990s

1999: Sunline (Greg Childs, Trevor McKee)
1998: Might And Power (Jim Cassidy, Jack Denham)
1997: Dane Ripper (Damien Oliver, Bart Cummings)
1996: Saintly (Darren Beadman, Bart Cummings)
1995: Octagonal (Shane Dye, John Hawkes)
1994: Solvit (David Walsh, Moira Murdoch)
1993: The Phantom Chance (Robert Vance, Colin Jillings)
1992: Super Impose (Greg Hall, Lee Freedman)
1991: Surfers Paradise (Lance O’Sullivan, Dave O’Sullivan)
1990: Better Loosen Up (Michael Clarke, David Hayes)

The 1980s

1989: Almaarad (Michael Clarke, Colin Hayes)
1988: Our Poetic Prince (Noel Harris, John Wheeler)
1987: Rubiton (Harry White, Pat Barns)
1986: Bonecrusher (Gary Stewart, Frank Ritchie)
1985: Rising Prince (Kevin Langby, D. Stein)
1984: Red Anchor (Mick Dittman, Tommy Smith)
1983: Strawberry Road (Mick Dittman, Doug Bougoure)
1982: Kingston Town (Peter Cook, Tommy Smith)
1981: Kingston Town (Ron Quinton, Tommy Smith)
1980: Kingston Town (Malcolm Johnston, Tommy Smith)

The 1970s

1979: Dulcify (Brent Thomson, Colin Hayes)
1978: So Called (Brent Thomson, Colin Hayes)
1977: Family Of Man (Brent Thomson, George Hanlon)
1976: Surround (Peter Cook, Geoff Murphy)
1975: Fury’s Order (Brent Thomson, Wally McEwan)
1974: Battle Heights (Gary Willetts, R. Douglas)
1973: Taj Rossi (Stan Aitken, Bart Cummings)
1972: Gunsynd (Roy Higgins, Tommy Smith)
1971: Tauto (Len Hill, Bob Agnew)
1970: Abdul (Paul Jarman, Geoff Murphy)

The 1960s

1969: Daryl’s Joy (Bill Skelton, Syd Brown)
1968: Rajah Sahib (George Moore, T. Hill)
1967: Tobin Bronze (Jim Johnson, Graeme Heagney)
1966: Tobin Bronze (Jim Johnson, Graeme Heagney)
1965: Star Affair (Pat Hyland, Angus Armanasco)
1964: Sir Dane (Roy Higgins, Roy Shaw)
1963: Summer Regent (J. Riordan, T. Cotter)
1962: Aquanita (Frank Moore, Roy Shaw)
1961: Dhaulagiri (G. Lane, B. Courtney)
1960: Tulloch (Neville Sellwood, Tommy Smith)

The 1950s

1959: Noholme (Neville Sellwood, Maurice McCarten)
1958: Yeman (L. Whittle, H. Wiggins)
1957: Redcraze (George Moore, Tommy Smith)
1956: Ray Ribbon (Jack Purtell, G. Barr)
1955: Kingster (W. Camer, J. Green)
1954: Rising Fast (Jack Purtell, Ivan Tucker)
1953: Hydrogen (Bill Williamson, E. Hush)
1952: Hydrogen (Darby Munro, E. Hush)
1951: Bronton (Jack Purtell, R. Sinclair)
1950: Alister (Jack Purtell, H. Wolters)

The 1940s

1949: Delta (Neville Sellwood, Maurice McCarten)
1948: Carbon Copy (Harold Badger, D. McCormick)
1947: Chanak (Harold Badger, Jack Holt)
1946: Flight (J. O’Sullivan, Frank Nowland) and Leonard (W. Briscoe, Lou Robertson)
1945: Flight (J. O’Sullivan, Frank Nowland)
1944: Tranquil Star (Scobie Breasley, R. Cameron)
1943: Amana (A. Dewhirst, Roy Shaw)
1942: Tranquil Star (K. Smith, R. Cameron)
1941: Beau Vite (Darby Munro, Frank McGrath Sr)
1940: Beau Vite (E. McMenamin, Frank McGrath Sr)

The 1920s and 1930s

1939: Mosaic (Darby Munro, J. Abbs)
1938: Ajax (Harold Badger, F. Musgrave)
1937: Young Idea (Darby Munro, Jack Holt)
1936: Young Idea (H. Skidmore, Jack Holt)
1935: Garrio (K. Voitre, Lou Robertson)
1934: Chatham (S. Davidson, F. Williams)
1933: Rogilla (Darby Munro, Les Haigh)
1932: Chatham (J. Munro, F. Williams)
1931: Phar Lap (Jim Pike, Harry Telford)
1930: Phar Lap (Jim Pike, Harry Telford)
1929: Nightmarch (R. Reed, A. McAulay)
1928: Highland (W. Duncan, Jack Holt)
1927: Amounis (J. Toohey, Frank McGrath Sr)
1926: Heroic (H. Cairns, Jack Holt)
1925: Manfred (F. Dempsey, H. McCalman)
1924: The Night Patrol (G. Young, J. Scobie)
1923: Easingwold (G. Harrison, Jack Holt)
1922: Violoncello (J. King, C. Bryans)

Most successful Cox Plate jockeys

Darby Munro has held the riding record since 1952, and he won his five on five different horses. McDonald joined the group on four when Via Sistina won in 2025, Racing.com noted at the time.

Darby Munro: 5 (Rogilla 1933, Young Idea 1937, Mosaic 1939, Beau Vite 1941, Hydrogen 1952)
James McDonald: 4 (Anamoe 2022, Romantic Warrior 2023, Via Sistina 2024 and 2025)
Hugh Bowman: 4 (Winx 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018)
Glen Boss: 4 (Makybe Diva 2005, So You Think 2009, Ocean Park 2012, Sir Dragonet 2020)
Brent Thomson: 4 (Fury’s Order 1975, Family Of Man 1977, So Called 1978, Dulcify 1979)
Jack Purtell: 4 (Alister 1950, Bronton 1951, Rising Fast 1954, Ray Ribbon 1956)
Harold Badger: 3 (Ajax 1938, Chanak 1947, Carbon Copy 1948)
Neville Sellwood: 3 (Delta 1949, Noholme 1959, Tulloch 1960)

Bowman and McDonald are the only jockeys to win four in a row. Brent Thomson came close, winning three straight from 1977 to 1979, while Kingston Town won his three Cox Plates under three different riders: Malcolm Johnston, Ron Quinton and Peter Cook.

Most successful Cox Plate trainers

Tommy Smith: 7 (Redcraze 1957, Tulloch 1960, Gunsynd 1972, Kingston Town 1980, 1981 and 1982, Red Anchor 1984)
Chris Waller: 6 (Winx 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, Via Sistina 2024 and 2025)
Jack Holt: 6 (Easingwold 1923, Heroic 1926, Highland 1928, Young Idea 1936 and 1937, Chanak 1947)
Bart Cummings: 5 (Taj Rossi 1973, Saintly 1996, Dane Ripper 1997, So You Think 2009 and 2010)
Colin Hayes: 3 (So Called 1978, Dulcify 1979, Almaarad 1989)
Frank McGrath Sr: 3 (Amounis 1927, Beau Vite 1940 and 1941)
Roy Shaw: 3 (Amana 1943, Aquanita 1962, Sir Dane 1964)

Waller has two chances to draw level with Smith at Flemington, with Aeliana and Birdman. Smith’s daughter, Gai Waterhouse, is still chasing her first Cox Plate and co-trains Sir Delius with Adrian Bott.

Horses to win the Cox Plate more than once

Fifteen horses have won the race more than once, led by Winx and Kingston Town:

Winx: 4 (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018)
Kingston Town: 3 (1980, 1981, 1982)
Phar Lap: 2 (1930, 1931)
Chatham: 2 (1932, 1934)
Young Idea: 2 (1936, 1937)
Beau Vite: 2 (1940, 1941)
Tranquil Star: 2 (1942, 1944)
Flight: 2 (1945, 1946)
Hydrogen: 2 (1952, 1953)
Tobin Bronze: 2 (1966, 1967)
Sunline: 2 (1999, 2000)
Northerly: 2 (2001, 2002)
Fields Of Omagh: 2 (2003, 2006)
So You Think: 2 (2009, 2010)
Via Sistina: 2 (2024, 2025)

Other Cox Plate records and milestones

Fastest time: Via Sistina ran 2:01.07 in 2024, a Moonee Valley track record, and won by an equal-record eight lengths, the ABC reported.
Longest-priced winners: Mosaic (1939) and Leonard (1946) at 50/1, followed by Dane Ripper at 40/1 in 1997.
Shortest-priced winners: Phar Lap at 1/14 in 1931 and 1/7 in 1930.
Mares: Via Sistina, Lys Gracieux, Winx, Pinker Pinker, Makybe Diva, Sunline, Dane Ripper, Flight and Tranquil Star have all won it. Surround is the only filly to win, as a three-year-old in 1976.
Three-year-olds: Shamus Award (2013) is the most recent three-year-old winner. Others since 1990 are So You Think (2009), Savabeel (2004) and Octagonal (1995).
International winners: Adelaide (Ireland, 2014), Lys Gracieux (Japan, 2019), State Of Rest (Ireland, 2021) and Romantic Warrior (Hong Kong, 2023) have taken the trophy overseas in the past dozen years.
Distance: the race was run over 1900m from 1922 to 1942, 2000m from 1943 to 1973 and 2050m from 1974 to 1985, before settling at 2040m in 1986, according to the Moonee Valley Racing Club.

Who joins the Cox Plate winners list in 2026?

Whoever wins at Flemington becomes the first Cox Plate winner away from the Valley. Aeliana, Birdman, Sir Delius and the rest of the field are chasing a race Waller calls “the weight-for-age champion race of Australia”. For form on every runner, open TSB’s free Racing Form Guide, and catch up on the full Cox Plate 2026 field and barriers.

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