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YES or NO: Which horse can win the Cox Plate?
Connor Scanlon ⢠ October 24th, 2025 3:54 pm
The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) headlines the Moonee Valley card this Saturday with plenty of Australiaâs top horses in the $6 million race.
Mark Hunter has broken down horse by horse which runner can win the Group 1.
See who Hunter believes can win the Cox Plate below:
Light Infantry Man
âYouâd think no,â Hunter told SENTrack & RSNâs Giddy Up.
âHe won the Australian Cup; he went up to Sydney and got beat 10 lengths by Via Sistina.
âI just donât think heâs good enough or going well enough.â
Antino
âYes, it can.â
Attrition
âVery good horse in its own right, but youâd say no."
Buckaroo
âI donât think so," Hunter said.
âI didnât like the way he was ridden last time, I think that is the wrong way to ride the horse â getting into a tough dual.
âHeâs got one hope in life here â sit back, hope the race unfolds and have a last crack â but I donât think he can win."
Via Sistina
âYes.â
Treasurethe Moment
âIâm gonna say no," admitted Hunter.
âThe ride is crucial here, she canât afford to get behind the slow ones and have the good ones go around her.
âThatâs why I think she has to own the race early.
âIâm just querying how sheâs going after that (colic) setback - sheâs going well but is she going at her absolute best - she would need to be to beat a Via Sistina.
Aeliana
âShe can win for sure," exclaimed Hunter.
âI think sheâs going better than what everyone seems to suggest.
âFirst-up she ran alongside Via Sistina, nothing wrong with that.
âSecond-up she just couldnât sprint as fast as Mr Brightside, and she held off Via Sistina and Antino.
âThird-up she began too well, she got into a shocking spot for her, back on the fence. Then they sprinted home and she couldnât wind up, she was really only balanced up the last 100m, getting through the line well.
âSheâs a good mare, sheâs got a great trainer, she should be absolutely ready to peak.
âIf the race works out for her, she can win for sure."
Nepotism
âI think it will run very well," Hunter said.
âThe Caulfield Guineas run, it was basically given no hope and it ran well to the line.
âThe Champagne win was outstanding â thatâs got Cox Plate written all over it.
âCan it beat a horse like Via Sistina? I donât think so.
"Iâll say no."
