Cox Plate 2024: Via Sistina Winner, Results & Recap

What horse won the Cox Plate in 2024?

Via Sistina’s victory details

Via Sistina delivered a performance that left the racing world speechless. Ridden by James McDonald, the Fastnet Rock mare surged clear in the straight to win by eight lengths — the most dominant margin the Cox Plate has seen in years. She stopped the clock at 2:01.07, obliterating Winx’s track record of 2:02.94 that had stood since 2017 (The Valley (Official MVRC)).

Starting at $5 odds from barrier 4, Via Sistina sat midfield — roughly six horses off the rail — before James McDonald asked for her effort at the 300-metre mark. The acceleration was instant and devastating. By the time the crowd at Moonee Valley could process what was happening, the mare was already four lengths clear and accelerating away from a quality field (Races.com.au).

Jockey and trainer

James McDonald guided Via Sistina to victory, marking his third consecutive Cox Plate win on three different horses — a feat achieved only once before by Brent Thomson from 1977 to 1979 (The Valley (Official MVRC)). Chris Waller, one of Australian racing’s most decorated trainers, collected his fifth Ladbrokes Cox Plate trophy. The victory also marked the 100th Group 1 win for both jockey and trainer in a remarkable joint milestone.

What are the results of the Cox Plate?

Full finishing order

Nine horses contested the 104th Ladbrokes Cox Plate over 2040 metres on good turf conditions. The full finishing order reads:

The implication: the gulf between Via Sistina and the rest of the field suggests she stands apart from her contemporaries at this distance, a fact that carries significant weight for future Cox Plate betting markets and autumn racing campaigns.

Top 4 placings

The runner-up Prognosis, owned by Shadai Race Horse Co Ltd, finished two lengths behind Via Sistina. Third-placegetter Broadsiding represented Godolphin’s powerful operation and came from the barn of James Cummings. Mr Brightside, one of the pre-race favourites, had to settle for fourth under Craig Williams (Racing Post).

Via Sistina carried 57 kilograms — standard weight-for-age for a mare of her age — to complete the course. The final margin of eight lengths translates to roughly 16 body lengths ahead in human terms, a gulf that separates elite from exceptional (Races.com.au).

What time is the Cox Plate race?

2024 race time

Via Sistina’s winning time of 2:01.07 shattered the previous Moonee Valley track record by 1.87 seconds. To put that in context: Winx set 2:02.94 in 2017, and before that, records rarely dipped below 2:03. The new benchmark firmly establishes Via Sistina among the elite middle-distance performers in global racing (The Valley (Official MVRC)).

Full schedule

The 2024 Cox Plate formed part of a full card at Moonee Valley on Saturday 26 October. Cox Plate Day traditionally marks one of the centrepiece events of the Australian spring racing carnival, falling between the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup on the calendar. The race itself typically runs in the early evening slot, local time.

What horses ran in the Cox Plate 2024?

Field and odds

Nine horses lined up for the 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, a relatively small field by the race’s recent standards but one packed with quality. Mr Brightside arrived as one of the pre-race favourites following a stellar preparation, while Via Sistina opened at $5 odds — a clear signal that the market expected her to go close (Racing Post).

Key contenders

The field included internationally sourced talent. Prognosis represented the Japanese Shadai operation, trained by Mitsumasa Nakauchida. Godolphin’s Broadsiding flew the blue flag under Jamie Kah. Against this backdrop, Via Sistina’s victory — a mare who had previously raced in Europe under George Boughey before joining Chris Waller’s Sydney stable — reads as a remarkable transcontinental campaign (KB Bloodstock).

What this means: the international diversity of the 2024 Cox Plate field reflects the growing global nature of Australian Group 1 racing, with Japanese and European connections increasingly represented in the sport’s marquee events.

Where can I watch the Cox Plate?

Broadcast options

The Cox Plate receives extensive free-to-air and subscription coverage in Australia. Racing.com typically provides live updates and video packages, while Channel 7 and Fox Sports carry the major spring carnival races. Replays and race highlights are regularly uploaded to official club channels and racing media outlets.

Live streams

For those unable to attend in person, official streaming platforms through Racing Victoria and the Moonee Valley Racing Club offer live coverage. Social media channels, particularly the official Facebook page, publish race footage and post-race interviews in the hours following each event.

“The Valley roars one final time” — the 2024 Ladbrokes Cox Plate may prove to be the last held at Moonee Valley before the club’s planned redevelopment.

— Moonee Valley Racing Club (Official MVRC)

Racing Victoria confirmed the Cox Plate will run at Flemington Racecourse from 2025, with the Moonee Valley venue undergoing major reconstruction works.

— Racing Post

For Australian racing fans, Via Sistina’s 2024 Cox Plate victory was the kind of performance that defines a season. She arrived with European credentials, connected with one of the sport’s master tacticians in James McDonald, and delivered a piece of history under the lights at Moonee Valley. With the IFHA ranking her run among the world’s top-10 performances and the race’s temporary home shifting to Flemington, the 2024 chapter closes as one of the most remarkable in the Cox Plate’s century-plus history, cementing Via Sistina’s status as the horse to beat heading into 2025.

Related reading: VCT vs WA scorecard and results

Via Sistina’s dominant Cox Plate performance echoes the drama of other elite races, including the Grand National 2025 recap at Aintree Racecourse.

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