Australia: Warwoven faces longest test yet against elders in Cox Plate

It turns out all Warwoven needs is distance.

A Southern Hemisphere 3-year-old, Warwoven began the current Australian season in August as a Group 3 sprint winner. Four races into the season, Warwoven has won his last three starts, including two Group 1 races. He is the early favorite in Saturday’s Group 1 Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.

The Cox Plate will be Warwoven’s first start outside of his age group, and the longest race of his career. The recent Group 1 wins were the Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney on Sept. 26, and the Caulfield Guineas at a mile at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 10.

Trained by Bjorn Baker, Warwoven has won 6 of 9 starts. He tends to run from slightly off the pace, which should provide a favorable trip in the $4.2 million Cox Plate. The Cox Plate, Australia’s leading weight-for-age race, drew a field of 12.

The race is typically run at nearby Moonee Valley Racecourse, but has been moved to Flemington while Moonee Valley undergoes a substantial renovation.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for international racing, including Australia

Warwoven, who starts from post 2, will be ridden by Rachel King, who has been aboard for all of his starts.

Sir Delius, the winner of three Group 1 races in slightly more than a year, and the mare Aeliana, the winner of two Group 1 races on consecutive Saturdays in March, can beat Warwoven.

Aeliana, sixth in the 2025 Cox Plate, was third by 2 3/4 lengths to Cosmic Crusader in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington on Oct. 3.

Cosmic Crusade is part of the Cox Plate field. He followed the Turnbull with a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup at 1 1/2 miles last Saturday, losing by slightly less than 1 1/2 lengths as the 7-2 favorite in a field of 18.

Aeliana, Cosmic Crusader and Sir Delius race as stalkers, which is likely to lead to an interesting tactical duel in the Cox Plate.

The Cox Plate has a post time of 2:10 am. Eastern on Saturday or 11:10 p.m. Pacific on Friday.

:: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.