The 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate is here!

Zaaki looked to have a mortgage on the race a few weeks ago, but a surprise defeat in the Neds Might And Power Stakes and the emergence of Caulfield Guineas winner Anamoe has opened the race right up.

We have analysed every single runner in the field and our complete 2021 Cox Plate tips are below.

Zaaki looked like the new superstar of Australian racing when he started his campaign with wins in the Tramway Stakes and Underwood Stakes, but the jury is out after he finished third behind Nonconformist and Zaaki in The Neds Might And Power.

Many were critical of Craig Williams’ ride in that race, but Zaaki did look to have every possible chance and he was left wanting after Homesman piled on the pressure at the 600 metre mark.

Barrier six does suit and James McDonald should be able to dictate terms in a Cox Plate that doesn’t look to have a huge amount of early tempo.

There is no doubt that he is a very good horse, but the Ladbrokes Cox Plate is the toughest test of his racing career to date and it is very tough to get him as short as his current quote on the back of that last start effort.

Dalasan is a much better chance than his current 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate odds suggest.

It has been a while between wins for the five-year-old, but he has been exclusively racing at the highest level and he is capable of a very high-rating performance on his day.

He produced a career best performance when he finished third behind Addeybb and Verry Elleegant in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the Autumn and he comes into the Cox Plate on the back of a gallant third place finish in the Epsom Handicap.

Barrier three suits as he does have tactical versatility and Daniel Moor will have plenty of options in the early stages of the race.

Gold Trip is the leading international chance in the 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

He finished fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe last year and this year he has been thereabouts in races like the Prix Ganay and Prix De Saint-Cloud.

The weight-for-age form coming out of France has been a little bit questionable this season and the fact he has only won the one race is slight cause for concern.

I think that he would need to improve on his European form to be a genuine winning chance, but we saw Ciaron Maher and David Eustace do exactly that with Sir Dragonet 12 months ago.

Callsign Mav has been sent over from New Zealand for the Ladbrokes Cox Plate after a pair of Group 1 victories.

He led from start to finish to win the Tarzino Trophy over 1400 metres first-up and he proved that was no fluke with a tough victory in the Windsor Park Plate.

The Atlante gelding does have early speed and he looks like the obvious leader in the early stages of this contest.

I don’t think that he has the class to win the Cox Plate and a top five finish would be a good result.

Mo’unga

Mo’unga could be the forgotten runner in the Cox Plate and he is another horse that is a much better chance than his current odds suggest.

His first-up win in the Winx Stakes was excellent and he gave Incentivise a serious race in the Makybe Diva Stakes before he finished a gallant fifth with a big weight in the Epsom Handicap.

The step-up to 2000 metres is ideal, he won the Rosehill Guineas over this trip in the Autumn, and he maps to get the run of the race with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

It would not surprise to see him produce a career best performance and that sort of effort would have him right in the finish.

Verry Elleegant

It is tough to get a read on Verry Elleegant heading into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

She looked to be heading in the right direction when she finished second in the Winx Stakes and won the George Main Stakes, but she produced a surprisingly flat effort when she finished fourth in the Turnbull Stakes.

That was not the first time she has failed to fire in a high pressure race and Damian Lane will likely give her a colder ride in this contest.

There is no doubt that her best form is give enough to win the Cox Plate, but there is a genuine question mark after that Turnbull Stakes effort.

$8 is around the right price.

Probabeel

Probabeel is back for another crack at the Ladbrokes Cox Plate after finishing a credible seventh behind Sir Dragonet 12 months ago.

She started her Spring campaign with a typically classy effort in the Cockram Stakes and she was tough with a big weight on her back in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Zaaki beat her comfortably in the Underwood Stakes, but she was able to turn-the-tables in the Neds Might And Power Stakes to claim her first win at 2000 metres.

Jamie Richards has her absolutely flying and there is an argument to be made that she is in career best form, but there is still a slight query on her in a strongly run 2000 metres contest.

State Of Rest is the second European runner in the 2021 Ladbrokes Cox Plate field.

He was outclassed at the highest level in Ireland and the United Kingdom, but he earnt himself a trip to Australia for a shot at the Cox Plate with a good win in the Saratoga Derby Invitational in the United States.

State Of Rest does have a similar profile to 2014 Cox Plate winner Adelaide, but this is easily the toughest test of his racing career to date and he would need to produce a new career peak to be any chance.

The $10 currently available is well and truly under the odds.