Moonee Valley Tips for October 25th - Race-By-Race preview for Cox Plate Day
Moonee Valley hosts the iconic Cox Plate Day 2025 before closing for redevelopment, marking an emotional farewell for fans. Featuring a ten-race card leading up to the $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate, the event highlights top contenders like defending champion Via Sistina and local favorite Prince Tycoon. With a mix of experienced and promising racers, the article offers tips for potential winners in each race. This event promises excitement and a fitting goodbye to the cherished venue, transitioning to its next chapter.
- Moonee Valley stages its final Cox Plate Day before closing for redevelopment
- The ten-race program, culminating with the $6 million Cox Plate, features top contenders
- Saturday promises to be an emotional farewell, marking a new chapter for the iconic track
It’s one of the most celebrated days in Australian racing, with Moonee Valley staging the final Cox Plate meeting before the iconic track closes for redevelopment. The ten-race program carries extra significance as fans farewell the old Valley before its major transformation begins.
The card builds toward the $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), where defending champion Via Sistina headlines a deep field of local and international contenders. It promises a fitting farewell to the famous amphitheatre before Moonee Valley begins its next chapter.
Here are our free Australian racing tips for Cox Plate Day 2025.
Moonee Valley Tips on October 25th
Race 1 - 12:10PM Strathmore Community Bendigo Bank Imperatriz Sprint Tips (1000m)
Small field over 1000m for the opener on Cox Plate Day 2025. Plenty of speed engaged and most acceptors have decent Moonee Valley stats.
9. Tonkin heads the market, a Godolphin sprinter with four wins and two seconds from six starts, including a slick track-and-trip victory in January. She was a comfortable fresh winner in August when defeating Don’t Hope Do (third favourite here) and there was merit to the last-start second when on speed in a very fast run race.
5. Major Share is another with a good strike rate and was stakes-placed in March before a spell. Both jump-outs were sound, while off the expected speed and from a wide draw, he may be the one who can be ridden colder and produced late.
Not sure 7. Beast Mode gets the front as easily this time following a big 955m triumph when blinkers went on. His September 26 form ties in well via Grand Larceny through 8. Don’t Hope Do, another last-start winner.
Selections: 9 – 5 – 7 – 8.
Race 2 - 12:40PM HKJC World Pool Red Anchor Stakes Tips (1200m)
The market could tell the story late with 1. Prince Tycoon, who resumes off just one jump-out, that being a solid 1000m heat win at Cranbourne.
There was a strong spruik on him early, having landed the prize at Caulfield on debut as an even-money chance before heading north for the $1 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic. He never looked entirely comfortable coming back to 1000m there, but class took him a long way as runner-up.
Wary of the $25 starting price last time with 8. Snow Mercy, but that Group 3 Scarborough Stakes win over the likes of Memo, Esha, Icarian Dream and the smart Point Barrow reads superbly.
9. Live ran the fastest closing sectionals on Geelong’s October 2 card when coming from the rear. This is clearly harder, but she has talent and could settle closer from gate one.
2. Napoleonic went back-to-back before an even effort at Group 2 level and this is easier. Wide draw and now fourth-up with travel — looks short enough.
Selections: 1 – 8 – 9 – 2.
Race 3 - 1:15PM Symal Crockett Stakes Tips (1200m)
A very competitive race with a stack of chances. The early market leans towards Rohesia, who maps well and continues to race consistently.
Her stablemate 10. Proficient is on the third line of betting and, while not as seasoned, she could be the better horse going forward. Won comfortably in the fastest 800m jump-out at Pakenham on September 23 before a narrow debut win. She wasn’t fully screwed down and still new to it all at Sandown, while the runner-up has since franked the form.
12. Tres Magnifique caught the eye with a debut victory at Ballarat, and then at Caulfield, she should’ve finished much closer in a race taken out by the smart Point Barrow, having been badly held up until the 100m.
2. Stardom also brings Point Barrow form through the Champagne Stakes on September 26, where she worked early. Was a Listed winner third-up in May.
Respecting the progressive 7. Teine Aulelei, although a bigger track and a bit further could be her go.
Selections: 10 – 12 – 2 – 7.
Race 4 - 1:50PM 3 Point Motors Fillies Classic Tips (1600m)
Bringing the best form is 1. Salty Pearl, who backs up from a fourth-place finish in a slowly run, on-speed-dominated Group 1 Thousand Guineas, beating home some useful types in the process. Ole Dancer just edged Apocalyptic, with that pair clearly the leading filly sprinter-milers of this crop, while Getta Good Feeling (third) was a Group 2 winner at her previous start and is the current VRC Oaks favourite.
The grey has been honest in all three outings this spring, including a fresh third over 1200m here where she beat home Ole Dancer.
Could entertain 10. Sketch at big odds, despite this being very aggressive placement—straight from a 1200m second at maiden level, where she was unlucky, to 1600m in a Group 2 (albeit a thin one). She’s an athletic filly and a half-sister to Daumier (2022 Blue Diamond winner).
3. Enviable brings Group 1 form from the Flight Stakes, where she made some inroads into fourth but was still well held. Maybe an Oaks filly.
12. Amedei was specked on debut. Didn’t threaten, but that was a hot Sandown maiden and she had a torrid run at Kilmore. Now draws low.
Selections: 1 – 10 – 3 – 12.
Race 5 - 2:25PM Schweppes JRA Cup Tips (2040m)
Would take some faith to side with any of these gallopers, which includes 1. Middle Earth, who is starting to become his own worst enemy at the barriers and now has the blinkers applied.
The Ciaron Maher-trained import looked a live enough hope in last week’s Caulfield Cup, where he was a touch plain, and has been in Group 1 company in five of six starts since an Australian debut victory in March. Can the gear change spark him up?
Not sure on the class of 8. Sir Kingsford here, but the South Australian has a fair strike rate and will at least be making his own luck on speed. Arrives off two runs, a month between outings second-up, and has won three of his last four third-up attempts.
2. Point King hasn’t raced since almost qualifying for last year’s Melbourne Cup when second in the 2024 Bart Cummings. Won his prior two and his last jump-out was okay. Respect any market moves.
3. Casino Seventeen had a freshen-up before the Underwood Stakes and then was runner-up in the Coongy Cup. Finds his right race here.
Selections: 1 – 8 – 2 – 3.
Race 6 - 3:00PM Powerflo Solutions Tesio Stakes Tips (2040m)
The fresh run was a touch better than it reads from 6. Movin Out, where early indecisiveness forced her further back than she should’ve been, and the Chris Waller-trained mare stayed at 1400m when coming to Melbourne.
She was plain second-up, although once again found herself in a leader-dominated race, and third-up over a mile she was held up until the 200m before getting home fairly well in an improved showing. Has the class to give this a shake at an each-way price.
8. She’s A Hustler has five wins and three seconds from eight starts, and her last loss came at her lone attempt at stakes level. Up in grade and freshened since her September triumph, this looks a black-type target from a very astute yard.
Gavin Bedggood has 1. Jennilala ticking over fairly well, and she’s a dual Group 3 winner. She was okay at long odds when resuming in the Sir Rupert Clarke and gave a good sight second-up.
It’s another rise in grade for 12. Blindedbythelight, but she’s handled every step so far, with a hat-trick to open the prep.
Selections: 6 – 8 – 1 – 12.
Race 7 - 3:35PM Alinta Energy Crystal Mile Tips (1600m)
An honest on-pacer, 4. Rise At Dawn was well placed working through the grades before his Listed victories last season, and he finds the right race third-up following a trial win since his last-start second in Sydney as a $2 favourite.
He’s a rung or so below genuine Group 1 WFA level, but a Group 2 set weights and penalties race is well within reach. Gave a good sight when third first-up, and the runner-up Transatlantic has since franked that form by winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap two starts later.
8. Oh Too Good failed at her only previous attempt at Moonee Valley, which remains a concern, although that came second-up and she’d never won at that stage of a prep. Bounced back with a solid win last start, and this also looks a suitable target.
7. Von Hauke can be a tease and might draw a few in fourth-up to the mile, but his chasing third last start in a very slowly run race was excellent.
5. Golden Path was flying before the Turnbull Stakes. Disappointing there, but the prior third in the Underwood Stakes reads strongly for this.
Selections: 4 – 8 – 7 – 5.
Race 8 - 4:10PM Cirka McEwen Stakes Tips (1200m)
Off two lovely jump-outs, 9. Vestas ran as our value play of the Caulfield Guineas Day meeting and produced an enormous return from the four-year-old, running the fastest last 400m of the entire card when finishing third in the Northwood Plume Stakes.
Hard not to think she wins that with a touch more intent, which we’ll hopefully see here. She’s Bulletproof took out that race — a galloper who earlier in the year split Jimmysstar and Rey Magnerio in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate. We’re getting each-way odds again.
3. Tropicus easily accounted for Arkansaw Kid, a subsequent Group 2 winner when leading throughout via fast-run event fresh. Was then the pick on-speed a very fast-run Schillaci Stakes won by Giga Kick. Can't knock the form.
5. Charm Stone was always going to be favourite here as a two-length last start Group 1 winner over this track-and-trip. Map is trickier here, though.
7. Niance has just been a shade off her best in two spring runs, but still been competitive and 1200m suits now.
Selections: 9 – 3 – 5 – 7.
Race 9 - 4:50PM Drummond Golf Vase Tips (2040m)
There are no prizes for finding 1. Observer, who looks the standout winning proposition of the program and is priced accordingly. The Godolphin colt arrives off an unlucky third in the Caulfield Guineas, where he was only second-up after covering ground first-up.
He takes the Vase route before a potential Victoria Derby tilt next Saturday — and while some might have expected a Cox Plate throw at the stumps, this looks a logical stepping stone. There’s still improvement to come, and this shapes as a thin race.
6. O’Sheamus may be the knockout. He first impressed on debut with a fourth behind the smart Beadman, and while it’s been a steady build this time in, he broke through last start and needed every bit of 1600m. He looks as though he’ll relish the extra trip.
Another Godolphin runner, 3. Options, arguably should be unbeaten and bounced back at Flemington in one of the key Victoria Derby lead-ups.
Danny O’Brien can get a youngster to improve out of sight, and the blinkers go on 9. Crown Of Russia, who beat Autumn Mystery second-up — that galloper having since won the Derby Preview and Group 3 Caulfield Classic.
Selections: 1 – 6 – 3 – 9.
Race 10 - 5:40PM Ladbrokes Cox Plate Tips (2040m)
6. Via Sistina follows the same path in her Cox Plate defence, having resumed in the Winx Stakes before contesting both the Makybe Diva and Turnbull Stakes. She produced a dominant eight-length victory in last year’s edition, breaking the 2040m track record at Moonee Valley.
Her third in the Turnbull was stronger than it looked — flushed out early when Golden Path dropped off, she was left exposed with nothing to take her into the race yet still held on well. The ten-time Group 1 winner wasn’t exactly flying at this stage last spring either, before exploding on grand-final day.
7. Treasurethe Moment was brilliant first-up in the Memsie Stakes, defeating Mr Brightside, Buckaroo, Fangirl and Antino in a high-class edition. A minor setback soon after cost her some rhythm, though she’s finished runner-up in both subsequent runs. On her Memsie win she’d have this at her mercy — can she recapture that spark and make a statement here?
9. Nepotism, by Brutal out of Brigite — an unraced half-sister to Black Caviar — has taken time to come to hand but was much better last start in the Caulfield Guineas. With just 49.5kg and some queries on the main chances, the colt gets his shot as the lone three-year-old. Shamus Award was the last of that age to win in 2013, while Broadsiding (2024), Anamoe (2021), Castelvecchio (2019) and Yankee Rose (2016) all ran top three.
2. Antino is arguably the safest selection if going purely off the Turnbull Stakes, and he’s got the ideal platform to be peaking now. It’s been a huge year for Queensland sport — they’ve won State of Origin, both the NRL and NRLW titles with the Brisbane Broncos, and the Brisbane Lions claimed the AFL premiership. Can they add a Cox Plate?
Selections: 6 – 7 – 9 – 2.
Verdict
Our best and value bets for Cox Plate Day 2025 are:
Observer
To Win
@1/1 - 4 Units
£30 Free Bet
Use promo code NEWBONUS
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Vestas
Each Way
@9/1 - 3 Units
£25 Free Bet Refund
with promo code NEWBONUS
Join betTOM with promo code NEWBONUS and get access to their £25 Free Bet Refunds offer. 18+ only. T&Cs apply.
Prince Tycoon
To Win
@13/5 - 2 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS
Join betgoodwin with promo code NEWBONUS and get access to their Bet £10 Get £10 as a free ACCA welcome offer. 18+ only. T&Cs apply.
Movin Out
Each Way
@12/1 - 1 Unit
Bet £20 Get £10
Use promo code NEWBONUS
18+ New customers only. Bet £20 (or more) EVS (2.0) or greater Get 2 x £5 Free Bets. 1 x £5 Free Bet paid automatically & following £5 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0) on accumulators Trebles & upwards. Expires after 24hrs. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
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