Read what the Jockeys and Trainers said following the Cox Plate 2025.
Winning Trainer: Chris Waller
“I know she hasn’t won her last two runs but all the data suggests she’s flying and once they set those benchmarks, providing the horse is healthy and well, you know they’re going to get somewhere close to it.
“There’s been a few of those ‘don’t panic, don’t change anything, don’t think about anything’ (moments). Let the horses do the talking.
“She had a lovely run. Attrition, I thought, was the winner at the 200 (metre mark). She had to dig deep. I know she can and she did.”
Winning Jockey: James McDonald (Via Sistina)
“It was a sensational feeling. It was funny because she began well. I thought, ‘this is beautiful’. I thought I was in a great spot.
“Zac Lloyd (Neopitism) was jostling for a position. Came back, she raced a little bit keen for a bit but her incredible will to win shone through there and she’s a champion racehorse.
“I’m so proud of her. She deserved to be in the same breath as Sunline and those sort of horses with two Cox Plates.
“You know what? I’m just rapt that it was a proper run Cox Plate. That’s what Cox Plates are all about. Best horse shone through and she deserves all she gets.
Beaten Jockeys:
Ethan Brown (Light Infantry Man): “He’s run out of his skin. He got a lovely lead, as he’s getting older he’s showing signs of up in trip is going to suit. Continually learning about him every start but he held his own then and he’s just going to get better deeper into a prep.”
Blake Shinn (Antino): “That was disappointing, that’s not the Antino we’re accustomed of knowing. First part of the race I was happy to ride a patient race, they went very quick, I followed the first and second horses but his action wasn’t good from the 1000. He didn’t want to track up like he usually does and he just didn’t chase from the 500, so I’m sure there’s something not right with the horse and that’s why he performed the way he did.”
Craig Williams (Attrition): “I really feel privileged and honoured to ride in the last Moonee Valley Cox Plate, the last meeting here at the current location. Mitch Freedman, my horse’s trainer and Attrition, the horse, did a great job and he ran really admirably to run fourth but that’s a quality field.”
Mark Zahra (Buckaroo): “He was courageous, followed the winner everywhere but I just never got in front at any stage. She just finds a head the minute you come up to her. She’s a good mare but he ran well.”
Damian Lane (Treasurethe Moment): “She was super. Very proud of the horse, proud of Matty and his team for getting her back to where she is today. Just unfortunately Nepotism was put into the race early and forced my hand, I had to ask for her a bit earlier than what was ideal and she obviously put a good margin on them on the corner but that early move had a toll late, so she did a great job.”
Hugh Bowman (Aeliana): “She was a little keen in the run and no one wanted the fence, so I just let her creep forward throughout, which was fine, but when the pressure started to build, I was reluctant going inside Ethan Brown, but I had no other choice and I took my chance and it didn’t work out.”
Zac Lloyd (Nepotism): “He went really well. He was able to execute the race nicely, he’s just probably not as seasoned as the other horses. He got a bit lost coming around that bend.”
