Cox Plate 2027 Betting Tips - 3 long-range predictions for the 2027 Cox Plate

Sheza Alibi heads the early betting, but at this stage we’d rather side with a horse who’s already put together a full season of weight-for-age form around 2000m. The Golden Eagle could also draw some of the leading four-year-olds to Sydney, so we’ve gone with two established performers and an improver who’ll be five next spring.

Birdman was runner-up to Cosmic Crusader in the 2026 Cox Plate before turning the tables in the Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington. Ben Melham rode him more patiently in the rematch and the gelding produced the turn of foot to put away a field that also included Sir Delius. Add his Doomben Cup (2000m) and Underwood Stakes (1800m) wins and there’s a strong body of form at the distances that matter. He’ll have to reproduce his Flemington form if the race returns to The Valley, but his ability to quicken off a patient ride gives him options. He opened at $11 with TABtouch and is our Best Bet.

The $11 about Autumn Glow comes down to whether connections give her another crack at this sort of trip. Her only defeat in 16 starts came in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), when she finished third behind Sir Delius and Lindermann after a genuinely run race. Chris Waller questioned her distance range afterwards, so there’s a real chance she stays at shorter trips. But she was still a Group 1 placegetter at her first try at 2000m and looked as good as ever when beating Lindermann in the Champions Mile (1600m). If she gets another chance beyond a mile as a six-year-old, there’s enough in that Randwick run to give her a serious chance.

Mr Miller came through the grades quickly for Chris Waller, winning at Warwick Farm and then carrying 58.5kg to victory over 1500m at Rosehill. He took advantage of a light weight to finish fifth in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and backed it up with a fourth behind Skyhook in the Golden Eagle (1500m). The son of Almanzor has to prove himself beyond a mile and make another jump to weight-for-age company, but he was already competitive in some of Sydney’s deepest spring races in his first campaign through the grades. With another year to mature, he’s the one we’d keep safe at a big price.