Moment of the day: That race
If you strip it back, Antino didn’t turn up, Nepotism was a speed hump, Aeliana probably missed a trick not going to the Caulfield Cup plus Hughie had little luck and Treasurethe Moment was brave, but has had setbacks.
It wasn’t a vintage Cox plate. Via rated well down on her 2024 romp.
But, the finish saved the race. Buckaroo and Via Sistina had the crowd on their feet one last time at the Valley we know and love. A stirring duel up the ridiculously short 173m home straight, with barely a whisker separating Waller’s star pair.
Cox Plate | Via Sistina
The Valley roars one final time! 🥹🗣️ Via Sistina closes the curtain on an era with a scintillating Cox Plate triumph to win in consecutive years ⭐️
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/ZynsDwtIyk— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2025
The fact it wasn’t a strong Cox Plate doesn’t matter. History will gloss over that fact. The race delivered a grandstand finish, as it has so often.
McDonald delivered a textbook ride, as he had done throughout a day that netted three wins and two seconds from just five rides – each of them great steers. In fact, had he not delivered a near perfect steer, Buckaroo would’ve gobbled up the star mare late.
Via joins some of the great names in racing having claimed multiple Cox Plate. For J-Mac that’s four straight in the great race. And for Waller, well he has a lazy six, and one imagines there’s plenty more to come.
From Scepticism to Stardom: The Social Media Shake-Up Racing Needed
There was plenty of outrage and scepticism when Racing Victoria announced they were bringing out UK social media personality The Racing Blogger.
But just a few short weeks later, the only sound you can hear is the garbage trucks backing up – a sign that the early critics have quickly been silenced.
‘Bloggsy,’ as he’s affectionately become known, has swept into town and reminded everyone how racing should be covered.
I had the pleasure of meeting him briefly last Wednesday and quickly realised he’s passionate, he’s authentic, and he doesn’t take himself too seriously.
Participants have warmed to him in no time.
Bloggsy’s interview with Chris Waller was so natural. Waller clearly had a respect for Bloggsy and there was an instant warmth between the two that isn’t always present in everyday racing interviews we’ve become accustomed to.
From what I understand, RV only covered Bloggsy’s airfare and accommodation. If that’s true, it’s the bargain of the year. Even if they paid him more, he’s already earned every cent – and the Cup Carnival hasn’t even started.
Hopefully this serves as a wake-up call to the hardened racing set: if the sport wants to grow, it needs the courage to try something different.
Ride of the Day – James McDonald
Punters and pundits had started to question J-Mac’s form after a lean trot, but he bounced back with a vengeance on Saturday.
He had five rides at The Valley for three wins – including the Cox Plate – and two seconds: Race 2 Napoleonic (1st), Race 3 Stardom (1st), Race 4 Enviable (2nd), Race 9 Providence (2nd), and of course Via Sistina in the feature.
If you look at each of those rides, they were inch-perfect. For the record, I thought the losing ride on Enviable might have been the best of the lot. The filly had gone back at her previous two starts, but from the wide draw James rode aggressively early and gave her every possible chance – she just ran into a better one in Salty Pearl, much to the delight of punters.
The Valley Race 4 | Salty Pearl
Salty Pearl pounced on them once a gap eventuated, careering away for her first Group quality success ❄️
📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/APoR3aXaDw— Racing.com (@Racing) October 25, 2025
The wonders of gear – Beast Mode activated
Beast Mode wore blinkers earlier in his career but he spent a long period without them.
The Hayes boys decided to whack them back on before his last start at The Valley, and since then he has been a different horse.
He belted his rivals in a BM84 at The Valley two back and repeated the dose on Saturday, running slick time in comfortably accounting for Tonkin.
BEAST MODE 💪
Another win at The Valley for Beast Mode as @CWilliamsJockey secures his 20th career Cox Plate Day win in the opener!@lindsayparkrace pic.twitter.com/uIhssF8jOZ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 25, 2025
Gear changes don’t always work, but they are always something punters should pay close attention to, as they can bring about rapid improvement.
A sick beat of a different kind
Observer (race 9)
He was heavily backed from the moment markets opened, ultimately starting $1.75 – or $1.55 for those who still haven’t learned their lesson about favourites on the World Pool.
But spare a thought for the poor punter who backed Observer to win by 2.5 lengths. He would’ve been feeling sick as Mark Zahra throttled him down to a walk over the final 100 metres. What a way to do your dough! It was only half a length on the line, but had Zahra kept the momentum rolling, you’d imagine he would’ve easily covered that 2.5-length margin.
Doesn’t help me! pic.twitter.com/62uGiNWZg5
— Trackside Trav (@TracksideTrav) October 25, 2025
Punters will happily help rip up the Valley track
Stardom won the Crockett Stakes but one could easily mount a case that Teine Aulelei (5th) and Tres Magnifique (8th) should’ve run the quinella.
Look, it’s statistically harder for backmarkers at any track, but either galloper probably would’ve only needed 100m of daylight to put this race to bed. They were both ‘all dressed up with nowhere to go’.
They were the latest victims of the tight-turning, flukey nature of The Valley circuit. Thankfully for backers of these two fillies this is the last time we will have to punt on the current layout, but that’s cold comfort if you took the 20/1 about Teine Aulelei who I think was the unluckier of the two.
J-Mac, Gai, STARDOM ✨
All the way in the Crockett Stakes for Stardom as @mcacajamez makes it a race to race double! He’s seeing them nicely early 😉 pic.twitter.com/fMUHyB7bPf
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 25, 2025
Flashing Light – Vestas (race 8)
This mare is completely airborne, she’s just been in two races she had absolutely no hope from the moment the barriers opened.
It was nigh-on impossible to make a looping run on Saturday, so as a backmarker her fate was sealed long before the Tropicus withdrawal.
Much like she did at Caulfield the start prior, she again ripped home in blistering late splits – the second best last 200m of the meeting. She’s due a change of luck!
Did YOU figure out the puzzle? 🧩
JIGSAW leads all the way to win the G2 McEwen Stakes, becoming the seventh of eight winners today to play better with World Pool than SP! 🌏pic.twitter.com/dPqxZibtcm
— World Pool (@WorldPool) October 25, 2025
