The Aporia · Like bacon and eggs, this perfect pairing is hard to go past in the Cox Plate

Like bacon and eggs, this perfect pairing is hard to go past in the Cox Plate

Read the original at The Sydney Morning Herald ↗

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Russell, D. (2026, October 23). Like bacon and eggs, this perfect pairing is hard to go past in the Cox Plate. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/racing/like-bacon-and-eggs-this-perfect-pairing-is-hard-to-go-past-in-the-cox-plate-20261023-p617bz.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

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Quick Summary

Chris Waller and James McDonald's successful partnership in horse racing is highlighted as they aim to win their third consecutive Cox Plate with Aeliana on Saturday. The duo could tie the Australian record for most Group 1 wins together if victorious, having already won two previous Cox Plates. Aeliana is favored after strong performances leading up to this race, but faces stiff competition from horses like Ceolwulf and Sir Delius.

Written by AI on 2026-10-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Chris Waller and James McDonald, known for their successful collaboration in horse racing, have another chance to break records this Saturday with their entry Aeliana in the $6 million Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. If they win, it would bring their combined Group 1 victories to 52, just two short of the Australian record set by legendary trainer Tommy Smith and jockey George Moore. Waller, who has already won six Cox Plates, is looking for a repeat performance after Aeliana placed third in the Turnbull Stakes and second in the Sunrise Stakes recently. The pair faces strong competition from Sydney-based trainer Joe Pride’s entry Ceolwulf, which could be a formidable opponent alongside Autumn Glow.

Written for “Cox Plate Racing Event” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

0 of 17 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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61/100

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The Sydney Morning Herald · 5759 article(s) · 15 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 15 correction(s)

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Who wrote this

Danny Russell

33 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 “I’ve been involved in horses in one form or another for 50 years, and this is the best horse I’ve ever been involved in, by a considerable margin,” retired school teacher Greg May told this masthead.

2026-11-01 · assertive framing · This horse is barred from running in Cup week after failing a drug test – that its trainer requested

🔮 The Joseph O’Brien stayer has set European racing alight in the past six months by adopting daring catch-me-if-you can tactics and was expected to turn Tuesday’s 3200m race at Flemington into a gruelling test of stamina that would suit the Europeans.

2026-10-31 · assertive framing · Another shock scratching three days out from Melbourne Cup

🔮 A 5am start will be trialled after the spring carnival.

2026-10-28 · assertive framing · ‘Can’t have a life’: Kanga joins welfare push for later starting times in racing

🔮 The winner of one, he says, will become a household name.

2026-10-27 · assertive framing · One is the race that stops a nation. The other will make you an instant $30 million

🔮 This guide will be updated when the field is set with comments from Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Michelle Payne assessing each runner’s chances.

2026-10-27 · assertive framing · First look at the Melbourne Cup form - we rate the top 24 horses

🔮 As trainer Andrea Leek, who operates stables in Nar Nar Goon North, celebrated becoming the first woman in 32 years to win Australia’s weight-for-age championship with West Australian star Cosmic Crusader, the dual Brownlow winner and his Carlton crew were left to wonder what might have been.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · No October joy for Carlton stars on Cox Plate’s sojourn to Flemington

🔮 One of the country’s finest trainers will set foot on the vast green lawns at Flemington on Saturday with a serious Cox Plate chance and mixed emotions.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Track tensions, the Valley roar, and Daryl Braithwaite’s Horses: The mixed emotions behind Cox Plate’s Flemington move

🔮 That would take Waller’s total victories in the race to seven and McDonald to five.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · Like bacon and eggs, this perfect pairing is hard to go past in the Cox Plate

🔮 Zahra is waiting on medical advice to be cleared to resume riding, but will miss Saturday’s Cox Plate day, while McNeil has been given the all-clear.

2026-10-22 · assertive framing · ‘Stark reminder’: Racing boss emails horse owners over Caulfield Cup death

🔮 But what we are missing now is the “coroner’s report”; information that goes beyond those in-race mechanics and more deeply into the other factors that may have had an impact on the day.

2026-10-20 · assertive framing · The report into the Caulfield Cup horse death has been released, but we need more information

Also by Danny Russell

This horse is barred from running in Cup week after failing a drug test – that its trainer requested

2026-11-01 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Another shock scratching three days out from Melbourne Cup

2026-10-30 · The Sydney Morning Herald

‘Can’t have a life’: Kanga joins welfare push for later starting times in racing

2026-10-28 · The Sydney Morning Herald

One is the race that stops a nation. The other will make you an instant $30 million

2026-10-27 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 33 articles by Danny Russell →

Topics

Australian Land Legend Melbourne Cup Moonee Valley Via Sistina

Subjects

Aeliana PERSON · 4× Waller PERSON · 3× Australian NORP · 1× Chris Waller PERSON · 1× George Moore PERSON · 1× James McDonald PERSON · 1× Joe Pride PERSON · 1× McDonald PERSON · 1× Tommy Smith PERSON · 1× Via Sistina ORG · 1×

Narrative

Waller has primed the three-time group 1-winning mare to hit her sweet spot on Saturday, following a third in the group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) and second behind Autumn Glow in the group 2 Sunrise Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-23

🔮 That would take Waller’s total victories in the race to seven and McDonald to five.

2026-10-23 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Like bacon and eggs, this perfect pairing is hard to go past in the Cox Plate · assertive framing

Claims (17 extracted, 0 hedged)

There are few things in the world that work together better than Chris Waller and James McDonald. asserted

that → be → Waller

But in the sporting world, these two come up trumps, having won the past two Cox Plates with Via Sistina and 51 groups 1s as a trainer-jockey combination. asserted

two → come → combination

This Saturday, they can jump to 52 – two behind the Australian record of legendary trainer Tommy Smith and jockey George Moore – by winning the Cox Plate with Aeliana. asserted

they → jump → Aeliana

That would take Waller’s total victories in the race to seven and McDonald to five. asserted

That → take → five

If Waller is a grand final trainer, then Aeliana is a massive chance to win racing’s equivalent of the Norm Smith Medal. asserted

Aeliana → win → Medal

Waller → prim → Randwick

A decision by Sydneysider Joe Pride to send his No.1 seed Ceolwulf south has been a godsend for the race. asserted

decision → send → race

He is an A-grader and brings Autumn Glow form lines. asserted

He → bring → lines

Many think Sir Delius would have romped in last year’s plate before being ruled out by the Melbourne Cup safety protocols. asserted

Delius → think → protocols

The three-year-olds – Warwoven and Blind Raise – are above average and bred to get the 2040m. asserted

olds → breed → 2040

Birdman just needs to handle the expected hot tempo to be a winning chance. asserted

Birdman → need → tempo

So, we are looking for a first-four hope. asserted

we → look → hope

Attrition ran fourth last year, and has had a better preparation this spring, although this looks a stronger field. asserted

this → run → preparation

Cox Plate tips: 1st Aeliana (No.10), 2nd Ceowulf (No.1), 3rd Birdman (No.6), 4th Blind Raise (No.12) Russell says: Aeliana looks the one. asserted

Aeliana → say → ?

I’m not concerned about barrier 10 of 14 because the field will be stretched out by front-runners Land Legend and Light Infantry Man and, unlike Moonee Valley in the past, Flemington has a long straight. asserted

Flemington → ’m → straight

International form looks strong this year. asserted

form → look → ?

The Vase looks a winnable race for filly Joely (Race 3, No.11). asserted

Vase → look → Joely