McDonald to ride Aeliana in bid for fifth straight Cox Plate
The A$6 million race moves to Flemington during Moonee Valley’s redevelopment, while trainer Chris Waller is chasing a record-equalling seventh win.
James McDonald will partner Chris Waller-trained Aeliana as he seeks an unprecedented fifth successive Cox Plate victory, with the 2040m Group 1 contest being held at Flemington.
The 34-year-old’s winning sequence began aboard Anamoe in 2022, followed by Romantic Warrior in 2023 and Via Sistina in 2024 and 2025. Another victory would take him beyond Hugh Bowman’s run of four consecutive wins on Winx.
McDonald said he had not allowed himself to dwell on what a fifth straight success would mean. He recalled watching Sunline race while growing up in New Zealand and said winning the Cox Plate once had seemed beyond reach.
Aeliana has drawn barrier 10 for the race, which has moved from Moonee Valley because of major redevelopment work. McDonald said the mare trains at Flemington, has a good record there and prefers space to build into her races.
Waller also has Birdman entered, with Ben Melham to ride. The trainer is seeking to equal T.J. Smith’s mark of seven Cox Plate victories, having previously prepared Winx for her four wins from 2015 to 2018.
