Bold front-runners and stablemates Light Infantry Man and Land Legend will start alongside each other from outside barriers in Saturday’s (24 October) G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington in Melbourne, Australia.

The AU$6 million (approx. HK$32 million) feature has attracted a field of 12, with Light Infantry Man to jump from barrier 11 and Land Legend in 12.

The Ciaron Maher-trained pair threatens to inject a fierce tempo into the race, which is being held for the first time at Flemington as Moonee Valley undergoes a major redevelopment. Maher will also saddle former European stayers Middle Earth and Saint George.

Land Legend was the rank outsider when the seven-year-old gelding caused an upset in the G1 Might And Power (Caulfield Stakes) (2000m) after leading and holding off fast-finishing Sheza Alibi.

Light Infantry Man, a Flemington track and distance specialist, also used catch-me-if-you-can tactics in the G1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) but finished second after being hauled in by Cosmic Crusader, whom he meets again on Saturday.

Highly fancied Aeliana, trained by Chris Waller and to be ridden by James McDonald, finished third in the race. The only mare in Saturday’s field, Aeliana finished sixth of eight in last year’s race, when ridden by Hugh Bowman.

Success for Aeliana will give Waller a record-equalling seventh win in what is billed as one of the world’s best weight-for-age contests, while McDonald is aiming for his fifth consecutive success in the feature.

“Whenever you mention Cox Plate, it gives me goosebumps,” McDonald said. “It sits high up on the agenda, and we’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of luck in the race.”

He has won on James Cummings-trained Anamoe (2022), Hong Kong-trained Romantic Warrior (2023) and Waller’s Via Sistina (2024 and 2025).

As well as Aeliana, Waller also saddles Group 1 winner Birdman as the trainer aims for his third consecutive success in the race.

“Both horses are well. The riders were happy with their work; James McDonald was aboard Aeliana, Ben Melham on Birdman – both ride the horses on Saturday,” Waller said after trackwork.

Sir Delius, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, has regained slight favouritism in the markets after drawing barrier five.

“He’s not working quite the same as he did last year – he’s a year older, he’s more mature, but I thought he handled it very well,” Waterhouse said of Sir Delius’ track gallop on Tuesday (20 October). “He’s very fit. He’s a happy horse.”

Waterhouse’s famous father T.J. Smith won a record seven W.S. Cox Plates, but the race has so far eluded her.

“It’s a very tough field, particularly strong with a lot of depth – it’s a real serious Cox Plate,” she said.

The wild cards in the race are three-year-olds Warwoven and Blind Raise, who will both carry the minimum 109lb.

Rachel King, who rode Warwoven to victory over the gelding Blind Raise in the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on 10 October, said the Bjorn Baker-trained colt was the best horse she has ridden.

“I don’t think we’ve reached the ceiling with him yet, which is exciting,” King said. “We’re under no illusion that it’s a different ball game against the older horses.

“He’s by far the best horse I’ve sat on.”

Jamie Melham has the ride on Blind Raise, who likes to race handy but could be tested against Land Legend and Light Infantry Man and is a genuine chance, according to trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.

The last three-year-old to win the Cox Plate was Shamus Award, who broke his maiden in the feature in 2013.

Joseph Pride-trained Ceolwulf has three seconds and a third from his past four starts, all at a mile, and should relish the rise to 2040m.

Cosmic Crusader, fourth in last week’s G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), is a Group 1 winner at the track and distance and has plenty of admirers.

The weather forecast for Melbourne is mostly cloudy with 3mm to 20mm of possible rainfall throughout Saturday.

The G1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) is carded as S1-8 and will be run at 2.10pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday, 24 October.

Photo: Bradley Photo