LIVE BLOG: Cosmic Crusader storms home to claim Cox Plate

Welcome to Cox Plate Day at Flemington!

Strap in for a nine-race card in front of a restricted crowd at HQ as we see who can take out one of the greatest races in the Australian calendar.

Can a three-year-old win it again, will Sir Delius find form, is it Chris Waller to claim his record-equalling seventh Cox Plate? All will be answered throughout the afternoon and evening.

Randwick will play host to the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and has a very nice undercard, while wet Eagle Farm will pose a challenge for punters if it goes ahead.

Tap in here to keep up to date with all the happenings on what will be an exhilarating day across the country or listen live to David Taggart and Cam Luke from Flemington as they guide you through the day and pick some winners.

5:55 - SEN Track reacts to Cosmic Crusader's win

5:45 - Andrea Leek reflects on Cosmic Crusader's win

“This will take a lot of time (to sink in), I feel like an imposter,” Leek told Channel 7 after the race.

“He just turns up every day; he improved from last week (in the Caulfield Cup) and may have done a bit much on the Tuesday.

“I said to (owner) Bob (Peters), he’s better than what he was last week. I was a bit worried without the rain, but what a ride off Willie and what a horse.”

5:17 - Cosmic Crusader claims the Cox Plate

What a finish by the WA horse!

Willie Pike has helped the six-year-old Bay Gelding storm home in the final seconds to claim the Group 1. It went to the outside and breezed past its opposition down the home straight to win by just under a length.

Cosmic Crusader now adds a Cox Plate alongside a Turnbull Stakes to mark trainer Andrea Leek's second Group 1 with the Gelding this year.

The Chris Waller-trained duo of Birdman and Aeliana round out second and third.

Full finishing order

• 1 – Cosmic Crusader
• 2 – Birdman
• 3 – Aeliana
• 4 – Ceolwulf
• 5 - Saint George
• 6 – Sir Delius
• 7 – Warwoven
• 8 – Middle Earth
• 9 – Attrition
• 10 – Blind Raise
• 11 – Light Infantry Man
• 12 - Land Legend

4:58 - The more things change, the more they stay the same

We might not be at Moonee Valley, but some things stay the same regardless of where the Cox Plate is held.

Whilst it wasn't Darryl Braithwaite this year, Michael Paynter had the honours of singing the beloved song 'Horses' for the Flemington crowd as they get ready for the Group 1 with less than 10 minutes from the scheduled jump.

4:25 - Juja Kibo through to the Cup

Juja Kibo has claimed the penultimate golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup with a win in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup

It was in a battle with Mr Monaco going down the home straight, but the Ciaron Maher-trained horse got the job done, pulling away with about 100 metres to go to finish in front.

Behind the 6yo Bay Gelding was Kings Valley, who finished second, followed by Mr Monaco.

3:03 - The Chino does it for WA

All the talk pre-race was around the Extragalactic v Jigsaw duel which allowed Smooth Chino to drift to $8.50 on Sportsbet before the jump.

Mazu set a tempo that ultimately hindered Jigsaw in running and put a gap between them and the field, but it was Smooth Chino with WA jockey Austin Galati aboard that came home strongest to edge out the veteran by a nose.

Jigsaw is now five starts at Flemington without a single placing...

2:44 - Central Europe breaks the hoodoo

After seven starts, including being five lengths off Warwoven last start who is a live chance in the Cox Plate, this Group 3 seemed a softball from trainer Chris Waller to see what was underneath the bonnet of this Frankel colt.

Sitting third last most of the run off a slow to medium tempo, Jason Collett's steer put it's foot down and within 50 metres of pressing go, found himself in the lead off an impressive turn of foot.

He was too good for those and I expect we will see him back in Group 1 or 2 level next time out.

1:47 - Derby market taking shape after True Rebel claims the Vase

True Rebel is now the $3.20 favourite for the Victoria Derby in one week's time!

Blake Shinn did enough in the dying stages to edge out a brave Skua who set the pace and stuck on well, another promising outing for a Derby hopeful.

Hierarchy had a solid closing 50m too and is a $21 chance next week.

1:11 - Taggs nails one for the Bet With Greats group

Easy as you like for the Taggster with the quinella in race 2 to kick off the day for the group!

12:29 - Early blowout at Flemington

Patrck F Ryan Jnr trains just four horses at Grassmere and this 6yo mare is giving him one hell of a ride.

Having taken out the Listed Century Stakes in her only start at 1000m up the straight, the $41 quote offered at opening was smashed into $17 at start time (with Sportsbet).

Can she make it back-to-back Century Stakes' on Oaks Day?

12:08 - Cam Luke's Cox Plate tip!

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