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

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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 locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-23, using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the same event (that is the story summary below).

AI analysis runs on qwen2.5:14b, locally

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 2026-10-23, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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

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not political

takes no side on a contested political question

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61/100

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The Sydney Morning Herald · 4724 article(s) · 11 correction(s) detected

Running correction rate · 11 correction(s)

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Who wrote this

Danny Russell

26 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 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

🔮 They opened an inquiry on Saturday and it will be ongoing this week.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · Why the inquiry into Caulfield Cup horse death must be made public

🔮 Stewards were able to quickly calm worried family and connections of the jockeys by releasing a statement to say both would be taken to hospital but had escaped serious injury.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Horse’s death, reigning champion’s fall overshadow finish of the Caulfield Cup

🔮 Why this seven-year-old, $34 shot might just be poised to spring an almighty Everest upset By

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · Caulfield Cup and The Everest LIVE: Big day of racing lined up for Melbourne and Sydney

🔮 Defending champ Half Yours (59kg) will carry an extra 5kg on last year’s win and a new jockey – Mark Zahra – after Jamie Melham opted to ride in The Everest.

2026-10-16 · assertive framing · Maher than likely: The horse we expect to win the Caulfield Cup

🔮 “I’m leaving with the view that this momentum and this growth and this strong performance will continue,” he said.

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · Profits prompt Wilson’s departure from VRC as he downplays talk of board rift

🔮 “The market percentage is higher, so, on average, all horses will be poor value in comparison long term,” Walters explained on X. “Doesn’t matter what you back.”

2026-10-11 · assertive framing · Racing’s big gambling problem, and why it’s hurting punters

🔮 Talented hoop Rachel King emerged on Saturday as a serious contender to win this year’s Cox Plate, a historic feat that would see the Sydney jockey smash one of racing’s unbroken glass ceilings.

2026-10-10 · assertive framing · Michelle Payne was first to break racing’s glass ceiling. Rachel King is lining up to smash another

Also by Danny Russell

‘Stark reminder’: Racing boss emails horse owners over Caulfield Cup death

2026-10-22 · The Sydney Morning Herald

The report into the Caulfield Cup horse death has been released, but we need more information

2026-10-20 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Why the inquiry into Caulfield Cup horse death must be made public

2026-10-18 · The Sydney Morning Herald

Horse’s death, reigning champion’s fall overshadow finish of the Caulfield Cup

2026-10-17 · The Sydney Morning Herald

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

All 26 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