Epsom winner Winx and Turnbull Stakes victor Preferment are set to add to Chris Waller’s strong arsenal for the Group 1 $3m William Hill Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
Epsom winner Winx is likely to head to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Waller is already supplying the favourite Kermadec and is quickly building his his chances of winning his first Cox Plate.
Kermadec heads the Cox Plate market order at Ladbrokes.com.au at $5.50 after he won his second Group 1, beating stablemate Royal Descent in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 19.
The Teofilo four year old had previously won the Group 1 $3m The Star 150th Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 6 during the 2015 Sydney Autumn Carnival.
Winx has also been to the Group 1 winner’s stall on two occasions with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and in the Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwic last Saturday.
Winx proved a class about her rivals with an explosive two and a quarter lengths win over the Randwick Mile and Waller is considering a start in the weight for age championship at Moonee Valley.
Preferment’s win in the Group 1 $500,000 Yellowglen Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington last Sunday was also his second at Group 1 level and he is now likely to join Kermadec in the Cox Plate.
“We are leaning towards the Cox Plate with both horses, but we are still keeping our options open,” Waller told The Herald Sun.
Preferment had been heading towards the Group 1 $3m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 17 but Waller could now use the Cox Plate as his final lead up run for the Group 1 $6m Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.
“He has shown he can run out a strong 2000m,” Waller said.
“And there is no guarantee by running in the Caulfield Cup that you will still get the two miles (3200m) of the Melbourne Cup.”
Winx has been promoted to the second line of betting at $7 alongside of last year’s Cox Plate runner up Fawkner while Preferment is still at the good odds of $17 for the Cox Plate.
Waller will also saddle up this Saturday’s Caulfield Guineas favourite Press Statement and a win by the Hinchinbrook colt in the $1m Group 1 over 1600m for the three year olds at Caulfield could also see him progress to the Cox Plate.
Press Statement is well in contention in the Cox Plate betting and is currently marked as a $15 chance.
