Super mare Winx has arrived safely in Melbourne overnight in preparation for the 2017 Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28.
Super star mare Winx, above, has arrived safely in Melbourne where she will chase a 3rd win in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winx will have her final Cox Plate lead up run in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7 and is fully expected to take her winning sequence to twenty-one.
Among her twenty straight wins over the last two years are two sensational victories in the last two running of the Cox Plate, with a combined winning margin of twelve and three quarter lengths.
A third win in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate will see Winx equal the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three consecutive wins in the ‘Weight For Age Championship’ in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
Trainer Chris Waller is happy with the way Winx has progressed since collecting her twentieth consecutive win in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on September 16.
“Winx has arrived safely in Melbourne and will have a quiet few days to settle back into familiar surroundings,” Waller said.
“I have been very happy with her work over the past week, which included a gallop on Saturday and again on Tuesday morning prior to leaving the Rosehill stable.
“I am extremely pleased with where her fitness levels are at and she will have a gallop next week to finalise her preparation before the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on Saturday 7th October.”
Leading Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman who has been on Winx for all but one of her last twenty wins and is keen for her to race in Melbourne again where he considers her to be superior racing in the anti-clockwise direction.
“I tend to look forward to riding her all the time but she’s definitely more comfortable going the Melbourne way, I will say that,” Bowman said.
“She just seems to enjoy galloping on her Melbourne leg. I don’t know why that is. Some horses are like it but she certainly prefers leaning into her Melbourne leg when she’s going through her gears.”
Winx has only raced in Melbourne on three occasions for her two Cox Plate victories plus a win in the Group 1 $600,000 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Winx has been installed as the $1.20 favouirte at Ladbrokes.com.au for her next assignment in the Turnbull Stakes and is also the short priced $1.50 top pick in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
Early market order for the 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.50 Winx, $21 Hartnell, Humidor, $26 Egg Tart, Tosen Stardom, Royal Symphony, $41 Almandin, Bonneval, Catchy, Deauville, Gailo Chop, Happy Clapper, $51 or better the rest.
