Fans go in hard on Winx
PUNTERS big and small are backing the Winx fairytale as the superstar mare today chases a history-making third Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
Seeking to join the great Kingston Town as the only horse to win three successive plates, Winx was the subject of massive support yesterday at her prohibitive odds of $1.15.
TAB took a bet of $30,000 on Winx, which would return a profit of $4500.
Since Monday, the TAB has taken more than $400,000 on Winx at her current quote, with outlays including $106,500 on Tuesday (to win just under $16,000) and on Wednesday bets of $60,000, $50,000 and $43,478.
“It’s been relentless. Such is the weight of money on her she could start even shorter than $1.15,” TAB’s Nick Quinn said last night.
At Sportsbet.com.au, bets of $55,000, $43,000 and several of $20,000 landed, in addition to plenty of “mum and dad” wagers.
“Winx is a superstar and the serious punters are hitting her hard, but the general public also love her,” sportsbet .com.au’s Will Byrne said.
Winx will start from barrier six on a track that is expected to be a perfect Good 4.
Second favourite is threeyear-old colt Royal Symphony at $15 with Darren Weir stablemates Gailo Chop and Humidor next best at $19. ROBBIE Waterhouse has described Winx as the greatest of them all, but Michael Sullivan says the champion mare is vulnerable today.
Two of Australia’s biggest bookmakers and renowned form students are at odds about Winx.
Waterhouse said none of Winx’s eight Cox Plate rivals was good enough to prevent the great mare from scoring her 22nd consecutive win.
“Winx has to beat herself to lose,’’ Waterhouse said.
It might be false bravado on Sullivan’s part as his Bluebet company has lost “hundreds of thousands of dollars” on Winx.
“I think Winx is beatable, but this will probably make it 22 times in a row I have been wrong,” Sullivan said. “The ray of hope is the tight track. The key to beating her is making sure the pressure goes on early.”