Winx scares away Cox Plate rivals
IN what already looms as a race of history and records, Winx could face just four rivals in the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Such is Winx’s commanding aura, only Gailo Chop, Happy Clapper, Folkswood and Royal Symphony were last night confirmed starters ahead of tomorrow’s final acceptance deadline.
However the field could be boosted to 10 with The Taj Mahal, Tom Melbourne, Abbey Marie, Kaspersky and Seaburge still in the mix.
With prizemoney of $60,000 on offer to horses finishing sixth to eighth, it’s likely the final field size will swell to at least eight.
Winx is poised to start the shortest-priced favourite since Phar Lap in 1931.
With victory, she would overtake Makybe Diva as Australia’s highest stakes earner, equal Black Caviar’s record of 15 Group 1 wins and match Kingston Town’s feat of three straight plates, if successful.
Black Caviar’s trainer Peter Moody said Winx could achieve even more next season – and had nothing to prove by going overseas.
Chasing a 22nd consecutive win, Winx is a UBET $1.15 favourite for Saturday’s WFA feature race.
Phar Lap won his second Plate at $1.07 in 1931.
The shortest-priced winning favourite this century was So You Think ($1.50) in 2010, while Winx was sent off at $1.70 last year.
Moody agreed with the market summary but urged challengers not to be intimidated.
“It’s (Cox Plate victory) a foregone conclusion unless something leads to her unforeseen demise and that’s the last thing anyone wants to see,” Moody said.
“But you’ve got to take her on and you just can’t shy away from one horse.
“If horses have been aimed for it, you’ve got to have a go.
“There were times I said to connections with different horses in my stable running against Black Caviar that as long as ‘your a*** point to the ground, you won’t beat her’ but there’s terrific prizemoney on offer for second, third and fourth.”
If Winx wins on Saturday she will collect $1.8 million – a windfall that will boost her earnings to $15,577,925 and propel her past triple Melbourne Cup winner and fellow Cox Plate victor Makybe Diva’s $14,527,110.