Irish in awe of Winx
THE team of Irish trainer Aidan O’Brien believes Winx’s Cox Plate superiority is so vast “she just has to go down to the start, turn around and come back”.
O’Brien’s foreman TJ Comerford declared the wonder mare and Ladbrokes’ $1.20 favourite unbeatable, unless she has a rare off day at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
“I don’t think she is vulner- able, bar she has a bad day herself,” he said.
“She hasn’t had one of those in 28 starts, so I doubt she’s going to have one here.
“I saw her gallop the other day (in the Turnbull Stakes) and I thought she was more impressive that day than any other day.
“I don’t know what’s going to beat her.
“If she wakes up in bad form, she might get beaten.”
Winx is chasing an unprecedented fourth successive Cox Plate victory at the Melbourne track.
O’Brien and Comerford joined with Ryan Moore to pilot Adelaide to victory in 2014, the season before Winx’s imperious reign started.
The trio will combine again on Saturday with Rostropovich, who is on a Melbourne Cup campaign.
“We’re just hoping to run well,” Comerford said.
“He’s in good form, in good shape, he looks well. We’re going to let him take his chance and see what he can do to keep him right for the Melbourne Cup.
“I thought if he could run into a place, that would be a big run especially heading into a Melbourne Cup.
“He’s off a good weight in the Melbourne Cup and that’s his main target.
“I wouldn’t be disappointed if he beat Winx but I probably would be a bit surprised.”
Comerford described $8.50 second favourite Benbatl, another foreign runner, as “a worthy contender”.
“He’s a Group 1 winner and you have to respect him,” Comerford said.
“He’s her main danger. “We’re probably getting a bit of weight off them so that gives us a bit of a chance. Other than that, I don’t know.
“I’d say she just has to go down to the start, turn around and come back.”