Punters in a rush to back Winx

WINX might seem to be at unbackable odds but that hasn’t deterred some fearless punters from placing huge bets on the champion to continue her famous winning streak in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The mighty mare has seven rivals and only bad luck or some other unforeseen circumstance will prevent her from scoring her 30th consecutive win.

When the final field was announced yesterday, Winx was $1.10, then firmed into $1.08 after a bet of $150,000 was laid.

Further bets of $150,000, $100,000 and $40,000 were taken at $1.08.

The shortest price Winx has started during her famous winning streak is $1.08 in the 2016 George Main Stakes.

In Ladbrokes’ market last night, Winx was at $1.09 to win the 1400m race.

Happy Clapper, who has chased home Winx in eight previous clashes, was at $9, with Unforgotten next at $21, then Tom Melbourne at $26 and Aloisia at $31.

Co-trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, who prepare Aloisia, can’t recall the stable having had a runner against Winx in the past.

“Exciting might be the wrong word. Daunting is probably closer to the mark,” Eustace said of the challenge.

“And I don’t think I’d really want to be there if we were to beat Winx because I don’t think we’d be very popular.

“But that is highly unlikely.”