Wonder Winx to fill her Plate
PRINCE HARRY and Meghan have captivated the Australians in recent days, but Winx is ready to steal the show on Saturday. Hailed as the best in the world, Winx attempts to make it a historic fourth win in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Now unbeaten in her last 28 races, 21 of those wins have come in Group Ones, she will face seven rivals in the £2.7million contest. Such is the mare’s growing popularity, a couple of thousand racegoers pitched up to watch her exercise on the track yesterday morning starting at 6am.
Hugh Bowman, the sevenyear-old mare’s regular rider, believes Benbatl, from the Saeed bin Suroor stable in Newmarket, represents the danger.
After the draw was revealed, Bowman said: “By the time her number was drawn you could see Benbatl was in three.
“I wouldn’t have wanted barrier two, so six was the best of what was left. Depending on how the race is run, I can ride Winx to suit her and the race. It’s despite it going to be a great race, it’s a good field and I think Benbatl really offers some excitement to the race. It’s going to be very interesting.
“I’m really looking forward to it. Of course, it’s a great position to be in and it’s not going to last forever, so let’s enjoy it while we can.”
Roger Charlton, attempting to become the first British trainer to win next month’s Melbourne Cup with Withhold, is taking no chances about the gelding failing to get in the race.
“We had hoped to go straight to the race, but there were a number of variables, with a few horses above him that we didn’t think would run now looking like they will run,” said Charlton.
“If we didn’t run [today], we wouldn’t know if we would get in the race or not until a couple of days before.”
Champion jockey Silvestre de Souza, who partnered the fiveyear-old to victory in last year’s Cesarewitch, has been booked to ride the 12-1 chance.
“The horse has settled in very well and is in good form,” added Charlton. “If he wins or is placed he should enable us to get in next month’s race.”