STAYING HOME
Winx out to emulate Kingston Town’s treble in Plate
THE phenomenal Winx will be given the chance to join Kingston Town in the pantheon of Moonee Valley legends after her extraordinary demolition of quality Cox Plate opposition yesterday.
Trainer Chris Waller ( pictured) will resist the temptation to compete inter- nationally with his wonder mare, declaring: “The world can come to us – if they’re good enough.”
Trembling with emotion after Winx sauntered to an eight-length triumph – the largest in the race’s 93-year history – Waller said Winx would attempt to emulate Kingston Town’s 1980-82 feat of winning three Cox Plates in a row.
Asked what the next objective for Winx is, Waller said: “Win a third one (Cox Plate).
“She ran a track record last year when she came to the Cox Plate at her third run. It was a delicate process. She is much stronger now. This year she is 14kg heavier, it is muscle.
“Her attittude is so good so it was always going to take a very good horse to beat us.
“Enough confidence to say she is coping well and it was al- ways going to take a very good horse to beat us.
“She is that type of horse that can make it happen.
“Turning for home to see her still travelling it gave me a bit of confidence.
“(It’s) like a dream – simple as that.”
No horse has ever won Australasia’s weight-forage championship with such ease.
Trailing in the mighty mare’s wake, Hartnell was brave in defeat, leading home filly Yankee Rose and French star Vadamos. But Winx was in a different orbit.
Dulcify (1979) and dual winner Sunline (2000) had previously shared the greatest winning margin of seven lengths. This was something else again.
Superbly handled by Hugh Bowman, Winx posted her 13th straight victory and boosted her stake earnings to more than $9 million.
Worried pre-race about buffeting winds, Bowman realised the race was in Winx’s keeping at the 800m.
And confirmation of her stunning supremacy came from the mouth of rival jockey James McDonald as Winx unleashed an electrifying sprint from the 500m mark.
“When I was able to secure Hartnell’s hindquarters, all my worries disappeared and I just enjoyed the ride like everybody else,” Bowman said.
“Not that I wanted to see him (Hartnell) fold, but I knew he would take me to where I needed to get to and he couldn’t take me far enough.
“Even James said when I went by him, he said ‘Oh, Jesus Christ’ and fair play to him, he (Hartnell) had a nice run as well.”
Winx will likely be spelled now, although there is a chance she could head to the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5.