Historic win for Winx in the Cox Plate
WINX won an historic victory the 2016 $3m, Gr 1 WFA William Hill Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday to be the first mare since Sunline (NZ) to win two Cox Plates, the tenth multiple winner of the race and to win by the widest margin of all, eight lengths, plus it was her 13th successive win.
The Chris Waller trained Street Cry mare under Hugh Bowman was supreme in her majestic win after daring the field to take her on and then just when the much talked about joust with Hartnell (GB) and James McDonald momentarily seemed about to start the mare strode away.
The rest of the field ran their own race with Hartnell (Authroized) keeping on for second ahead of the three-year-old filly Yankee Rose (All American) and Dean Yendall.
There were massive wagers on Winx including $30,000 at $1.80 at 2.30pm.
She finally paid that price of $1.80 on fixed odds and $1.70 on the tote.
Sunline
The previous winning margin of seven lengths was set by Sunline in 2000 and Dulcify in 1979.
“It’s like a dream, as simple as that,” said Waller.
“I stupidly got involved in all the buildup. But she was in the zone. I knew she was in the zone and when she's in the zone, well you saw her.
“This has been 365 days in the making. Her whole year has been geared towards this and she has done what Sunline did,”he said.
Waller is keen for Winx to race through the Championships in Sydney in the autumn before any thought of overseas travel.
Royal Ascot
He has the Royal Ascot meeting in England next June as a first option for the mare.
“It will happen but we have the best racing here in Australia and they can come to us if they are serious,” Waller said.
“She is just a superior racehorse and it is an honour to be a part of it,” said Bowman.
“Honestly she has just given us all the most amazing ride. To come out onto the track before the race and to have the crowd cheer like that, I was really moved by that.
“I just cannot believe it, it is such an amazing experience,” he said. - TDN