Winx Holds Safe in Record Cox Plate Victory
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Photo: Mark Gatt
Winx holds off an unexpected challenge from Humidor to win her third Cox Plate
Nobody expected it to be this close, but Winx has completed her Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) three-peat.
Starting a prohibitive 0.18-1 favorite, Winx settled midfield in the 2,040-meter (about 1 1/4-mile) championship at Moonee Valley in Melbourne, and got to the front easily enough with two furlongs to run.
But she then had an unexpected challenge from PFD Food Services Makybe Diva Stakes (G1) winner Humidor, who had been more than seven lengths behind her in the Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (G1) three weeks ago.
Jockey Hugh Bowman needed to ride Winx out more than usual, but the Street Cry (IRE) mare won by a comfortable-enough long neck at the finish in a course-record time of 2:02.94.
"It wasn't an easy victory, she had to be good to fight Humidor," Winx's trainer Chris Waller said after the race.
"But you never expect these races to be easy. In fact, you never expect to win when you come to these races. That was a fair-dinkum Cox Plate out there today."
The victory extended Winx's consecutive win streak to 22, equaled sprint queen Black Caviar's Australian record of 15 group 1 wins, and took her earnings past $AU15.5 million (about $11.9 million), which is more than three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva's Australian prizemoney record of $AU14.5 million.
She became the second horse to win the Cox Plate, Australia's most important middle-distance race, on three occasions, following Kingston Town (1980-82).
Waller has expressed a strong interest in bringing Winx to Europe in 2018, with venues such as Royal Ascot and York among the possibilities, but he said after Saturday's race that no decision is likely to be made until early next year.
He said Winx would only travel if she was at her peak.
Humidor, fifth in the BMW Caulfield Cup (G1) last week, will now head for the two-mile Emirates Melbourne Cup (G1) Nov. 7.
Godolphin's English traveler Folkswood was four lengths behind Humidor in third place. Royal Symphony, Gailo Chop, Happy Clapper, Seaburge, and Hardham completed the field. Another English horse, Kaspersky, was a late withdrawal.