Winx would be forced to carry more than 60 kilograms in a Melbourne Cup

MAKYBE Diva lugged a history-making 58 kilos when she won her third Melbourne Cup. But that’s nothing compared to what super mare Winx would receive if she turned stayer.

Hugh Bowman and Winx won’t ever see the Melbourne Cup. Picture: Getty Images

WINX would receive a minimum 60 kilograms should connections ever nominate the superstar mare for the Melbourne Cup.

Despite having never run more than 2200 metres, racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter says Winx — who on Saturday is a hot favourite to make it three Cox Plates in a row — would demand a huge weight should connections ever wish to run her in the race that stops a nation.

The hefty weight would largely be due to her incredible rating, with back-to-back Cox Plates among her streak of 21 straight victories.

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Carpenter labelled Winx “the best in the world”, revealing he was often quizzed about what weight he would be forced to impose should she attempt the 3200m trip.

Hugh Bowman and Winx dominated the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington earlier this month. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s a question I’ve been asked quite frequently over the last couple of months,” Carpenter told SEN.

“Obviously her winning streak and her brilliance has created a lot of interest ... everyone sees the Melbourne Cup as the big grand final in horse racing.

“The answer is, it would definitely start with a six. She would have at least 60 kilos.

“Her international rating is 132.

“There was much discussion this year and last year when I gave Order of St George, the star European stayer, 58 kilos. He’s rated 121.

“The difference between 132 and 121 is 11 points, or five-and-a-half kilos.

“So if you took a line through the international rating of the two horses, your starting point would be 63.5 (kilos).”

Makybe Diva carried 58kg when she won her third Melbourne Cup in 2005.

In 2005 Makybe Diva carried a record 58kg for a mare when she won her third Melbourne Cup.

Carpenter said while Winx could be granted some concession having never raced over two miles, she would still be given an unprecedented weight.

“Now Winx has never been beyond 2200m — the distance of the Queensland Oaks the year she won it — so I would give her a discount, probably in the fact that she hasn’t gone beyond that distance heading towards the Melbourne Cup,” he said.

“She’s the best horse in the world, on turf. For me she is the best horse in the world and her performances would demand that to give other horses (in the Cup) a chance and an opportunity to be competitive she would actually get at least 60 kilos in the Melbourne Cup.”

Originally published as Winx would be forced to carry more than 60 kilograms in a Melbourne Cup