Cox Plate 2016: Winx defends her crown with incredible victory
TAB BIG BETS: MARE of the world Winx has made it back-to-back Cox Plates with an extraordinary victory at Moonee Valley.
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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 on Saturday.
Trainer Chris Waller will resist the temptation to compete internationally with his wonder mare, declaring: “The world can come to us — if they’re good enough.”
DON’T MISS YOUR EXCLUSIVE WINX POSTER IN YOUR SUNDAY HERALD SUN
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.
VALLEY THEATRE: WHEN DAYLIGHT REALLY IS SECOND
PLACEGETTERS: ONE STRIDE AND ALL OVER FOR HARTNELL
FINISHING ORDER: WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID + RATINGS
REACTION: WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING ABOUT WINX
WORLD RANKINGS: WINX POISED TO REACH SUMMIT
“She is much stronger now. This year she is 14kg heavier, it is muscle.
“Her attitude 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 always going 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-for-age 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) found, 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.
“She’s a superior racehorse and I just honoured to be part of it.”
McDonald summed up Winx’s towering superiority perfectly: “Wow. I don’t know what to say.
“I was going all right, too. She put me to bed pretty quick.
“I suppose he (Hartnell) was brave in defeat, but gee she is unreal.”
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.
Yankee Rose’s grip on the VRC Oaks tightened with her performance, as she shortened to TAB $2.50 favouritism.
Rider Dean Yendall said: “She was awesome. She was solid to the line.”
Winx already has been installed a $4 favourite to win next year’s Cox Plate.
Bowman revealed afterwards that he became emotional before the race as he prepared to race for history.
“When she was clapped out of the tunnel and cheered onto the track, I actually became a little emotional and had to regather myself,’’ he said.
“But what that did was give me confidence.
“When I came to the races I thought ‘We can’t lose this’ but once the track began to play the way it did in the wind, you needed to be in certain positions.
“And that made it difficult for me, but we won.
“She’s a superior racehorse and I just honoured to be part of it.’’
Managing director of Godolphin Australia, Henry Plumptre said afterwards he had no rejects finishing behind Winx with his pair Hartnell and Hauraki.
“She’s a champion. We weren't unlucky. We were just beaten by an absolute champion.”
The victory took Winx’s Group 1 tally of wins to eight.
WHERE YOUR RUNNER FINISHED
1 Winx
2 Hartnell 8L
3 Yankee Rose 8.75L
4 Vadamos 9.75L
5 Awesome Rock 10.5L
6 Happy Clapper 11L
7 Lucia Valentina 12.25L
8 Hauraki 12.45L
9 Black Heart Bart 13.2L
10 Happy Trails14.45L
FINISHING ORDER: WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID + RATINGS + DIVIDENDS
TAB BIG BETS
Race 1
Favourite punters were left lamenting in the Inglis Banner as Luiza was heavily supported from an opening price of $3.80 to $2.45.
The biggest bet on Luiza — who finished fourth — was $10,000 at $2.45.
Azazel opened $10 and was as much as $18 during the week before eventually closing $5 (got into as short as $3.80).
Race 2
Despite easing from as short as $3.20 to $4.60, O’Malley was far too good for his rivals.
Gun Case was backed from as much as $4.60 to $3.80 favourite but only managed a third placing.
Felines — who was unplaced — hovered between the $5-$6 mark (closed $6).
Race 3
Aided by the outside barrier, Sweet Sherry landed the prize despite easing late in the Crockett Stakes.
Sweet Sherry was backed from $4.60 into $3.20 before eventually closing a $4 favourite.
Blowing Kisses — who was unplaced — tightened late from $14 to $7.
Gretna — also unplaced — was $15 into $9 with one late wager of $5000 at $9.
Race 4
Archives just did enough to hold off Crafted in the Telstra Phonewords Stakes much to the delight of favourite punters
After the scratching of Ken’s Dream, Archives was $2.10 into $1.90 before easing late to $2.15
Dam Ready was backed from as much as $4.20 to $3 but didn’t figure in the placings along with Palladian ($3.30 to $7).
Race 5
Hugh Bowman elected to hug the rail which proved to be detrimental for Lady Le Fay who was unplaced in the Merlin Garage Door Openers Stakes.
Lady Le Fay was backed from $2.70 into as short as $2 before starting $2.40.
Antelucan — also unplaced — tightened from as much as $11 into $7.50.
Kaniana was as short as $12 out to $21 before starting $16.
Race 6
Sezanne was backed into favouritism for the P.W. Glass Fillies Classic ($3.50 to $2.50) but finished runner-up.
The displaced favourite I Am A Star fluctuated from $2.50 to $3.60 then $3.10 to $3.50 and was third.
Nurse Kitchen opened $41 on Wednesday and was specked into as short as $10 before starting $18.
Race 7
The United States was too good for his rivals in the Schweppes Crystal Mile despite easing for much of betting.
The United States drifted from $2.70 out to as much as $3.60 before starting $3.40.
Royal Rapture ($4.40), Federal ($4.40) and He Or She ($5) all failed to run a place.
Race 8
Grand Marshal stunned most punters in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup but one customer was cheering loudly.
The punter in question placed $5000 at $31 and subsequent support resulted in Grand Marshal starting $19.
Gallante was unplaced as favourite and was as short as $3.20 (bet of $7000 at $3.20) before closing $3.60.
Runner-up Who Shot Thebarman was as much as $5.50 into $4.20 before closing $4.60.
Race 9
Simply outstanding Winx in winning consecutive Cox Plates.
Winx was $1.90 after the barrier draw into as short as $1.75 before starting $1.80.
Bets of note in the last two-to-three days were $30,000 and $22,000 at $1.85, $30,000 at $1.80 and $45,000 at $1.75.
$4.5 million was paid out on Winx taking out back-to-back Cox Plates.
Runner-up Hartnell was $3 out to $5 after the barrier draw.
Other bets of note included $10,000 at $23 on the unplaced Black Heart Bart and $15,000 each-way at $11/$2.33 on the third-placed Yankee Rose.
Race 10
In an extremely LUCRF Super Vase, Sacred Elixir proved the superior galloper and started $5 favourite.
Sacred Elixir was as short as $4.40 and as much as $6 and one punter placed $10,000 at $5.
The third-placed So Si Bon ($6) also had support along with Whispering Brook who was scratched at the barriers.
FIXED ODDS MOVEMENTS ON THE FUTURES
Victoria Derby
(following the Vase)
Sacred Elixir $8-$3.80 favourite
So Si Bon $6-$7.50
Prized Icon $8-$9
Morvada $35-$13
Veladero $26-$21
Retaliation $17-$26
Silvera $26-$35
Melbourne Cup
(following Moonee Valley Gold Cup and Cox Plate)
Hartnell $4.60-$5-$4.60 favourite
Jameka $6-$5.50
Grand Marshal $51-$17
Who Shot Thebarman $26-$21
Gallante $21-$35
Excess Knowledge $35-$51
Pentathlon $101-$51
Second Wave $35-$101
Crown Oaks
(following P.W. Glass Fillies Classic, Cox Plate and the Vase)
Yankee Rose $3.80-$2.50 favourite
Harlow Gold $5.50-$7.50
Eleonora and Tiamo Grace $7-$7.50
Sezanne $21-$17
La Luna Rossa $21-$26
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