Winx primed for attempt at fourth Cox Plate, says trainer Chris Waller
IT’S all systems go for Winx’s shot at a historic fourth Cox Plate triumph, according to Chris Waller, but the trainer refuses to be drawn on whether it will be the champion’s last.
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DECLARING Winx in peak condition, Chris Waller will use Breakfast With The Best at The Valley to add the finishing Cox Plate touches to the wonder mare.
Delighted by the world’s best horse’s work at Flemington on Saturday, Waller will float Winx to The Valley to ignite a familiar — and highly successful — process.
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“The Breakfast with the Best is part of her routine,” Waller said. “When she goes three weeks between runs, she gets a bit fresh.
“So we take her to the races on the Saturday before for an exhibition gallop before she races.
“Wouldn’t be right to take her to Caulfield Cup Day, so Breakfast with the Best fits the bill perfectly.
“It gets her on her toes, just gets the blood flowing, have a little bit of a sweat and then you’ll see her turns up on Saturday, she’ll be picture perfect.”
Seeking a 29th successive triumph and record fourth Cox Plate, Winx is a $1.20 favourite to create even more history.
Now seven, Winx’s future beyond this spring has not been formalised.
Asked if Saturday’s race would be the last time the champion would be seen in Melbourne, Waller would not be drawn.
“I won’t say yes or no because I don’t think it’s fair really on the horse or the discussions we’ve had with the owners,” he said.
“We’ve only had one discussion and we mentioned when will it (retirement) be? And we all agreed the horse will tell us when it will be.
“So, I don’t want to say unlikely or things like that because I think it will be obvious when the decision is made.
“I keep reminding myself to enjoy Winx for today and tomorrow and not worry too much about when she finishes racing but look forward to reflecting on all the great memories and when she becomes a mum.
“So there’s lots to look forward to.”
BLINKERS GIVE HUMIDOR A SHOW
DARREN Weir is hoping rather than believing history might repeat itself in the Cox Plate with Humidor.
In last year’s race, for a brief moment, it looked like the unthinkable might happen when Humidor ranged up to Winx.
Winx, though, shrugged off the challenge and won by almost half a length.
Weir has already conceded next week’s race to Winx, saying Humidor can’t beat her.
“He won’t be beating her but I think he’ll at least make it a race again,” Weir said.
He is following the same formula as last year by placing the blinkers on Humidor, hoping they can add a couple of lengths to the gelding’s result.
“I’m tipping this will help but it won’t be enough to win,” he said.
Punters have followed Weir’s lead with the blinkers going back on, with Humidor firming from $15 into $13 third favourite behind Winx at $1.20 and Benbatl at $9.
Humidor completed his Cox Plate preparation with a third in the Caulfield Stakes behind Benbatl and Blair House.
“He never runs a bad race. He’s a really good weight-for-age horse and he’s ready to run a big race again,” Weir said.
Humidor will be ridden by his regular jockey Damian Lane.
POTENTIAL COX PLATE CONTENDERS
WINX
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Starts: 38:32-3-0
The Valley: 3: 3-0-0
Odds: $1.20
The world’s top-rated horse, hasn’t lost for three years, unbeaten at The Valley. Chasing a fourth Cox Plate.
BENBATL
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Jockey: Pat Cosgrave
Starts: 15: 7-2-1
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $10
Narrow but impressive Caulfield Stakes win. Two wins at past three starts have come at Group 1 level over 2000m.
Can he beat Winx? A career-best — and by some margin — would put him right in the picture.
HUMIDOR
Trainer: Darren Weir
Jockey: Damian Lane
Starts: 31: 8-7-4
The Valley: 1: 0-1-0
Odds: $15
Chased Winx bravely in this race last season, getting to within a neck of the champion.
Can he beat Winx? Blinkers magic worked last year, who knows what DK Weir has up his sleeve this time.
BLAIR HOUSE
Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Jockey: James Doyle
Starts: 16: 4-7-0
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $17
Narrowly beaten in the Caulfield Stakes by Benbatl in a significant improvement off Australian debut.
Can he beat Winx? Until this season, Charlie Appleby was so successful walking on water seemed within his grasp. Will need a miracle to topple Winx.
HOMESMAN
Trainer: Liam Howley
Jockey: Ben Melham
Starts: 13: 4-4-1
The Valley: 1: 0-1-0
Odds: $51
In front before the line and after the line in the Caulfield Cup. This guy is renowned for his toughness and will get back to his best trip if Lloyd Williams chooses to back him up.
Can he beat Winx?
She would have to get strung up in traffic and lots of it for that to happen. He’ll give a kick when she gets to him but that will be it.
AVILIUS
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Glyn Schofield
Starts: 11: 6-1-2
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $17
Rising star attempting to emulate Makybe Diva and Saintly by winning Cox Plate before Melbourne Cup. Unbeaten in Australia.
Can he beat Winx? Doubtful, but stranger things have happened. Flemington is the focus.
KINGS WILL DREAM
Trainer: Darren Weir
Jockey: Craig Williams
Starts: 13: 6-1-4
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $26
He started favourite in the Caulfield Cup but the race proved a non event for him as he knuckled at the start and was held up in the run. Finished nicely. Maybe he’s got one more big race start in him this spring and this might be a better option than the Melbourne Cup which he’s going to struggle to get into.
Can he beat Winx?
He wasn’t that far away from her in the Turnbull Stakes but they’d have to be dreamin’.
D’ARGENTO
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: N/A
Starts: 11: 4-2-2
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $26
Consistently contends between 1600-2000m at elite level but has won just one of past six.
Can he beat Winx? There would be mutiny in the Waller yard if the master trainer shot Bambi himself. No.
SAVVY COUP
Trainer: Michael and Matthew Pittman
Jockey: Chris Johnson
Starts: 16: 6-2-3
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $26
Star Kiwi mare who booked a ticket to The Valley with a win in the Group 1 Livamol Classic at Hastings. She’s a dual Group 1 winner and had little luck when fifth in the Australian Oaks behind Unforgotten after winning the New Zealand Oaks. Hard to assess the form but she’s consistent and could be around the placings.
Can she beat Winx?
Unlikely but when she’s lost she’s normally been unlucky. She’s untapped. She’s as good a wildcard as any other runner.
ROSTROPOVICH
Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
Jockey: n/a
Starts: 12: 4-2-2
The Valley: 0-0-0
Odds: $51
Aidan O’Brien trained son of Frankel who gained his ticket here with a win at Group 3 level at Leopardstown. He finished second in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot which is where Adelaide finished when he won the Cox Plate. He then finished second behind Latrobe He’s owned in the same interests as Adelaide.
Can he beat Winx?
He’s talented but couldn’t get close to Poet’s Word two starts ago in a Group 1 over 2406m. On the flip side he’s got Adelaide parallels but whether that’s good enough to beat Winx is another thing.
SIEGE OF QUEBEC
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: n/a
Starts: 12: 4-3-1
The Valley: 0:0-0-0
Odds: $201
Good tough run on effort to finish third in the Toorak Handicap. He’s building to a Group 1 win but it’s not likely to be in this. More likely to
Can he beat Winx?
If he did he should be renamed the Siege Of The Valley because the course might have to be put into lockdown with the ensuing riot.
EL DORADO DREAMING
Trainer: Kris Lees
Jockey: n/a
Starts: 7: 1-1-3
The Valley: 0: 0-0-0
Odds: $201
She was tracking well before her failure in the Thousand Guineas where the track was too firm and she pulled up with poor post race recovery. She’s in one of the most underrated stables in racing but she looks out of her depth.
Can she beat Winx?
Only in her owner’s dreams.
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