Winx out to create history in Cox Plate

Australia’s champion race horse Winx will be out to create history by becoming the first female to win Australasia’s weight for age championship three-times at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Only Kingston Town, one of Australia’s greatest racehorses who won three consecutive Cox Plates between 1980-1982, has been able to achieve the stunning feat in the races history.

At prohibitive odds of $1.16 with Palmerbet, the mighty mare is set to be the shortest priced runner in the race since Australia’s most famous horse Phar Lap, who started $1.07 when winning the 1930 edition of the race.

Winx will be looking to make it 22 wins on end following a complete dominance of Australia’s best races over the last three years.

Winx wins, but who will fill the minor money?

Grant Palmer, CEO of Palmerbet explains there are a few angles for punters to take in the Cox Plate. “Winx should win comfortably and our market reflects that”, he said.

“Humidor out of the Darren Weir camp can run a big race following the announcement he will wear shades for the first time”, he said.

“He can certainly be the horse to grab second place for those punters playing exotics.”

Humidor, rated a $21 chance, has a short turnaround after a solid effort in the Caulfield Cup and will receive a big gear change in the addition of blinkers. It has been well documented that the son of Teofilo has been a horse with plenty of quirks, this latest tinker being used in a bid to see him return to the slashing form of his Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and Group 1 Australian Cup wins.

After winning his first four starts by an aggregate of 11.4 lengths, the hype surrounding the Tony McEvoy trained Royal Symphony is huge. The only three-year-old in the field sits on the second line of betting at $16 and will use the Cox Plate as an unconventional path towards the Victoria Derby after an unlucky run in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, but he certainly isn’t there for a simple look around.

Following a change of stables to the all-powerful Darren Weir camp, Gailo Chop ($20) produced the biggest win of his career last start with a strong victory in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes. The son of Deportivo possesses great tactical speed and that will prove his strongest asset as he looks to take the lead unchallenged.

Without even mentioning the recent dominant winner of the Cranbourne Cup in Folkswood ($21) and the spectacular display produced by Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Happy Clapper ($21), it’s evident the race for the $440k second prize is on in earnest!

But don’t focus too much on the rest. Wink and you might miss potentially the greatest we’ve ever seen.