Chris Waller’s super mare Winx is among the fifty-three gallopers left in contention for the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 at second acceptance time today.
Winx, above, heads up the 2nd acceptances for the 2016 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winx is the short priced favourite to retain her Cox Plate crown after demolishing a quality field of gallopers in the Weight For Age Championship of Australasia last year with a winning margin of four and three quarter lengths.
Other Waller horses still among the second acceptances are Preferment, Counterattack, Mackintosh, Vanbrugh and three year old filly Omei Sword.
Five overseas horses also remain in contention for the Cox Plate with French invitee Vadamos, Irish invitee Highland Reel, Order Of St George, Scottish and Sir Isaac Newton all included in the second acceptances list.
The Leon and Troy Cortsens trained Awesome Rock gained automatic entry into the Cox Plate for his win in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3 and is among the acceptances as is top weight for age performers, Ranvet Stakes winner The United States and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Lucia Valentina.
Leading Melbourne trainer Darren Weir still have five in contention, headed by stable stars Black Heart Bart and Palentino as well as Lidari, Raw Impulse and Japanese import Tosen Stardom.
The Australian Godolphin stable under the guidance of trainer John O’Shea also has five left in contention with Hartnell, Hauraki, It’s somewhat, Tally and Retaliation
Several three year olds included in the second Cox Plate acceptances are the Kiwi trained Sacred Elixir, David Vandyke’s filly Yankee Rose, Divine Prophet from the Team Hawkes stable and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Evacuation.
Winx remains the hot favourite for the Cox Plate at $1.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au well ahead of Hartnell at $9 and Vadamos at $13.
Early Cox Plate market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.80 Winx, $9 Hartnell, $13 Vadamos, $15 The United States, $17 Divine Prophet, $19 Lucia Valentina, $21 Palentino, Omei Sword, Black Heart Bart, $26 Evacuation, Tosen Stardom, Highland Reel, Hauraki, $31 He’s Our Rokkii, Order Of St George, Our Ivanhowe, Sacred Elixir, $41 and over the rest.
