Australia’s champion race mare Winx heads up the nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.

Winx, above in blue colours, beating Humidor in the 2017 Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx is one of fifteen Chris Waller trained horses that make up the 135 nominations for the Weight For Age Championship Of Australasia that has had a prizemoney boost from $3 million to $5 million this year.

Winx will be chasing her fourth consecutive win in the Cox Plate after equalling the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three straight wins last year and the champion mare is set to kick off her 2018 Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 after having her second trial this preparation at Rosehill today.

Regular rider Hugh Bowman was on board Winx when she ran seventh in her first trial this preparation and was on top again last Saturday when she stretched her legs in between races at Randwick and described today’s trial as the champion mare’s best to date.

“She felt as good as she looked. I am sure it looked pretty good. I would suggest that was as good as she has ever trialled,” Bowman said.

“I was very impressed with her. I asked her to do a little bit more than I did in the first trial.”

“She was more relaxed this morning than she was in her first trial and I think that was a result of going to the races for her exhibition gallop on Saturday.”

“For me it is the right direction that some of that nervous energy has left her body and she is ready for the races now.”

“She is in a good spot and I am very excited about her return in a couple of weeks time.”

Winx is the winner of eighteen Group 1 races and is joined but Waller’s other Group 1 winners nominated for the Cox Plate, Comin’ Through, D’Argento, Egg Tart, Shillelagh, The Autumn Sun, Unforgotten and Youngstar.

Victoria’s leading trained Darren Weir also a double figure of nominations headed up by last year’s Cox Plate runner up Humidor.

The international entries are headed up by the powerful Godolphin stable’s multiple Group 1-winner Benbatl, trained in the UAE by Saeed bin Suroor while Sir Michael Stoute’s stable star Poet’s Word, who recently added the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes to his Royal Ascot victory, is also among the entries.

A total of twenty-six internationally trained horse are among the nominations.

MVRC Chief Executive, Michael Browell, said: “The MVRC is delighted to see the quality of nominations from around the globe to contest the first $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate, taking Australasia’s weight-for-age classic to the world.

“The 98th edition of the Cox Plate promises to be one of the richest chapters in our club’s history, with Winx aiming for an unprecedented fourth straight win.

“It’s great to see such a strong list of international runners nominated for the race, which illustrates the prestige the Cox Plate now carries on the world stage.”

The first acceptances for the 2018 Cox Plate will be taken on Tuesday, September 11 while the final acceptances will be on Tuesday October 23.

Nominations for the 2018 Cox Plate (2040m)