Champion mare Winx has come through another morning gallop at Rosehill in great shape as her countdown continues towards a fourth Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
Winx, above, is progressing nicely through her preparation as she heads towards a 4th Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.
Trainer Chris Waller tweeted this morning that Winx has come through her first trial this preparation in great order and pleased the premiership winning trainer on the Rosehill grass track.
“Winx has come through her trial last week in great order, she had a gallop this morning at Rosehill and came through it well,” Waller tweeted.
Winx had her first public appearance since winning the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on day two off The Championships on April 14 when she ran seventh in a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill on July 23.
Regular rider Hugh Bowman was aboard Winx and after letting her settle near the tail of the field in the early part of the trial, he lengthened the reins slightly in the straight to let the star mare extend her stride over the last fifty metres.
“She felt good – felt really good,” Bowman racing.com.
“It’s the start of a new prep its exciting for us all and I couldn’t have been happier with her this morning.
“She had a good blow this morning after the trial which was good to see.
Winx is the winner of her last twenty-five starts which includes eighteen at Group 1 level and the extraordinary mare will be chasing a fourth win in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate after creating history when she equalled the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three consecutive Cox Plate victories when she beat the Darren Weir trained Humidor in the 2017 weight for age championship during the Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Winx will have one more barrier trial before resuming in the race that is named after herself, the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 with the 2018 Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27 her main Spring Carnival goal again.
Pre-post betting for the 2018 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has Winx as the $1.55 favourite, well ahead of her nearest rival in the market order, Humidor at $15.
Winx’s record
35 starts, 29 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds.
18 Group 1 wins.
Total prizemoney earnings: $18,998,424
Early betting for the 2018 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.55 Winx, $15 Humidor, $26 Accidental Agent, Benbatl, D’Agento, Gailo Chop, Happy Clapper, Roaring Lion, Unforgotten, $31 Kementari, Youngstar, Johannes Vermeer, $41 Grunt, Poetic Dream, Poet’s Word, Rekindling, $51 or better the rest.
