Winx has won her second Cox Plate in a row in one of the most dominant runs in Australian racing history, winning by a ridiculous eight lengths.
All the wash-up from the Cox plate:
» Five talking points
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The winning-streak has risen to 13 in a row for the champion mare, blowing away rival Hartnell in convincing fashion on the final stretch.
While Winx was up the front, it was Happy Trails who came through in last place after a packed finish for the remaining nine horses that were blown away by the winner.
Happy Trails was caught back in the field out of the starting jump, and just couldn’t find any galloping room through the middle of the race to work up the field.
Hartnell was nowhere near the winning post when Winx crossed the line, but he held on among a tight finish to take second place ahead of Yankee Rose.
Despite leading for a portion of the race, Vadamos slipped back on the final stretch on tiring legs.
Winx and Hartnell jumped well out of the barriers, but it was Black Heart Bart who took early control up front while the favourites nestled in among the field.
Vadamos came to the front alongside Awesome Rock to take over and find track position coming into the final turn.
As the field made their way around the fence and into the straight, Winx just blew Hartnell away around the outside line and began to gallop away with plenty of track to come.
The margin only grew as the finish closed in for the five-year-old, finishing off an incredible ride and one of the biggest winning margins in the Plate’s history.
Black Heart Bart slipped away to finish ninth, just running out of legs in the sprint finish despite a strong run.
Final results
1. Winx
2. Hartnell
3. Yankee Rose
4. Vadamos
5. Awesome Rock
6. Happy Clapper
7. Lucia Valentina
8. Hauraki
9. Black Heart Bart
10. Happy Trails
johnny nevin is a legend
Guest
Timeforms rating for Phar lap is retrospective given that they only set up in 1948 so there is a few assumptions made and was probably a self indulgent exercise by them. Timeform claim the range for Winx performance was between 132-137. The 133 p means they believe she's capable of better. I think it's an error of judgement, who knows she might never run again. That performance was at least the equal of California Chrome who has a rating of 135.
Casper
Guest
Great win by Winx but never quite got the wrap on Hartnell. Got flogged by Winx in Sydney then beat stayers (who shot the barman) in races at distances that never suited them on wet tracks. The mare kicked his backside in 2015 Cox plate & repeated the dose. Too much was made of his Sydney wins & Jameka looked to be just out for a run in the Turnbull, the rest were second graders. Reckon Hartnell is a false M Cup fave based on a 2mile win in the UK in 2014. Time will tell.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Take Australian Timeform ratings with a grain of salt. They have Might and Power on 133 and Hay List 132
Razzar
Guest
Dominic Beirne also stated that was Winx's peak performance on Saturday, and she may not run to that again (133) . Kingston towns time form rating is 137, as great as she is. She would have thrash another Cox plate field to get near the Kings rating. Plus the broader versatility of Phar Lap and The King proves at present she has her work cut out.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Dominic Beirne "Winx rated 1/2 length higher than Black Caviar's PB. Now the highest rated horse in past 25 years." Gary Crispe "Winx Timeform rating of 133p puts her equal to Almanzor (133) as world's top two Timeform rated thoroughbreds" My question to Timeform is how does Phar Lap rate 141 and Winx 133? Let me put it another way. If Winx and Phar Lap both raced in our best WFA race who would be favourite? Winx holds the time record for the Cox Plate and just won a hot renewal by 8 lens. 141 to 133 means Winx should be beaten easily, but I am certain the betting would be different. I cannot imagine any horse in any era doing any better than what Winx did.
michael steel
Guest
Happy Trails. Jumped last, Settled last. Finished last. Now off to Perth for the Summer carnival. A 9 year old hasn't won for 20 starts and 2 years. Time to retire.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Thought this was not a bad quote: "I think she's the best I've seen. He didn't even touch her going to the line. I think the only other horse I've ever saw to win like a superstar was Tulloch. He was something out of the box and she's not far behind him, believe me", Leon Corstens who was the Melb foreman for Bart Cummings. Keen to see the new Timeform Rating compared to Phar Lap's 141.