The reign of Winx continued on Saturday. Long may she live.
To win three Cox Plates is rarefied air, as we know. Kingston Town was the first. Winx is the second. Both did them in consecutive years, asserting their dominance across three seasons.
But the way Winx has gone about her victories puts her ahead of Kingston Town.
In 2015, her first Cox Plate win, she broke the race and track record.
In 2016, she set a record Cox Plate winning margin of eight lengths.
This year, she broke the race and track record once more.
It’s an extraordinary set of results, that can brook no argument as to Winx’s place in the pantheon of Australian greats. This is not just a racing event to be admired. It’s a sporting event to be celebrated.
Yes, the track was playing fast on Saturday. There was also a rail bias, similar to the one she took advantage of in her first Cox Plate win. But this was a win for the ages.
Let’s make no mistake – this was not Hugh Bowman’s prettiest ride. But aesthetics were not his charter on Saturday. Winning was.
The inside was the place to be, as every jockey knew by race 9 at Moonee Valley. For evidence of this, just look at Damien Oliver’s 20 meeting suspension for desperately trying to get as close to the rail as he could on Happy Clapper, with three-year-old Royal Symphony copping the worst of it.
Bowman would not get trapped on the inside though. He was three wide around the first turn, and didn’t get until at least 400m had been run. He was ensuring he stayed on outside, backing his superstar mare to beat them all on merit, and not risking getting trapped chasing the better ground.
Bowman also peeled out earlier than any other, about halfway through the race. He came three wide before any of his rivals. Usually, in a Cox Plate, this is a panic move, as riders with itchy fingers don’t want to miss the boat.
For Bowman though, this was to once again ensure Winx had clean air, not wanting something like Happy Clapper or Royal Symphony to make the earlier move and trap him in.
The mare moved up gradually, through the 600m, and was basically in front with two furlongs to run. Most expected her to explode away at this point, running her opposition ragged. To most of them, she did.
But, the greatest moments in sport are the ones we don’t expect. One horse was in the midst of springing a surprise. Matt Hill was dropping rehearsed lines left, right and centre, but this one wasn’t over.
(Photo: AAP)
Humidor was the only other genuine WFA middle distance horse in the field, so it shouldn’t have been a shock that he might be the one to test her. He had been Winx’d in the Turnbull Stakes, but had more things in his favour this time around.
He hadn’t spent one penny in the run, and had the benefit of the rail, where the pristine ground was, the entire race. Winx had covered far more ground.
Humidor also had Winx giving him the perfect trail into the race. It was an inch-perfect ride from Blake Shinn.
Humidor was trying to reel her in, and never gave up the ghost. He’s a serious racehorse, and was taking ground off the superstar mare for almost the entire straight, save for the last two or three strides when the champion found something as all champions do.
What was supposed to be a benediction turned into a war, and the crowd’s celebrations were all the more raucous because of it, when Winx emerged victorious.
To have broken the track record off the back of an ugly ground and almost certainly covering more ground than any rival, was astonishing. All we can do is watch in awe.
Chris Waller, Hugh Bowman and all involved were to be commended for the work they had done to promote the horse, the race, and the Melbourne spring.
The Cox Plate is usually the perfect entrée to Melbourne Cup week. This time, it was the main course.
Addington
Guest
RichPanther ... How can you get high on Almandin ? YES he won the cup last year so I have to agree at his best he would be a danger BUT .... (a) His lead up run was a barry crocker...FACT. (b) Frankie is on a par with the Magic Man in Oz ....he simply can't find the winning post. (c) Top weight doesn't sit well with me. Funny things happen on a race track mate but I am potting the fav big time and the second fav as well. Only two chances for mine ....Marmelo and Johannes Vermeer who have ticked all boxes.
Aransan
Guest
2016 should read 2017.
Aransan
Guest
To answer my own question: Time Record: 2:02.94 set by Winx in 2016 on the current track. Prior to the installation of this track Better Loosen Up ran 2:01.05 in 1990. Refer: http://www.races.com.au/races/group-1/cox-plate/cox-plate-history-records/
Aransan
Guest
Winx has been quoted as breaking the track and race records in winning the 2015 (2.02.98) and 2017 (2.02.94) Cox Plates. According to Wikipedia: The race distance from 1922 to 1942 was 9½ furlongs (1,911m). The race distance from 1943 to 1971 was 10 furlongs (2,012m). Following Australia's adoption of the Metric system in 1972 the race distance became 2,000 metres. In 1974 the distance was changed to 2,050 metres and in 1986 to today's distance of 2,040 metres. Better Loosen Up won in 1990 over the same distance in 2.01.5 -- I would be interested in the explanation as to why this isn't the record. My guess is that the distance is the same but there is some difference in the course.
Richpanther
Guest
You have got to be kidding about Almandin. Forget it’s last run and it’s the clear standout. Now Frankie rides it, I’m even more confident as he is well overdue for Cup success. Agree with Humidor though. Almandin all the way to go back to back and as for the weight, who cares it brained them with 60 on its back 2 starts ago
Raimond
Roar Guru
Johnny Chav from Brixton told me that Winx is only a Group 3 horse, so I think we should all calm down and listen to his expert opinion.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Impressive for sure, but in the back of my mind 2000m at MV is a tad different to 2500m at Flem.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Hard to tell with the three year olds, but his racing style means he's more likely to counter these issues. That's a problem for him going forward, but he looks good enough to win Group 1's. My path for him in the autumn would be Aus Guineas (Mar 3) / Aus Cup (Mar 10) / Rosehill Guineas (Mar 24) / Randwick Derby (Apr 7).
Cameron Rose
Expert
Good stuff Addington. We though the same about Yankee Rose last year, but Aloisia couldn't look better placed. She's a star, by the look of it.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Thanks Addington. Agree on your assessment of the two faves in the Melb Cup. Your line about Almandin made me laugh. Marmelo and JV were outstanding in the CC from an MC perspective. Wall of Fire's run from the Herbert Power can't be forgotten and has been franked. My top pick will be one of those three.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Thanks Aransan. Yes, I missed the word "in" there.
Cameron Rose
Expert
Thanks Max. To me, whether she spells or not depends on their plans for next year. If it's Royal Ascot, I think they can run her again, and still have a nice break before resuming later than usual in the autumn.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Nice work,good luck mate.
Razzar
Guest
Bowman knew he could ride Winx out wider,,but with momentum. She switched on at the 400, after covering extra metres. Then held off a gallant chaser. The rough run Royal Symphony recieved from brain fade Oliver, cost that runner, around four to five lengths. RS looks up to WFA for mine Cam.
Addington
Guest
I see him as the only one to be able to beat Johannes Johny ....he has distance stats and will run through the line like an express train so good luck mate ....I took the $9.00 and happy with that. The Oaks is a fait accompli and Iv'e got them both running through her so could be a big carnival.
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
I got on Marmelo before the CC Addington,so I hope your correct mate!
Aransan
Guest
I am happy for my comment to be removed whether a correction is made or not.
Addington
Guest
Well said Cameron ....summed up to perfection. Hughie rode her like she was a Mercedes and the brilliantly ridden Humidor still couldn't come over the top of her ....another heart broken in all probability and why he is now favourite for the cup the mind boggles ! Both the favs in the cup are 'fake news' as Almandin raced like a cart horse in his final lead up and Humidor still won't go straight and is untried at the trip ....so they are both 'unders'. The real value lies with Marmelo $9.00 and Johannes Vermeer $11.00 as they have both had perfect preps and even though Johanne's hasn't been tried at the trip he has one thing I reckon you need to win a cup these days ...a turn of foot ! Marmelo only has to reproduce his C Cup run to win it so thats my quinella Cameron and I reckon they will dominate. Your thoughts ?
Aransan
Guest
A great article befitting Winx's victory. I think you are missing a word in "didn't get *** until at least 400m".
MAX
Guest
A perfect summary for a most intelligent ride. Winx has enjoyed her visit to Altona and appears A1. Personally, I hope she spells.