Historic triumph for Aussie superstar Winx

Australian superstar Winx secured her 22nd consecutive victory with an historic third triumph in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

Chris Waller’s incredible mare had won the Moonee Valley showpiece in each of the last two years and having looked better than ever when dominating her rivals in the Turnbull Stakes three weeks ago, her first success at Flemington, she was unsurprisingly a red-hot favourite to emulate the great Kingston Town, who won the Cox Plate three times in the early 1980s.

The six-year-old was fractious in the starting stalls, but jumped out cleanly and travelled with her usual exuberance in the hands of Hugh Bowman.
She moved menacingly to the front rounding the home turn, and while Humidor briefly threatened to cause a huge upset, finishing strongly in the closing stages of the 2000m contest, Winx had enough in reserve to hold him at bay.

Bowman told www.racing.com: “It’s hard to explain really.
“It’s been such a build-up and I’m lost for words.
“She’s made history. “I was born the year Kingston Town won his first Cox Plate and she has emulated the great horse.
“Trying to compare one horse to another is difficult, they’re all different, but we are in the presence of greatness. “She will be recognised as one of the greatest horses to grace the Australian turf .”
The jockey was keen to pay tribute to Waller, adding: “I think we’re all proud of what we’ve achieved together, but I think Chris Waller needs to take a lot of the credit.

Connections have previously revealed a potential European campaign, including an appearance at Royal Ascot, but Waller is keen to enjoy the moment.
He added: “She’ll only go if she’s still at her very best. “She’s an animal we love and horses come first in this sport. I wouldn’t make a decision until at least March.”

– Press Association.