In the early hours of Saturday morning Moonee Valley in Australia host one of the nation’s biggest races. The Ladbrokes Cox Plate is a Group 1 race over 1m 2f and attracts jockeys and trainers from across the globe, mainly due to the fact it is the nation’s richest weight-for-age race with $5,000,000 on offer.
First run in 1922 the race has had some notable winners. These have included Phar Lap and Fields of Omagh who have both won the race twice. Kingston Town and Winx have both won the race three times with Winx attempting to make it a record four wins on Saturday.
The race has been kind to favourites over the years with 41% winning the showpiece. Winx has a good chance of making it a record four wins and is priced at 1/3, however he has far more on his plate than when he won at 1/10 last year.
Benbatl looks his main threat. The three-time Group One winner trained by Saeed Bin Suroor won a Group 1 One over course and distance just a fortnight ago and looks to have the ability to give Australia’s marquee horse something to think about.
However, Winx is quite an animal. She has won her last 27 runs dating back to May 2015. The seven-year-old and has not been odds against in a race since October 2015. Her turn of foot is sensational and the Chris Waller trained mare is rarely pushed hard in races.
But all good runs come to an end. The eight-runner field does not have a huge amount of depth but Benbatl ensures Winx goes off the biggest price she has been since October 2016. With the talented Oisin Murphy aboard the four-year-old is taken to turn over the home favourite.
Horse racing Pundit Matt Chapman had this to say about the superstar seven year old but we want to know what you think about her and how she will get on at the weekend. Tweet us in @TWEnclosure
(Credit Racing.com)