The 40,000 strong crowd at The Valley saw what they came to see when champion mare Winx strolled down the straight to win her fourth straight Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) today.
Winx, above, re-wrote the history books with a fourth win in the Cox Plate at The Valley. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Once jockey Hugh Bowman released the brakes at the top of the straight, the crowd erupted as the Chris Waller trained mare powered to the line to record a two lengths win over the England raider Benbatl ($10).
Oisin Murphy thought he was a chance on the home turn when Benbatl passed the pacemakers but the Saeed Bin Suroor trained stallion was left gasping for air as Winx cruised by to the cheers of the crowd.
Last year’s Cox Plate runner up Humidor ($21) ran on from back in the field to find third position while his stablemate Kings Will Dream was pulled out of the race at the 1600m mark.
Bowman had Winx into her rhythm quickly down the straight the first time and even though the champion mare was travelling in a three wide position, Bowman was happy to keep her out there out of trouble.
Winx’s Chris Waller trained stablemate D’Argento ($26) set the early pace before Rostropovich ($31) took over mid race with Benbatl always in the firing line.
Winx’s has now won over $22.8 million in prizemoney courtesy of her fourth straight Cox Plate win which took her winning stretch to twenty-nine and her Group 1 winning trophies to twenty-two.
Waller was lost for words after Winx re-wrote the history books in front of the world stage.
“Going past the straight the first time was a little concern that she might get caught three wide. She got cover and the speed wasn’t too strong,” Waller said.
“To see her unleash as she does, I was looking for Humidor coming off of her back and seeing how the others were travelling, she had them covered a long way from home.”
“It has just gone to a whole new level.”
“I can’t say much more, I am gassed.”
The post 2018 Cox Plate results: Winx is the winner for the 4th time appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
