Winx ready to go as 135 horses enter 2018 Cox Plate
Winx will begin her campaign for a record-breaking fourth consecutive Cox Plate when she returns to racing in the Winx Stakes at Randwick on August 18.
The seven-year-old continued her preparation with an outstanding trial on Tuesday at Rosehill that left both her trainer, Chris Waller, and jockey Hugh Bowman beaming.
However, she is expected to face stiff opposition in the Cox Plate with the Moonee Valley Racing Club announcing there are 26 international horses among the 135 entries for Australia's greatest weight-for-age race, that now carries $5 million prizemoney, in October.
Legendary Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien, who won the Cox Plate with Adelaide in 2014, has entered 14 horses including stable stars Saxon Warrior and Cliffs of Moher.
All eyes, however, will be on Winx in the build-up after connections decided to chase a fourth successive Cox Plate rather than head to Ascot.
Bowman said after Tuesday's trial that it was as good as she has ever trialled.
"She felt as good as she looked," Bowman said.
A win by Winx would see her break the record set by Kingston Town between 1979-81 having completed a hat-trick of wins in the past three years.
Winx remains unbeaten in her past 25 starts and has won 18 group 1 races in her 35 starts.
Irish Derby winner Latrobe, trained by Joseph O'Brien, the trainer of last year's Melbourne Cup winner, Rekindling, has also been entered for the race although he will race in York before deciding to come to Australia, as has rising European Star Poet's Word for Sir Michael Stoute.
Local runners include last year's runner-up Humidor.