Cox Plate Form Guide – Will Winx Make History Again?

All eyes of the racing world will be on Winx as she aims to become the first ever horse to win 4 Cox Plates.

It appears to be a battle between Australia’s champion mare and top quality European import, Benbati.

European racing journalist Matt Chapman went all out in offending the Australian public at the barrier draw on Tuesday.

“Back home we feel Winx is beating fairly moderate horses”, Chapman stated.

“When she beat highland Reel he was a very young horse, he’d hardly done anything at that point”

It will be great to see Winx trounce Benbati and send this bloke home with his tail between his legs.

1. Benbati

• Trainer: S Bin Suroor
• Jockey: O Murphy
• Barrier: 3
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Multiple Group 1 winning European that was extremely strong in winning the Caufield Stakes first up last start. Easily accounted for proven Australian performer in Humidor. Barrier allows him to press forward and box seat. Looks to be Winx’s biggest danger.

2. Humidor

• Trainer: D Weir
• Jockey: D Lane
• Barrier: 7
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Finished a close second to Winx in this race last year. Finished 2.25L behind Benbati last start, a horse that looks to have more scope from improvement here.

3. Kings Will Dream

• Trainer: D Weir
• Jockey: J Allen
• Barrier: 4
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Knuckled at the start and was never close enough in a disappointing 6th in the Caufield Cup last weekend. Jumps up 6kg under weight for age conditions here on top of dropping back 400m on the quick back up. Prefer others.

4. Avillius

• Trainer: J Cummings
• Jockey: G Schofield
• Barrier: 1
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Taking an interesting route towards the Melbourne Cup but it’s always hard to knock winning form. Undefeated in 4 Australian starts. Drops 500m after charging home to win the Bart Cummings Stakes last start. Will get back and if they go hard and make it a staying affair he could be finishing strong. Each way claims.

5. D’argento

• Trainer: C Waller
• Jockey: K McEvoy
• Barrier: 2
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Will need to make up 3L after finishing third to Winx first up. Finished second in the Epsom Handicap and 5th behind Benbadi and Humidor in the Caufield Stakes last start. Will need to grow a leg.

6. Winx

• Trainer: C Waller
• Jockey: H Bowman
• Barrier: 6
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Australia’s super mare gunning for her 29th straight victory, 21 of which have been Group 1s and aiming for a record 4th Cox Plate victory. Will be very surprised to see her tucked back last on the rail conserving energy like her last start win in the Turnbull Stakes. The eyes of the racing world will be on her.

7. Rostropovich

• Trainer: A O’Brien
• Jockey: R Moore
• Barrier: 8
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The formidable combination of O’Brien and Moore pair up on this likely leader. Group 3 winner in Ireland last start and form before that could not be considered elite. Maybe hard to run down late.

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8. Savvy Coup

• Trainer: M Pittman
• Jockey: C Johnson
• Barrier: 5
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New Zealand mare that won in Group 1 company last start. Much stronger here and will need to lift on 5th placing in Oaks at last Australian start.

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By Dustin Spriggs