Winx could get tested in try for record fourth Cox Plate

Within her astonishing 28-race winning streak, Winx has equaled a remarkable record in Australian racing, winning the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne each October the last three years.

No horse has attempted to win a fourth Cox Plate. Kingston Town, the only other three-time winner, won the Cox Plate from 1980-82, and had his final start in Australia in late 1982.

The $3.53 million Cox Plate, run at 1 1/2 miles, is Australia’s leading weight-for-age race, and Winx is Australia’s reigning Horse of the Year for a record-equaling third time.

There is widespread belief Winx is on schedule for a fourth win in the Cox Plate. As of Wednesday, Winx was the 2-7 favorite in the future book, a standout against seven rivals from throughout the world.

There is support for Benbatl, who won the Dubai Turf at Meydan Racecourse in the United Arab Emirates in March. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor for Godolphin Racing, Benbatl won the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes at 1 1/4 miles in Australia on Oct. 13, his first start since a fifth-place finish behind Breeders’ Cup hopeful Roaring Lion in the Group 1 Juddmonte International at York, England, in August.

Benbatl was 6-1 as of Wednesday. The other runners were all 16-1 or higher, including Humidor, who was third in the Caulfield Stakes, and Rostropovich, who was second in the Irish Derby in June for trainer Aidan O’Brien. Rostropovich won a Group 3 at 1 1/2 miles in Ireland in September. The Cox Plate will be his first start in Australia.

Chances are they will be nothing more than supporting players for Winx. The Cox Plate has represented the fifth, 13th, and 22nd wins of her streak, all for trainer Chris Waller.

Winx, a 7-year-old by Street Cry, has won three Group 1 races since she returned to racing after a break during the Australian winter. Most recently, Winx won the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Oct. 6, rallying between rivals to win by a length with a rapid acceleration in the final sixteenth.

Jockey Hugh Bowman was aboard for that race and has the mount in the Cox Plate. Bowman has ridden Winx in 26 wins of the streak.

The Cox Plate has a post time of 2 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, or 11 p.m. Pacific on Friday.