Hugh Bowman celebrates Winx's win (Image: Racing Photos)
MODEST WINX
Winx's sectional times show Saturday's record-breaking Cox Plate win was the slowest of her four victories in the Australasian weight-for-age championship. She returned an adjusted IVR of +9.9 lengths above the benchmark standard according to Daily Sectionals. Her 2015 win was +16.9 while her other two were in the +12-range. But this year's win included a significant mid-race slow-down of around 5.5 lengths, which has thwarted her overall figure. There was plenty in the tank through the line, which paves the way for another campaign. Avilius can't win the Melbourne Cup off this run and Rostropovich would have to improve sharply. Tune into Sectional Stars on Tuesday night where we will dissect the sectionals from the big two-day Cox Plate carnival.
WATCH - Winx makes history winning fourth Cox Plate
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OVERS IN COOLMORE
Sunlight was a forget run in Friday night's Manikato Stakes. She will back-up into the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the $8 around town is very appealing given she handles the straight course and beat Coolmore favourite Written By the only time they clashed. Her work at The Valley last Tuesday was outstanding. It looks a race in three with Zousain also a hope.
WATCH - Friday night's G1 Manikato Stakes
AMPHITRITE SWITCH?
Don't be surprised if Amphitrite runs in the Empire Rose Stakes over the mile instead of the Wakeful Stakes. If so, she will start favourite and the $8 currently available is overs if she heads that way. The domino effect of this is an Oaks run would be highly unlikely. Oaks favourite Verry Elleegant has ability but she does plenty wrong and is a wiry thing. I'm looking outside of these two for the Oaks. I know it was only a maiden at Echuca but the win of Zapurler on Friday was massive. She ran 1.3sec (10 lengths apprx) inside standard time - we are waiting on her IVR. Given she is by High Chaparral out of a Zabeel mare, it was no surprise to see her jump out of the ground with the application of blinkers. I'd be judging her solely off this run and based on it, she is a massive chance in the Oaks and is still $21.
TO TAKE YUCATAN AT $5?
It's hard to imagine anything jumping out of the ground this Saturday in The Hotham and becoming the Melbourne Cup favourite. So do we take the $5 about Yucatan? No, but if you're punting away trying to create a nice book, I wouldn't necessarily bank on him being much more than that on the day. For some perspective - Ventura Storm recorded an IVR of +7.3 lengths above the benchmark for his Moonee Valley Gold Cup win after enjoying a perfect rails run. Yucatan ran +6.5 winning the Herbert Power but had a torrid run. These are the top two performers coming into the Melbourne Cup but expect the figures of Caulfield Cup horses to spike.
GET ON LAND OF PLENTY
If you haven't backed Land Of Plenty to win the Kennedy Mile then do so. He's still $6 at Sportsbet ($7 if you saved a Powerplay) and will likely start close to half that. The presence of Hartnell ensures his weight stays down and he's coming off a track record performance in the Toorak. Outside of Winx, he is the horse of the carnival so far.