Two Word 2016 Cox Plate Form Guide

The next spring major plays out at Moonee Valley on Saturday with Winx the odds-on favourite to take out the Cox Plate 2016, and below the Races.com.au team assess the chances of all the runners in the classic with our exclusive two word form guide.

Distance specialist Lucia Valentina could be a smoky chance for the 2016 Cox Plate win. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Ten weight-for-age hopefuls take to the tight Moonee Valley circuit over 2040m in this year’s $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate field, all bar the reigning champion Winx easing the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Bookmakers haven’t seen this kind of money come in for a racehorse in a long time and the Chris Waller-trained glamour mare has been backed like there’s nothing else in the race.

Winx opened at $2 and is into $1.80, looking to go back-to-back after her runaway four and three-quarter length annihilation of her Cox Plate rivals 12 months ago.

She is proven at the track, is undefeated in her past 12 starts and continues to make history along the way.

All the favours will be hers from barrier three with Hugh Bowman in the saddle as she looks to join Sunline (1999-2000) and Flight (1945 & 1946) as dual Cox Plate winning mares.

The danger is the John O’Shea-trained Hartnell ($3.50 out to $3.70) in barrier seven who faces Winx for a fourth time, but the first time in peak form himself.

His last encounter with her was first-up in the Warwick Stakes for second, but she had the fitness edge over the 1400m and he’s only improved since.

This is his third 2000m run on the trot and he could back-up in the Melbourne Cup, so whether he’s too dour again will be decided over that final thrilling 200m at the Valley on Saturday.

The Cox Plate betting markets are all about those two and those two only, but there’s still a Cox Plate trifecta to complete and plenty of livewire chances to fill it.

Earlier in the week we published a comprehensive 2016 Cox Plate Form Guide & Betting Preview, but below we’ve assessed the chances of all the Cox Plate horses in just two words!