Record amounts of money are coming in at bookies around the country for Winx to win Saturday’s Cox Plate 2016, but rival trainer Darren Weir is keeping positive that his runner Black Heart Bart is in with his chance at the Australasian weight-for-age championship.
Chris Waller’s heroic mare Winx destroyed her rivals in the $3 million Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley 12 months ago and is back to do it at an odds-on price this weekend.
She has been smashed by the punters over the past week in the Cox Plate betting markets and is currently at $1.80 through Ladbrokes.com.au.
If successful she will be the shortest-priced Cox Plate favourite to win since So You Think ($1.50) for his second in 2010.
Last start the daughter of Street Cry, who has now amassed a tickle under $7.5 million in prize money, faced just two rivals in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m).
She easily accounted for both, including the runner-up Black Heart Bart.
He went to the front that day looking to outlast and outplay Winx Survivor-style, but his motor was no match for hers as she ran off to a two length win.
Jockey Brad Rawiller retains the ride for round two on the weekend and is more likely to take a sit in the Cox Plate looking for cover from the gate (six) and follow something else into the race.
The Perth expat has been with Weir for a while now, and his form going back to the autumn has been nothing short of outstanding.
In his 10 most recent starts he has finished top two and his last nine runs form-wise read: 2-1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2.
Looking at that a win should be rolling around on Saturday, but it is hard to see him turning the tables on Winx.
Still, Weir isn’t conceding another easy defeat just yet.
“You saw the race,” Weir said to the Herald Sun talking about the Ladbrokes Stakes.
“It set up perfectly for Winx with us in front.
“It [the Cox Plate] will be a different race with more horses and, tactically, it will also be different.
“I know it’s going to be tough and it’s a great race but strange things happen in races.
“He’s a good consistent horse who deserves his chance.”
So will Weir have his heart broken by Winx in the 2016 Cox Plate result?
2016 Cox Plate Horse Form #2 Black Heart Bart
Barrier: 6
Weight: 59kg
Jockey: Brad Rawiller
Trainer: Darren Weir
Owner/s: Mr K B Renner, Mr C R Delacy, Mrs D A Richardson, Mr A C Psaltis, Mr I J Mccarthy
Age: 6YO
Gender: Gelding
Breeding: by Blackfriars from Sister Theresa
Career: 35-14-11-2
Win: 40%
Place: 77%
Last 6: 2×1212
Prize Money: $2,781,580
Track: 0-0-0-0
Distance: 1-0-1-0
Current 2016 Cox Plate Odds: $26
Why Black Heart Bart is a Winning Cox Plate Chance
- Tactically from barrier six he can get cover and not give the field something to chase down up front this time round; barrier six has also produced three winners since 2003 most recently Maldivian (2008) making it the most successful in the past 30 plus years
- Is a Group 1 weight-for-age winner – most recently in the Underwood Stakes where he defeated another Cox Plate hopeful Lucia Valentina (3rd)
- Three Group 1 wins in total and has won over $2.7 million in prize money
- In flying form with 10 straight top two runs
- Last seven starts all in Group 1 class
- Five six-year-old geldings have won the race since 1994
- The Caulfield Stakes has produced more Cox Plate winners than any other lead-up with 13 wins in the past 40 years
Why Black Heart Bart Won’t Win the Cox Plate 2016
- Winx more than had his measure when they faced off in the Ladbrokes Stakes
- Even if he takes a sit, he probably isn’t good enough to stop Winx again
- Plenty more are proven at the distance and this is just his second start over the 2000m
- Brad Rawiller is yet to ride a Cox Plate winner
- Darren Weir is yet to train a Cox Plate winner
- A better Place chance with the third highest Place Rate of the field (77%)
- Yet to have an official start at Moonee Valley
- In the last 28 years only two Cox Plate winners didn’t have a previous victory at the distance (three-year-old form aside)
Whether you’re taking Winx or taking her on in Cox Plate betting this spring make sure you have access to Enhanced Odds on the race only at Ladbrokes.com.au (T&Cs apply).