Cox Plate hopefuls work well at Moonee Valley

Winx
Winx produced some good work at Moonee Valley on Saturday in preparation of its Cox Plate defense

2016 Cox Plate hopefuls Winx and Yankee Rose have both worked well at Moonee Valley in preparation for the Group one feature on Saturday.

Chris Waller, trained of 2015 Cox Plate champion Winx, believes his mare is in peak condition heading into the greatest weight-for-race in the world after its impressive work with stablemate Lady Le Fay on Saturday.

Winx is the $2.10 favourite for the Cox Plate and Waller was very happy after it posted a time of 1:06.86 for the 1000m gallop where it cruised past its stablemate.

“It helps to keep her focussed and it gives her a sense of victory – we’re talking minor things but it keeps the horse happy and me happy,” Waller said.

“I’d say it’s unlikely we’ll bring her back here for Tuesday (Breakfast with the Best), I’d like to make it as easy as possible for her the next week.

“I think she’s ready but if I think she’s put on a bit of weight when I look at her on Monday afternoon and I think she needs another workout then she can come back here.”

Waller believes Winx is stronger than last year when it destroyed a quality Cox Plate field, but he has respect for the opposition it will face on Saturday.

“At this stage she’s spot on, we’ve got to fill the seven days this week now,” Waller said.

“She’s a stronger horse than she was last spring and now she copes with everything so well.

“I think it’s underestimated how much pressure there is in the Cox Plate. From the time they leave the mounting yard it’s a race like no other and pressure can change form.

“You never go into it too confident. I have huge respect for the opposition, they are all there for a reason and it’s the weight-for-age championship of Australia.”

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Also putting in some work at Moonee Valley was three-year-old star Yankee Rose. The David Vandyke-trained filly did a soft lap of the track with Dean Yendall in the saddle before running 1200m in 1:26.27.

Vandyke stated he wasn’t looking for anything special, with experience of Moonee Valley being the main purpose of the gallop.

“I thought that was terrific, she seemed to get on her right leg from the start and was nice and relaxed,” Vandyke said.

“She just seems to handle new surrounds really well and embraces it.”

The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes winner will return to Moonee Valley for the Breakfast with the Best on Tuesday where he will ask the filly to do more.

“Dean was very happy with her and said she felt good. We’ll come back on Tuesday for a stronger gallop, I’m happy with her fitness and haven’t done anything with her since last Saturday,” Vandyke said.

“It’s all positive ahead the race and this is the best I’ve seen her – she’s never been better.

“She’s got an air of aggression about her which I see as a positive. She’s normally a timid filly but I think she knows she won last week.”

Three-year-old fillies don’t have a great record in the Cox Plate with the last filly winning in 1976 (Surround) but Vandyke isn’t worried about taking on the likes of Winx and Hartnell.

“They’ll want to be on their A-game because I think our filly is,” Vandyke said.

“The pressure is off for me – she won a Group one last start and we’re going in as an underdog. We’re just looking forward to enjoying the ride.”

Yankee Rose is currently $15 with CrownBet for the Cox Plate.

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