Racing: Winx's final accolade to resume

Hugh Bowman and Winx (centre) are boxed in on their way to an incredible 4th Cox Plate win in a row at Moonee Valley on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

There was no surprise in the result but nonetheless, Winx's fourth Cox Plate victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday will go down as a moment to remember and cherish as the wonder mare added that final accolade to her glittering resume.

Seemingly Winx was oblivious to the moment as she shrugged off her rivals once again and powered home for victory but for connections, it had been a long and intense build-up and moments after the A$5 million race was over, the pressure of the past 12 months suddenly hit them.

In front of a crowd of 38,035 - up from 32,617 last year - Winx ($1.24) had a relatively comfortable two-length margin over Benbatl ($10), with two-and-three-quarter lengths to Humidor ($21), reports Racing.com.

"It's pretty special," trainer Chris Waller managed to say in a post-race interview. "I can't say much more, I'm gassed. Lucky the horse has got more petrol than me."

Her ice-cold rider Hugh Bowman also admitted feeling the pressure as he also struggled with his emotions. "I've really felt it this week, more than I have before," he said of the pressure post-race.

"I rang up my cousin at home on the farm, Stuart, to have a chat about the cattle market, which I know nothing about. I just tried to do things to keep my mind occupied.

A few moments after the victory, Waller turned to the fans to watch their reaction. Tears welled again as he saw what the victory meant for the capacity crowd.

"It's such a special place to be and to win four Cox Plates. You can't upset people by saying that she's the best, but she's the greatest that I'll ever have anything to do with."

There would be no race-day decisions on her future. "I don't think it's fair to worry about it today but we'll just go home and talk, assess the horse first and foremost," he said.

Waller admitted having some concerns when Bowman was caught three-wide on the mare turning out of the home straight but his nerves were settled when the jockey found a spot one off the fence behind the leaders D'Argento and Rostropovich.

But behind her there was drama. Kings Will Dream barely managed a few hundred metres of the race as his near hind leg gave way and his rider John Allen had to pull him up. He was taken to the Ballarat Veterinary Practice for examination.

Winx got a neck in front before Benbatl threw out his final challenge. It was only over the final 100 metres when Winx turned in an 11.99-second final furlong that she put the race to bed. And the celebrations could begin.