Winx Cox Plate rivals holding up

Darryl Sherer - Tuesday October 10

The number of possible Cox Plate winners is down to 36 after third acceptances closed on Tuesday.

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Greg Childs and Michelle Payne with the 2017 Cox Plate. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Winx's winning streak of 21 has not deterred those seeking to win Australia's premier weight-for-age contest, the 36 still standing their ground up from 29 last year.

Winx's trainer Chris Waller has five others still in the race including Group I winning mares Foxplay and Egg Tart.

Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Almandin is still in the race while there are five overseas entries headed by the Aidan O'Brien-trained Group I winner Johannes Vermeer.

Meanwhile first acceptances were taken for the $1m Group I Manikato Stakes on Cox Plate eve with 16 Group I winners among the 39 left in the 1200m weight-for-age sprint.

Hawkes Racing-trained Chautauqua finished seventh last year and won the race in 2015 and is one of those left in the race on October 27 along with Lindsay Park Racing-trained pair of Group I feature sprint winners Vega Magic and Redkirk Warrior.

The last start Moir Stakes winner She Will Reign is also still in the race as is the Matthew Dale-trained Fell Swoop which finished runner-up in the race last year to Rebel Dane.

Click here for the list of third acceptors for the Cox Plate

Click here for the list of first acceptors for the Manikato Stakes

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