Settled back in the second half of the field, Hugh Bowman made sure Winx was not going to be trapped inside when the speed came on.
With Gallo Chop setting the speed, Winx made her challenge four wide on the turn however she was being stalked by the menacing presence of the Darren Weir Humidor.
The sold-out crowd erupted in a deafening roar when Winx hit the lead down the straight however Humidor was still coming and for the briefest of moments, the unthinkable looked a distinct possibility.
But for the 22nd consecutive start, the 6yo daughter of Street Cry (IRE) found a way to win and Bowman was allowed some leeway to pose for the photo on the line with a half-neck to spare over Humidor with the import Folkswood(GB) three and three-quarter of a length back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
Bowman admitted to feeling the pressure before the race.
"It's been such a build up. Greg Childs said when she won last year nothing will prepare you for what you're in for next year and he was right," Bowman said.
"I'm lost for words. I was born the year Kingston Town won his first Cox Plate. To think she has emulated the greats, she has made history.
"We are in the presence of greatness, she will be recognised as one of the greats of the Australian Turf and to be a part of her career I cannot explain what that means.
In winning her fifteenth Group I, Winx advances her record to 26 wins and 3 seconds from 32 starts with earnings of $15,627,925.
"I just thank everyone for embracing Winx like she is their own," Chris Waller said.
"It's pretty breathtaking, I'm blessed to be in this position, as simple as that.
"The last 400 metres of the race the intensity builds. That's when you expect her to show. She did that today.
"Obviously she was in for a fight, it wasn't an easy victory. But you don't come to these races expecting to win, believe it or not. She had to be good to fight off Humidor, it was a fair dinkum Cox Plate.
"I'm blessed to be part of it and proud of my team.
"The last
Waller was circumspect when discussing an overseas campaign.
"Let's just get over today," he said.
"She'll only go if she's at her very best. She'll only go if I'm happy with her. She's an animal that we love and horses come first in this sport and I wouldn't make a decision until at least March. "
Bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, Winx was a $230,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft for Peter Tighe's Magic Bloodstock.
The dam of Winx, Vegas Showgirl was bought for $455,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Colm Santry Bloodstock for Fairway Thoroughbreds.
Also dam of the stakes-winning Snitzel colt El Divino, Vegas Showgirl has a yearling filly by Snitzel and foaled an Exceed And Excel filly on September 16.
