While the eyes of the racing world will be on Winx today, just getting to the Cox Plate is a victory for Michael Pitman.
The Kiwi trainer has been released from hospital after surgery to remove cancer in his bowel and has landed in Melbourne to watch his mare Savvy Coup in the biggest race of her life.
"Doesn't mean a lot to me going over there to be honest but to be on course and to have a runner in the Cox Plate against a calibre of opposition and the calibre of trainers is absolutely massive," told 1 NEWS' Guy Heveldt.
Pitman flew to Melbourne at the crack of dawn yesterday to see how Savvy Coup would go in Australia's biggest weight-for-age race after her triumph in the Livamol Classic earlier this month in Hastings.
"I really think we're a chance but it's nice to be the underdog," he said.
Almost everyone in the race is an underdog because they’re up against Winx - the wonder from down under who is on a 28-race winning streak.
Twenty-one of those victories are group ones and today she is gunning for an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate.
Pitman's realistically aiming for a top five finish which is worth $200,000 in stakes.
"If I can't win, I just hope Winx bolts in to be honest with you," Pitman said.
"This game needs heroes and she is right at the top."
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