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Bookmakers predicted Winx's Cox Plate annihilation stripped up to $40 million from bags across the country with some pledging to never shop the wonder mare at better than Black Caviar-like odds again.
The subject of enormous support in the lead-up to her second straight Cox Plate win, Winx had bookmakers reeling as the punters' love affair with Australia's pin-up girl continued at Moonee Valley.
It only added to the pain for bookmakers, who before the race were ruing Winx's $100 million liability during her winning streak which now stands at 13.
"We bet $2.35 earlier in the week and I don't think she'll ever start any longer than a $1.20 again in this country," Ladbrokes' Paul Di Cioccio said. "Never again will the [Cox Plate] price be offered. We'll be seeing Black Caviar-type odds and everyone learnt their lesson [on Saturday].
"We predicted it during the week ... we just didn't predict that. She's clearly the best horse in the world after Saturday."
Despite some forecasts earlier in the week Hartnell would challenge Winx for Cox Plate favouritism, the mare's price continued to tumble before she started at an SP price of $1.80.
Winx opened at $4 for next year's Cox Plate immediately after her record romp at Moonee Valley, but has already been backed into $3.60 by eager punters.
"I don't think there will be too many bookies sad when she retires," UBET's Gerard Daffy said. "Winx fans are playing with a lot of bookies' money now.
"Having said that it is clearly good for the industry and we see an upturn on the general day when she races. You didn't think you would ever see another Black Caviar and people just chime in at different stages."
Black Caviar's SP price was no better than $1.14 for the last 15 starts in her unbeaten 25-race career.
CrownBet rued Winx being the best backed horse in a single race in their short history as no bookmaker seemed immune to the carnage.
"More than 80 per cent of the money in the race was for Winx and it cost us a pretty penny," CrownBet's Matt Campbell said.
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