Toppling champion mare Winx is the hardest task in racing and, as a result, rivals are looking to unlikely sources of inspiration ahead of Saturday’s $3 million Cox Plate.

Heading the list is Pat Webster, trainer of Happy Clapper, a 30-1 shot to win the big race at Moonee Valley.

Webster is a realist and knows beating Winx, the two-time defending champion, is unlikely, but said it is not in his DNA to shoot for anything less than first.

“She’s [Winx] a freak – probably the best horse we’ve had in Australia,” Webster told The New Daily, before referring to short-track speed skater Steven Bradbury.

Bradbury famously won gold at the 2002 Winter Olympics after his four rivals hit the deck, leaving the New South Welshman to skate alone over the finish line in a look of pure disbelief.

It was Australia’s first gold medal at the Winter Games and a genuine shock – a defeat of Winx would produce the same emotions.

“Look what happened with Steven Bradbury,” Webster said.

“He ended up with a gold medal! I want to win and I’m here to win. I don’t concede anything.”

Rated the best horse in the world on turf, Winx has won 21 straight, including 14 Group 1s, and hasn’t been beaten in two-and-a-half years.

She will start the shortest-priced Cox Plate favourite since Phar Lap in 1930.

But it has been a Spring Racing Carnival of upsets so far, highlighted by a 100-1 chance (Mighty Boss) winning the Caulfield Guineas and a 50-1 hope (Boom Time) causing a shock victory in last week’s Caulfield Cup.

Jockey Dean Yendall, who will ride Royal Symphony – rated as the best chance to beat Winx – said he will forget about the red-hot favourite during the race.

“My goal is to be winning the race, not just to run second,” Yendall told The New Daily.

Hugh Bowman has steered Winx to Cox Plate wins in 2015 and 2016. Photo: Getty

“Royal Symphony has been going really well and I’m excited to be riding him.

“If we don’t win, I reckon we can run second.”

Australia’s premier trainer Darren Weir has two runners in the race, too, last-start Group 1 winner Gailo Chop, and Makybe Diva Stakes champion, Humidor.

Global racing giant Godolphin will be represented by Folkswood – a dominant winner of the Cranbourne Cup at his most recent outing, while jockey Michelle Payne will be looking to create more history in becoming the first female rider to win the weight-for-age championship of Australia onboard Kaspersky.

Runner-by-runner form guide

1. Happy Clapper (Barrier 9, Form: 5×1212)
Trainer: Pat Webster, Jockey: Damien Oliver
Doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Can place.

2. Gailo Chop (Barrier 4, Form: 01431)
T: Darren Weir, J: Mark Zahra
Should be thereabouts.

3. Humidor (Barrier 8, Form: 68135)
T: Darren Weir, J: Blake Shinn
Forgive last start. Expect a bold run with blinkers applied.

4. Kaspersky (Barrier 2, Form: 52720)
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam, J: Michelle Payne
Local debut was ordinary, but European form prior is sound.

5. Folkswood (Barrier 5, Form: 2235×1)
T: Charlie Appleby, J: Kerrin McEvoy
Last start win was super. In-form jockey aboard. Will go well.

6. Seaburge (Barrier 1, Form: 60×005)
T: David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig, J: Regan Bayliss
Has only won two races from 16 starts and form is only average.

7. Hardham (Barrier 3, Form: 3×7120)
T: David Brideoake, J: Luke Nolen
Hard to see him figuring in the finish.

8. Winx (Barrier 6, Form: 1×1111)
T: Chris Waller, J: Hugh Bowman
An absolute freak. Far superior to her rivals and should win easily.

9. Royal Symphony (Barrier 7, Form: 11×144)
T: Tony McEvoy, J: Dean Yendall
Has significant weight advantage. Highly rated.

Trent Masenhelder’s Cox Plate selections:
1. Winx
2. Humidor
3. Happy Clapper
4. Folkswood

Other race tips:
Moonee Valley Gold Cup: Big Duke
Crystal Mile: Sound Proposition