It was a close-run thing in the end, but Winx has won the Cox Plate for a third consecutive time, cementing her place as one of the all-time greats of Australian racing.

The super mare, now with 22 wins on the trot, was challenged all the way in the $3 million race, with a signature late surge enough to hold off Humidor's fighting challenge in the final 100 metres.

Humidor finished second, ahead of third-placed Folkswood in Australia's most prestigious weight-for-age race.

Winx now moves level with Kingston Town for three Cox Plate titles to her name.

The win also sees Winx surpass Makybe Diva in the Australian prize money stakes, and also equalling Black Caviar's Group 1 wins at 15.

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"I am lost for words. She has just made history," jockey Hugh Bowman told Channel Seven.

"I was born the year that Kingston Town won his first Cox Plate and to think that she has emulated the great … trying to compare one horse to another, they are always different animals at the end of the day, but we are in the presence of greatness.

"She will will be recognised as one of the greatest horses to grace the Australian turf and to be a part of her career, I can't explain how much that means.

"I have had an amazing career and Winx delivered me my first major Group 1 in this exact race three years ago, and she has now delivered me with my only other two.

"She is the type of horse that you dream of."

Winx edged Humidor by a long neck, with English-trained Folkswood more than four lengths behind in third. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

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Winx's trainer Chris Waller congratulated Humidor for running "a very good horse" so close.

"It was close, as you would expect in a Cox Plate," he said.

"You never know what is going to happen on a race track and it was great to see her moving forward in that normal style, but gee, Humidor gave us a hell of a fight.

"Fortunately we got the upper hand and yeah, well done to the connections of all runners. They have run second to a very good horse."