Surround remains the only filly to have won the Cox Plate, but trainer David Vandyke couldn't have been prouder of Yankee Rose's placing.

Yankee Rose joins the 2008 placegetter Samantha Miss as a three-year-old filly to finish third in Australia's weight-for-age championship and it was enough to give Vandyke goosebumps.

As Winx streeted Hartnell by a record eight-length margin, Yankee Rose was a further three-quarters of a length away in third.

"We tracked Winx all the way and she just went bang and left us," Vandyke said.

"The way she left the rest of us in her wake, that just stamped Winx as an out-and-out champion. But our filly is just top-class. She's an amazing filly.

"She's run second in a Golden Slipper this year, she's run third in the Cox Plate and won two Group Ones in between.

"She had her first start less than a year ago. I couldn't be any prouder of her. It was an amazing performance and just amazing to be here today."

Dean Yendall, who rode Yankee Rose at the light weight of 47.5kg, said Yankee Rose got out of her comfort zone and was chasing too far from home.

"She was still good to the line. I was really happy with her," he said.

And as for seeing Winx career away from the field?

"I thought, where's its tail. I'll try to grab hold of its tail," hel quipped.

Samantha Miss went on to win the VRC Oaks after her Cox Plate placing and Yankee Rose is the $2.10 favourite for this year's edition..