Equine superstar Winx is primed for an eighteenth-consecutive race win when she steps out in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes field at Royal Randwick tomorrow afternoon.
Winx will begin her Ladbrokes Cox Plate campaign in Saturday’s Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Trainer Chris Waller could not be happier with the condition of the twelve-time Group 1 champion, who understandably swept Thursday’s NSW Racehorse Owners Association Night Of Champions in Sydney; walking away with the highest honour as Horse of the Year, as well as the top prizes for miler and middle distance horse of the year.
Having trialled exceedingly well in the lead-up to her competitive return, Waller told AAP that the mare is in ideal condition ahead of her Ladbrokes Cox Plate campaign.
“It’s really hard to tell with a horse like Winx, where she’s at,” Waller said.
“She’s just so different and not knowing what to expect or how good she is, she just does things that you don’t really see happening.
“Saturday is a good pointer for all of us. She’s exactly where we want her to be.”
Jockey Hugh Bowman revealed that the mare is a lot more ‘switched on’ than she usually is at this point of her preparation and is confident that she is ready for the Warwick Stakes.
“It’s interesting that she’s more on the ball at this stage of the prep and there’s plenty of nervous energy,” Bowman said.
“It’s exciting to have her so bubbly at this stage.”
Winx is amidst an incredible run of seventeen-consecutive race wins; spanning more than two years back to her dominant triumph in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) in May of 2015.
Ending her 2016 campaign with undoubtedly her most dominant performance and win to date when successfully defending her crown in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m), Winx trialled quietly in the lead-up to her autumn campaign this year, but comfortable strode clear of a classy field to win the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) first-up.
Defending her crown in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) with complete ease, the Street Cry mare beat some of the Autumn Carnival’s best horses by close to eight lengths in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 18th.
Last seen winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) by six lengths on April 8th, Winx finished third in a Randwick 900m barrier trial on July 24th, before posting her first ever win in a hit-out over 1000m on August 8th.
Winx is currently available at incredible $2 odds to win OR finish second in the Warwick Stakes on Saturday, only at Ladbrokes.com.au! Max bet $20.
