Premiership winning jockey Hugh Bowman says that favourite Winx ‘feels great’ in her lead up to the Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx , above, is feeling great in her lead up to the Star Epsom at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Bowman has ridden Winx three times under race conditions for two wins and a second and got a good feel of the Chris Waller trained mare when he partnered her in a special gallop in between races at Rosehill last Saturday and was happy with the way she felt.
“I rode her in an exhibition gallop at Rosehill last Saturday and she felt great, although it is hard to get a guide on her when she is on her own,’’ Bowman told The Daily Telegraph.
“But she is the full package.’’
Bowman first rode Winx during the 2014 Sydney Spring Carnival and the pair were successful in winning the Group 2 $175,000 Coolmore Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Two starts later Bowman was aboard again when Winx ran second to First Seal in the Group 1 $400,000 Coolmore Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick again.
As a late three year old filly Winx was one of the stars of the Brisbane Winter Carnicaal and Bowman steered her to a sensational three and a half lengths win in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30.
Winx was quick to regain her winning form and scored a dynamic last to first first-up win with James McDonlad in the saddle in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12.
That first up win was good enough for bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au to place her at the top of the market order for the Star Epsom and she is currently the short priced $2.90 favourite.
Waller also has the second favourite Sadler’s Lake who has been well supported and has firmed in from $8.50 to $7.50 ahead of the Group 1 winning mare Lucia Valentina at $8.50.
The Star Epsom market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.90 Winx, $7.50 Sadler’s Lake, $8.50 Lucia Valentina, $9.50 Silverball, $11 Entirely Platinum, Rudy, $16 Kirromosa, $17 Sweynese, Sons Of John, $21 Messene, $26 Ecuador, $31 Hooked, $71 Malice, Pressing, $81 Teronado.
