The Darren Weir trained Humidor will lead the challenge against super star Winx in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday but the premiership winning trainer can’t see the glamour mare getting her colours lowered.
Humidor, above in green colours, will lead the challenge against Winx in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx is chasing her twenty-first win in succession this week in the Turnbull Stakes and Weir said that Humidor would have to have a huge head start to bring her winning run to an end.
“To beat Winx, you’d want a bit of a head start, I’d say,” Weir told the Herald Sun.
“I don’t think we can beat her but we had to keep the preparation going towards the Caulfield Cup and the Turnbull is the right race for us to run in.
“We just happen to run into Winx and she’s great for racing.
“It’s good for racing that Winx is here. It’s not good for us.”
“He’s a good horse. Take Winx out of the equation, I wouldn’t swap him for anything.”
“The reality is that he probably won’t beat her.”
Winx and Humidor won’t meet again over the Melbourne Spring Carnival with both heading in different directions after the Turnbull Stakes.
Humidor is one of the top fancies for the Group 1 $3.15m BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on October 21 while Winx is chasing her third successive win in the Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 28 and attempting to equal the legendary Kingston Town’s record of three consecutive wins in the ‘Weight For Age Championship Of Australasia’.
Winx has kept her winning momentum going with three wins at Randwick during the 2017 Spring Carnival in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m), in the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m).
Humidor has shown his liking for the huge Flemington course with two Group 1 wins at his last two appearances there while Winx will be having her first run there.
The five year old claimed his first Group 1 trophy in the $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington during the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival and was back in the Group 1 winner’s stall last start with an emphatic victory in the Group 1 $750,000 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on September 16.
Winx has drawn barrier two in the Turnbull Stakes with regular rider Hugh Bowman in the saddle again while Humidor will jump from gate four for Damian Lane.
