Randwick track manager Nevesk Ramdhani is predicting a track upgrade into the soft range before Winx steps out for the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
A soft Randwick track is predicted before Winx, above, runs in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Randwick track is currently rated a heavy 8 on Friday afternoon after receiving 68.4mm of rain over the last seven days but Ramdhani is hoping for more drying weather in the next twenty-four hours to help the track improve.
Another track inspection on Saturday morning along with the reports from the jockeys that ride a gallop on the course proper will determine what rating the track starts at for the second day of ‘The Championships’.
“The track is currently rated a heavy 8 on Friday afternoon and we will assess it in the morning,” Ramdhani told Racing New South Wales News.
“Given the weather conditions over the last few days I half expect it going to be a pretty dewy morning and we will look at what the horses do after a gallop in the morning and I expect we will be racing on a soft track come race time tomorrow.”
“It will be a maximum of 24 degrees and a sunny day tomorrow. I think it is all shaping up to be a fantastic race day to watch the world’s best horse on turf, Winx, take on a fantastic field.”
Winx is in fine form as she chased her seventeenth straight win when she lines up in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and dominates the betting at $1.10 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Trainer Chris Waller mapped out a four run Sydney Autumn Carnival program for Winx and so far she has delivered with two wins at Randwick in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) and the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) followed by a seven and a quarter lengths thrashing of her opposition in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.
Winx has drawn barrier three with regular rider Hugh Bowman in the saddle again.
The John O’Shea trained Hartnell is the closest to Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes market order at $11 ahead of Doncaster Mile runner up Happy Clapper at $19 and last start Ranvet Stakes third placegetter The United States at $21.
