Winx 1 of 7 nominations for George Main Stakes

Super mare Winx is one of seven nominations for the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx is one of seven horses nominated for the George Main Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx is one of seven horses nominated for the George Main Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

With only seven horses entered for the George Main Stakes, the Australian Turf Club has elected to extend the nomination deadline for the weight for age feature until 11am on Tuesday, September 13, 2016.

The Chris Waller trained Winx is chasing her eleventh win on the trot in the George Main Stakes and the leading Sydney trainer is not worried the glamour mare missed a run last Saturday week.

Waller decided against running Winx on a heavy track and scratched from the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick but has kept her fitness up with a third in a 1000m barrier trial at Warwick Farm last Friday.

“She doesn’t need to do too much but I think trialling will ensure she isn’t so fresh going to the George Main Stakes,” Waller said.

“She is ticking along nicely, we are all very pleased with her condition.”

Winx began her 2016 Spring Carnival campaign with an effortless win in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20, chalking up her tenth win in succession.

Waller has his eye on winning consecutive Cox Plates and Winx will head South after the George Main Stakes to kick off the Melbourne portion of her Spring Carnival campaign in the Group 1 $600,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on October 8.

Winx trounced her rivals in the 2015 Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley with a runaway four and three quarter lengths win over Criterion and back to back wins is not out of the question.

Waller’s other nominations for the George Main Stakes are Vanbrugh who ran fourth to Winx first up in the Warwick Stakes and French import Spiritjim whose Spring Carnival appearance was delayed after he was also scratched from the Chelmsford Stakes because of the heavy track conditions.

Trainer John O’Shea has entered Hauraki who was back in the winner’s stall last start with a win in the Group 2 $175,000 Tattersalls Club Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 3 and It’s Somewhat who finished fourth in the same race.

Kris Lees has nominated Le Romain who has two runs under his belt heading into the George Main Stakes, a second to Tycoon Tara in the Group 3 $125,000 Bob Ingham Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 20 followed by a second to Hauraki in the Tramway Stakes.

Leading Melbourne trainer Darren Weir will head north with former Japanese trained galloper Tosen Stardom who has had one run for his new trainer for a fourth to Awesome Rock in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3.

Early market order for the Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.20 Winx, $8.50 Tosen Stardom, $10 Hauraki, $13 Le Romain, $19 It’s Somewhat, $71 Vanbrugh, $101 Spiritjim.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.