The Chris Waller trained Winx has firmed into a clear cut favourite for the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30 after a stunning win at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday.
Winx is now the clear cut favourite for the Queensland Oaks at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
The Street Cry filly produced a Bernborough like finish to overhaul the entire field in the straight to come from last of the eighteen runners on the home to record an easy one and a quarter lengths win over Ulmann and Worhty Cause in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m).
Bookmakers at Ladbrokes.com.au now have Winx the $2.30 favourite for the Queensland Oaks ahead of stablemate Ballet Suite at $6.50 with SA Fillies Classic third placegetter Ungrateful Ellen on the third line of betting at $9.
Winx’s eye opening performance in the Sunshine Coast Guineas has also elevated her to the top of market order at $5.50 for the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on June 6.
Part owner Peter Tighe was also stunned by the win but knew his filly was the best horse in the race and is looking forward to her lining up in the Queensland Oaks.
“I thought she was a bit far behind them. But she was the best horse in the race and she won like it,” Tighe told AAP.
“It was a great Oaks trial. She was too good.”
Winx had performed well during the Sydney Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 2 $175,000 Cellarbrations Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill followed by a fifth in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill and a second to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.
Ballet Suite also threw herself into Queensland Oaks calculations with a solid win over the Gai Waterhouse trained filly Bohemian Lily in the Listed $100,000 City Property Services Princess Stakes (2000m) at Doomben on May 9.
Kiwi filly Platinum Witness is on the fourth line of betting at $10 ahead of Bohemian Lily, the Bjorn Baker trained Sebrina and Bart and James Cummings’ filly Zarzali all marked at $11.
