Winx will defend her undefeated record in the 2014 Tea Rose Stakes and trainer Chris Waller is hoping that the talented filly can replicate her Furious Stakes performance on a firmer track at Royal Randwick this weekend.
Winx will have the chance to prove that her Furious Stakes win as no fluke when she contests the Tea Rose Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Winx started her racing career with two comfortable wins as a two-year before she stamped herself as a genuine Group 1 contender with a dominant three lengths win over Alpha Miss and Earthquake on a heavy track in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 6.
Waller said that Winx still needs to prove that she is capable of beating the likes of Earthquake on a dry track, but told Racing Ahead that he can’t fault the three-year-old heading into the Group 3 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) this weekend.
“I just want to see her do it on a good track and she will get that opportunity tomorrow,” Waller said.
“That is the only box unticked at this level and you might see some of the others, particularly Earthquake, improve on that better track.
“I guess all you can do is win and instead of her having to beat them, they have to beat her tomorrow.
“She got the run of the race last start, which I think was a big plus and we will be trying to do the same again tomorrow.”
Alpha Miss ran on well to finish second behind Winx in the Furious Stakes and the Gary Nickson-trained filly will have the chance to turn-the-tables on Winx in the 2014 Tea Rose Stakes this weekend.
Jason Collett, who will ride Winx on Saturday, has ridden Alpha Miss in all nine of her race starts to date, but Brenton Avdulla has been booked to take the ride on the Lucky Owners filly and he is confident that the three-year-old will produce another consistent performance.
“She has probably been an underrated little filly,” Avdulla told Racing Ahead.
“She is no Earthquake or Mossfun, but she has never been far away.
“She won a Lonhro Plate and beat Memorial, she has run fourth to Bring Me The Maid and other day was beaten by Winx.
“She has always been around the mark and she is racing really well.
“Her race looks like there is not a lot of speed in it, she won’t be far away and I think that she will run well again.”
Winx ($2.25) is a clear favourite in 2014 Tea Rose Stakes betting markets, while Alpha Miss is available at Tea Rose Stakes odds of $15.
