Leading Group 1 rider Hugh Bowman says that super star mare Winx has the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday “at her mercy.”
Winx, above, is the short priced favourite for the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winx is chasing her eleventh win on the trot when she takes on seven rivals in the weight for age Chelmsford Stakes, most of them gearing up for longer races later in the Spring Carnival.
The Chris Waller trained Winx returned to the race track in fine style to record her tenth consecutive win in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20 and Bowman can’t see her getting beaten this weekend.
“There doesn’t feel a lot of pressure going into the weekend because most off the opposition, while they are Group 1 horses, are going to be better over further,” Bowman told racing.com.
“You’d think she’s got it at her mercy.”
“Without sounding too arrogant, I don’t really think any of them are (a threat).”
Three year old Prized Icon will be taking on weight for age company for the first time and Bowman rode the James Cumming trained colt into fourth place in the Group 3 $125,000 Primo Smallgoods Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on August 20 at his first run back after winning the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 16.
Bowman thinks that Prized Icon will have enough speed to lead up the Chelmsford Stakes field and give Winx a nice sit just off the pace.
“Prized Icon will probably lead, he’s free rolling type. I rode him first up in the Up And Coming Stakes and I was pleased with his run. He will be much more suited at 1600m.”
The John O’ Shea trained Hartnell chased home Winx when second in the Warwick Stakes and Bowman says that he has plenty of respect for the Group 1 winning English import.
“II have a huge respect for Hartnell,” Bowman said.
“If you go back to the Autumn in 2015, he was the real headline act and was favourite for the Cox Plate after that campaign and there is no shortage of class with him.”
“His sectional times first up in the Warwick Stakes were almost as good as Winx’s, so it’d be no surprise to see him run very well again, but I think at this trip she will have the wood on them.”
Waller will have six of the eight runners in the Chelmsford Stakes and as well as Winx will also saddle up Preferment, Who Shot Thebarman, Grand Marshall, Storm The Stars and Spiritjim.
Winx is at the almost unbackable odds of $1.14 for the Chelmsford Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au with Prized Icon her nearest rival in the betting at $7.50 ahead of Hartnell at $11.
Market order for the Chelmsford Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.14 Winx, $7.50 Prized Icon, $11 Hartnell, $34 Preferment, $81 Storm The Stars, $91 Who Shot Thebarman, Spiritjim, $126 Grand Marshall.
