Trainer Chris Waller has kept his super mare Winx finely tuned for her George Main Stakes assignment at Randwick next week with a Warwick Farm barrier trial third this morning.
Winx, above winning the 2015 Cox Plate, finished third in a Warwick Farm barrier trial in preparation for the George Main Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Waller scratched Winx from the Group 2 $250,000 Tattersalls Club Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday because of the heavy track and sent her to Warwick Farm this morning to keep her fitness levels up.
Race day jockey Hugh Bowman didn’t fully extend Winx when she finished just behind Dothraki and Decision Time in the 1000m barrier trial and it is all systems go for the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.
“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.
Winx has been back to the winner’s stall on five occasions since winning the Cox Plate and as well as winning the Warwick Stakes, she was undefeated during the Sydney Autumn Carnival with wins in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m), Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick and the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
In early Cox Plate betting at Ladbrokes.com.au Winx has maintained her spot at the top of the market order at $2.40, well ahead of her nearest rival, last Saturday’s Chelmsford Stakes winner Hartnell at $13.
The Aidan O’Brien trained Highland Reel shares the next line of betting at $17 with Group 1 winner The United States and Japanese import Tosen Stardom just ahead of Memsie Stakes winner Black Heart Bart and Lucia Valentina at $19.
