Winx kicks off Cox Plate preparation in Randwick trial

Glamour mare Winx kicked off her 2016 Cox Plate preparation with an easy trail on the Kensington Track at Randwick today.

Winx, above, will target a second Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in the Spring Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx, above, will target a second Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in the Spring Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx was unextended by Hugh Bowman to finish fourth to Ramornie Handicap winner Volatility after travelling in fifth position on the fence in the 850m trial.

The Chris Waller trained super mare was making her first public appearance since winning the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day of ‘The Championship’.

Winx will target the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 22 and try to make it back to back wins in the Weight For Age Championship of Australasia after making a one act affair last year with a four and three quarter lengths demolition of a high quality international field.

Waller was happy with the way Winx pulled up after her trial will give the Street Cry mare one more trial before making her 2016 Spring Carnival debut in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20.

“She pulled up very well. We have come through this morning really well,” Waller told Racing Ahead.

“I would be cautious of a heavy 10 track or something like that and there is always the Memsie the week later but at this stage our first preference is the Warwick Stakes at home.”
“She very adaptable. She is very easy to ride and train.”

“Maybe the Chelmsford and the George Main before coming down to Melbourne (for) the normal lead-ups like the Underwood (and) the Caulfield Stakes, but I think the Cox Plate will be her fifth run.

“Everyone will get plenty of time to see her and hopefully she can keep winning.”

“She’s bigger, stronger, we have just got to hope she can be better, if it is possible.”

The Star Doncaster Mile was Winx’s ninth win on the trot and her winning run commenced with victory in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast during the 2015 Queensland Winter Racing Carnival.

Winx then went on to win the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben before having a short break prior to commencing a 2015 Spring Carnival campaign which saw her claim two more Group 1 trophies with a win in the Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick before her famous Cox Plate victory.

Waller then spelled Winx before she returned in the Autumn to win in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13 and continued on her winning way with a victory in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27.

The glamour mare then wrapped up her Autumn campaign with wins in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 19 and in the Doncaster Mile.

In an early Cox Plate market order with Ladbrokes.com.au, Winx is a dominant $2.80 favourite ahead of top Hong Kong performer Werther at $13 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Lucia Valentina at $15.

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.