Winx is currently available at 2016 Apollo Stakes odds of $1.50 and the star mare is set to start the Group 2 event at Royal Randwick on Saturday as a dominant favourite.
Winx will return to Sydney racing in the 2016 Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Winx has not been seen at the races since her outstanding victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but punters are confident that the daughter of Street Cry can add an Apollo Stakes victory to a winning streak that already includes wins in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m), Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m), Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) and the Cox Plate.
Trainer Chris Waller has given Winx two barrier trials and an exhibition gallop in the lead-up to the Apollo Stakes and he is confident that his main mare will be very difficult to beat this weekend.
“From barrier one she should get a lovely run,” Waller said.
“She has worked well.
“She has had two trials and she went to Randwick for an exhibition gallop.
“She should be hard to beat.
“It is very exciting.”
Solicit is one of only two horses in the 2016 Apollo Stakes field that has already had a race start this preparation and she is currently on the second line of Apollo Stakes betting at a quote of $5.50.
The talented mare was well-backed in the lead-up to the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on January 30, but she was no match for Our Boy Malachi and trainer Gerald Ryan believes that she will struggle to beat Winx this weekend.
The only other horse that is available at single figure Apollo Stakes odds is Hong Kong import Dibayani, who is set to have his first race start in Sydney after trialing impressively at Royal Randwick on January 29.
Dibayani made his Australian racing debut with a strong third in the Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 15 and he was third again in the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 5, but he failed to fire in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and he was sent to the spelling paddock after an odd run in the Group 3 David Jones Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on October 17.
There has been a sprinkling of support in the Apollo Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes for Magic Hurricane ($31 into $26), Leebaz ($17 into $15) and Gust Of Wind ($101 into $71), while Grand Marshal ($126 out to $151) has been the big drifter.
