Queensland Oaks winner Winx will be on trial for an Epsom Handicap berth when she resumes for the Spring in the Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Winx is on trial for the Star Epsom when she resumes in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Winx was spelled after a successful Queensland Winter Carnival campaign as a three year old that saw her win the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast and she backed that up with a dominant win in the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben.
Champion trainer Chris Waller is pleased with the way Winx has developed in her time off and has return to the stable in top order.
Even though Winx ran second over 2400m to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks at Randwick during the Sydney Autumn Carnival and then won over 2200m in the Queensland Oaks, Waller is keen to aim her at the 1600m of the Group 1 $1m The Star Epsom at Randwick on October 3,
“She’s a very good horse and has come back into the stable looking very well,” Waller told The Daily Telegraph.
“I think she’s up to an Epsom Handicap and we’ll get a good guide this weekend.”
“She had a lot of developing to do as a spring three-year-old but we saw she’d taken the next step during her last campaign.”
“She’s never going to be a big, strong mare but certainly in time she’s strengthened up.”
Winx is also nominated for the Group 3 $125,000 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) for the fillies and mares but Waller is leaning towards starting her against the open horses in the Theo Marks Stakes.
Waller has also entered Heart Vista and Strawberry Boy for the Theo Marks Stakes.
Strawberry Boy also had a winning time in Brisbane during the Winter with two wins at Doomben in the Group 3 $125,000 Programmed Property Services Lord Mayor’s Cup (1600m) and in the Listed $100,000 Ambassador Travel The Wayne Wilson Plate (1600m) and will be having his first run back.
Heart Testa will have a fitness advantage over his stablemates with one run under his belt for a fourth to Decision Time in the Group 3 $125,000 Sky Thoroughbred Central Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick on August 22.
