Chris Waller was pleased with Winx’s hit-out between races at Randwick over the weekend and is confident that the equine superstar is ready to take her place in Saturday’s 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field.
Winx will contest the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday as a fourth point of call this time in. Photo: Steve Hart
Winx has returned to racing in typically stunning form this time in and the mare will be seeking a seventeenth-consecutive win when she lines up for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Track gallops have become a part of Winx’s ritual leading up to her major campaign targets and Waller told AAP that Saturday’s run has brought the mare on for her run in the feature race on Day 2 of The Championships.
“It just helps blow the cobwebs out,” Waller said.
“It’s important for her to have a trip away from the stable. It’s important for the strappers and everyone looking after her right down to the truck driver.
“The last thing I want is the driver getting nervous because he has Winx in the back of the float.”
Winx posted her first win at the highest level in the 2015 edition of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and has since won a total of eleven Group 1 feature races, for more than $10 million in prize money.
Winning both the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 Ladbrokes Stakes (2000m) before posting a dominant win in her defence of the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m), Winx trialled typically quietly leading into her 2017 campaign.
Resuming for a smart win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on February 13th, the daughter of Street Cry has taken out each of the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and Group 1 George Main Stakes (1500m) leading into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Winx is a clear and justifiable $1.15 favourite in 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, ahead of Tuesday’s final field and barrier draw release.
