Winx To Gallop At Royal Randwick

Punters will get a close look at Winx before her return to the races when she takes part in an exhibition gallop at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

Winx will gallop after the third race at Royal Randwick tomorrow. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Winx will gallop after the third race at Royal Randwick tomorrow. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Winx has not been seen at the races since she recorded a dominant victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but she worked towards a return with two credible efforts in barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens on January 19 and Royal Randwick on January 29.

The daughter of Street Cry will gallop over 1000 metres with Hugh Bowman in the saddle and trainer Chris Waller will then decide whether she returns to the races in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 13 or the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 20.

Gai Waterhouse will also take advantage of the opportunity to gallop horses between races at Royal Randwick tomorrow and both Speak Fondly and Harlem River will have a hit out over 1200 metres following the opening race.

Speak Fondly was the star filly of the 2015 Sydney Spring Racing Carnival and she took out the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 22 and the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on September 5 before she finished a game second behind Exosphere in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on September 12.

The Northern Meteor filly scored a very tough win in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on October 3 and this will be her first public appearance since that gutsy win.

Harlem River was disappointing in both the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on October 10 and the Listed Crockett Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 24, but she showed good speed to win a barrier trial over 830 metres at Royal Randwick on January 29.

Waterhouse is yet to determine Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival goals for Speak Fondly or Harlem River, but they are both likely to receive an opportunity at the highest level of racing.

The Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) will be the major target for Winx and she is currently a dominant favourite with Ladbrokes from Criterion ($11), Highland Reel ($11), Mongolian Khan ($11), Preferment ($15), Press Statement ($15), First Seal ($17), Gailo Chop ($17), Kermadec ($17), Tarzino ($17) and Turn Me Loose ($17).

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.