Premiership winning trainer Chris Waller is confident that Australia’s new glamour mare Winx will step up again in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Glamour mare Winx is chasing her eighth straight win in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
2015 Cox Plate winner Winx is lining up for her eighth straight win and Waller said that she is in super order.
“She is fantastic,” Waller told Racing Ahead.
“She takes everything very seriously, does everything right and on game day she is just so zoned in on that winning post it is just not funny.”
“I hope she wins. Obviously we have Press Statement there, a high priced colt, and it is probably more important in terms of the value.”
“For the punters and the public that have really got behind Winx, it would be special if she could win.”
Even though Winx is dropping back 100m in distance on her last start win in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27, Waller can see her handling a small but strong George Ryder Stakes field.
“I am hoping that Winx can take it to a new level again tomorrow at a shorter distance against really good horses,” Waller said.
In-form Kiwi galloper Turn Me Loose looks set to be the pacemaker and Waller is not dismissing him as a definite threat to his star mare after he collected his second Group 1 trophy in winning the $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 27.
“Turn Me Loose I have great respect for and First Seal and others there in the Autumn that can take the next step. It is a fantastic race,” Waller said.
Winx is currently the $1.70 top pick at Ladbrokes.com.au and Waller will also saddle up the $5 second favourite Press Statement and $12 chance Kermadec.
Caulfield Guineas winner Press Statement suffered a shock defeat last start when second to Le Romain as the $1.30 favourite in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on March 5.
While Kermadec made up ground late at his first run back for the Autumn when third to Holler in the Group 1 $500,000 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) on Randwick Guineas Day.
Winx’s last seven wins:
2015
Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on May 16.
Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30.
Group 2 $200,000 Theo Marks Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on September 12.
Group 1 $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick on October 3.
Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24.
2016
Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13.
Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on February 27.
George Ryder Stakes market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.70 Winx, $5 Press Statement, $7.50 Turn Me Loose, $10 First Seal, $12 Kermadec, $31 Happy Clapper, $51 Hucklebuck, Tinto.
