Winx’s opposition dwindles in Apollo Stakes

Dual acceptors Global Glamour and Savvy Nature have been scratched from the $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday leaving Winx to face eleven rivals in the Group 2 weight for age contest.

Global Glamour, above, has been scratched from the Apollo Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Global Glamour, above, has been scratched from the Apollo Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx with Hugh Bowman in the saddle will move in one spot to barrier two after Global Glamour, who drew the rails, was withdrawn and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained filly will take her place in the Group 2 $200,000 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) later on during the day.

Global Glamour has drawn barrier twelve in the fourteen horse Light Fingers Stakes with Josh Parr taking the ride.

The former Hong Kong trained Savvy Nature will be having his first start for Tulloch Lodge and will run in the first race on the ten event card in the $100,000 Ranvet BenchMark 90 Handicap over 1600m.

Parr has secured the mount on the Savabeel six year old who has drawn the outside gate in the eight horse field.

As well as some tough opposition in the shape of multiple Group 1 winner Hartnell, Winx will also have to cope with a rain affected track and a sweltering hot day with the temperate tipped to reach a smouldering 39 degrees.

The Randwick track was rated a heavy 9 on Wednesday after receiving 95mm in the last week, with 83.2mm falling in the last twenty-four hours, but the track is tipped to improve by the weekend with a couple of fine days predicted in the lead up to the weekend.

While Winx will have no trouble handling a rain affected surface after scoring on a heavy track once and twice on the soft, a tough run in the blistering heat first up will make it a hard day’s work for the dual Cox Plate winner.

Winx will be chasing her fourteenth win in succession after being undefeated since winning the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast during the 2015 Queensland Winter Carnival and along the way the champion mare has collected nine Group 1 trophies which include the 2015 and 2016 Group 1 $3m  Cox Plates (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

Early betting for the Apollo Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has Winx as the dominant $1.14 favourite with her nearest rival the John O’Shea trained Hartnell at $9.50.

English jockey James Doyle will be having his first race ride on Hartnell who moves in two spots to barrier five with the scratchings of Savvy Nature and Global Glamour.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.