Trainer Chris Waller has reported that his champion mare Winx has wrapped up her preparation in great style for a second Turnbull Stakes victory with a solid gallop at Flemington yesterday.

Winx, above, is in fine shape for the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx, above, is in fine shape for the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx is lining up for her twenty-eighth straight win as well as back to back wins in the Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Winx worked over 1000m with race jockey Hugh Bowman in the saddle alongside of stablemate Invincibella and the high profile hoop was very happy how the mare went through her paces to clock 1.08 secs for the journey, running home the last 400m in 23.23 secs.

Winx is on target to claim her fourth straight Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27 and Waller released the following statement detailing her latest build up to the Turnbull Stakes.

“Winx had her final piece of work this morning (Monday) in preparation for Saturday’s Seppelt Turnbull Stakes.”

“Hugh Bowman was aboard and she worked with her stablemate Invincibella. They worked well together and ran approximately 1.08 for the 1000m and last 400m in 23.23.”

“Hugh could not have been any happier with the way Winx felt and the way she finished her work off.”

“Hugh and I are both very pleased with the way the preparation has gone as we head towards the third start of her campaign on Saturday. She is in good shape and looks well.”

Winx is one of fourteen horses nominated for the Turnbull Stakes along with stablemates Unforgotten, Youngstar and Egg Tart as well as the Mick Price trained Grunt and the Darren Weir trained import Kings Will Dream.

Winx won the Turnbull Stakes last year on her way to claiming her third straight win in the Cox Plate and equalling Kingston Town’s long standing record of a hat trick of wins in the Weight For Age Championship of Australasia.

Winx has been as impressive as ever during her 2018 Spring Carnival campaign with a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 followed by an effortless four lengths victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White (George Main) Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 15.

Pre-post betting for the Turnbull Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au has Winx marked at $1.20 while in the Cox Plate the seven year old mare is marked at $1.30 to make it four wins on the trot in the 2018 Spring Carnival’s premier weight for age race.

Early betting for the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.20 Winx, $14 Kings Will Dream, $16 Youngster, $18 Unforgotten, $21 Orderofthegarter, $26 Egg Tart, Grunt, Jon Snow, $41 Might Boss, Rising Red, $61 Trap For Fools, Ventura Storm, $101 Divine Unicorn, Tally.

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.