Following the Hugh Bowman suspension drama, Chris Waller Racing has confirmed the stable’s superstar mare Winx will bypass the Apollo Stakes on February 17 and resume racing on March 3 in the Chipping Norton Stakes 2018.

Winx (inside) will be saved for a first-up run in the 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes on March 3. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Earlier the first-up run for the 15-time Group 1 winning daughter of Street Cry remained up in the air after Bowman failed to win his appeal against a careless riding charge incurred on Australia Day at Warwick Farm.

The champion hoop, in the saddle for the past 19 of Winx’s 22 straight turf triumphs, also received a suspension the following day when riding in New Zealand.

His availability to partner Winx first-up then in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 17, a race she won in both 2016-17, has Waller looking at other campaign kick-offs.

An official statement on the Chris Waller Racing website on Tuesday morning however confirmed that Waller and connections will save the mighty mare for the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on March 3.

“Hugh Bowman is a very important part of Winx and we feel that we can go straight into the Chipping Norton first up without the need to resume in the Apollo Stakes as we had originally planned,” Waller said in the statement.

“She races well fresh and we are ahead of schedule with her, so I will simply give her a third trial to ensure her fitness levels are high enough to compete at her best in this race.

“Should Hugh have been suspended in the middle or late in the preparation closer to her significant targets we would have opted to sue a suitable replacement rider for Winx, however we are in the fortunate position that we can alter her starting point without affecting her main targets this preparation.”

Like the Apollo Stakes, Winx has won the past two editions of the Chipping Norton Stakes including her two length romp home over Lasqueti Spirit in the 2017 edition run on a Heavy (9) track.

Following the Chipping Norton Stakes, Winx will likely continue her Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival preparation with a second dual title defence in the Group 1 $1 million George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day, March 24.

From there a decision will be made on whether she remains down under for the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during April’s ‘The Championships’ or be saved for a mid-year Royal Ascot bid in England.

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