Winx has 8 rivals in 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes field

Australia’s favourite race horse Winx has eight rivals to contend with following the release of the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx, above, has eight rivals in the 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx’s delayed start to her 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival was due to the unavailability of her regular rider Hugh Bowman for her original plan of running first up in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 17.

Bowman was out of action on Apollo Stakes Race Day because of a careless riding suspension and trainer Chris Waller and Winx’s owners decided to put the mighty mare’s Autumn Carnival debut back two weeks to keep the winning combinations intact.

Winx will be chasing her twenty-third straight win when she steps out in the Chipping Norton Stakes with Bowman in the saddle and the three times Cox Plate winner will jump from barrier six in the nine horse field.

Winx won a specially convened 1200m barrier trial against five of her stablemates in between races at Randwick on Apollo Stakes Race Day and Waller said he has her fit enough to tackle the 1600m of the Chipping Norton Stakes first up.

“The trial has brought her on and she is ready to go to the Chipping Norton,” Waller told AAP.

“She has had a very good week since then and we couldn’t be happier.”

Waller will also saddle Who Shot Thebarman and Libran in the Chipping Norton Stakes and both stayers will be first up as they aim towards the longer feature races later on during the Autumn Carnival.

Libran has drawn the rails with Brenton Avdulla to ride while Who Shot Thebarman will jump from barrier three for Tye Angland.

The Kris Lees trained Prized Icon will be having his third run back for the Autumn and has drawn in the in the middle of the back at barrier four with Glyn Schofield taking the mount again.

Schofield has been aboard Prized Icon for the majority of his starts which includes a win in the 2016 Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington as well as his two runs this time in for a second in the Listed $150,000 Carrington Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on January 27 followed by a fourth in the Apollo Stakes.

There are no surprises to see Winx installed as the very short $1.09 favourite for the Chipping Norton Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au with her nearest rival being Prized Icon at $13.