There are no surprises on the prohibitive odds being offered for Winx in 2017 Chelmsford Stakes betting this weekend as Chris Waller’s wonder mare looks to extend her winning streak to 19 on the trot.
Winx is a resounding odds-on favourite in 2017 Chelmsford Stakes betting markets. Photo: Steve Hart
A dozen weight-for-age hopefuls line-up in this year’s Group 2 $250,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) and all bar Winx look to be running for a place at best.
The champion daughter of Street Cry heads towards an historic third straight Cox Plate success this spring in Melbourne and comes off a last-to-first victory in the Warwick Stakes a fortnight ago after missing the kick by four lengths.
She has eased a touch in the latest Chelmsford Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au but remains under $1.10 in the markets after coming up trumps with barrier three.
The only other money in the markets for what would be one of racing’s biggest upsets is for the returning Kris Lees-trained Sense Of Occasion.
The seven-year-old jumps one beside Winx from gate two and has been backed in from $26 to $19 to win first-up.
Sense Of Occasion races for the first time since winning the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) in Brisbane back in May.
His last encounter with Waller’s superstar produced a third in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick during April when he crossed just under six lengths back as a $101 roughie.
“He got within 5.7 lengths of her last time we raced and I think it will be around that again and if that’s good enough to run second, so be it,” Lees told The Daily Telegraph this week.
“It all depends and I don’t think [Winx’s jockey Hugh Bowman] will have to be as aggressive as he was last time.”
The only other hopeful under $30 in Chelmsford Stakes betting for Saturday is Red Excitement ($26) in gate five second-up.
The Gerald Ryan-trained veteran eight-year-old is another graduate out of the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) from August 19 when he finished under two lengths away fourth to Winx.
It is unlikely any horse will get close this time around however with the ear muffs going on Winx to ensure she jumps evenly and doesn’t have to chase anything down like she did to defeat her younger stablemate Foxplay last time out.
The Chelmsford Stakes field is the largest Winx has raced against since she defeated 11 rivals in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in mid-February.
The only horse in the field on the weekend to have finished second behind Winx before meanwhile is Crown Oaks winner Lasqueti Spirit ($91).
The Lee Curtis-trained Beneteau mare improved on a first-up 10th in the Apollo Stakes during the autumn to finish two lengths back second to Winx in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Running a subsequent third in the ATC Oaks last preparation, Lasqueti Spirit faces Winx two runs into her campaign again looking to atone for her failed last when 10th past the post in Hawkesbury’s Listed Rowley Mile (1600m) on August 24.
Check out the latest Winx odds and full Chelmsford Stakes 2017 betting markets now to back the queen of the turf at the right price through Ladbrokes.com.au.
