The 2017 George Main Stakes tips are flowing in for the big race in Sydney on Saturday and only a fool would be betting against a Winx win, so how dominant will the mighty mare’s 20th straight turf triumph be exactly?
Races.com.au are predicting Winx to win the George Main Stakes 2017 on Saturday by 2.5 lengths. Photo: Steve Hart.
During the spring last year Chris Waller’s stable ace made history with an incredible eight length success in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, her second win in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship.
The daughter of Street Cry was equally as dominant during the autumn with a quartet of victories by a combined margin of over 17 lengths.
Among those was a seven length romp home on a Heavy (10) in the George Ryder at Rosehill, a race featuring superstar sprinter Chautauqua (3rd) who is also on show at Randwick on Saturday kicking off in The Shorts.
So punters have been a little perplexed this campaign by the narrow margins of Winx’s two lead-up wins.
After missing the jump it took the now six-year-old every stride to get over the fellow Waller-trained mare Foxplay in the Warwick Stakes, before she did the chasing again second-up running down Red Excitement for a one length Chelmsford Stakes victory.
Some are saying the chink in her armour could be having to sprint hard and chase down a tearaway leader.
Others believe the $13 million earner is starting to falter in her blinding brilliance.
Waller? He knows he has the country’s best racehorse, possibly the world’s best mare, and is unconcerned heading into the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) on Saturday.
“What we are all learning is, regardless of the situation, that she is equally effective and that Winx is who she is. She is not unstoppable, but she is a very good racehorse,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
The bookies agree and Winx sits the $1.09 favourite in George Main Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
She is an equine freak and will be winning again on Saturday, but by how many lengths and what finishes in the money behind her in the George Main Stakes trifecta?
1st
#7 Winx ($1.09)
- Winning Margin: 2.5 Lengths
The champion can put the doubters to bed with a more dominant win third-up at one of her pet tracks / distances (7-6-1-0). She hasn’t lost at Randwick since her second to Gust Of Wind in the 2015 ATC Oaks (2400m), and won’t be losing there on the weekend. She is the class horse not only in this field, but in the country. Her freakish ability, consistency, versatility, big motor and will to win is second to none. All the stats stack up on a comfortable win to extend the streak to 20 straight and see her post Group 1 win No. 13.
2nd
#1 Happy Clapper ($12)
The bookies look to have the race spot on and Happy Clapper is the next best in betting. He’s been up against Winx four times to date including the Doncaster Mile 2016 second. Was runner-up in that same autumn classic earlier this year so has plenty of ability this track / distance. First-up win in the Tramway Stakes was impressive and he’ll be fitter second-up. Good record two runs into his campaigns and will relish the step-up to 1600m.
3rd
#9 Foxplay ($15)
She gave the fans a scare leading until the final stride in the Warwick Stakes and had an extra week off to recover, the four-year-old daughter of Foxwedge preparing for another run against her superstar stablemate. Gun barrier, weight advantage, has trialled well this month and is a Group 1 winner at the 1600m here from the autumn in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes. Loves Randwick (6-3-2-0) and is a genuine place chance again.
Whether you’re backing Winx to win or getting some value on a place bet in the George Main Stakes 2017 tipping this weekend, make sure you’ve got access to the best racing markets online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
