The world’s best mare Winx is set to make her autumn return in February’s Apollo Stakes 2018 in Sydney with the triple Cox Plate winner back in work for trainer Chris Waller.
Champion mare Winx is likely to kick off her 2018 campaign in February’s Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Waller is mapping out the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign of his stable ace, the champion daughter of Street Cry last seen extending her winning streak to 22 on the trot with a third consecutive triumph in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) in late October.
Winx currently boasts 15 Group 1 victories, equal with former superstar sprinter Black Caviar, and boasts in excess of $15.6 million in prize money which is more than any other Australian racehorse before her.
Having welcomed the six-year-old back to the stables at Rosehill last Thursday, Waller is as confident as ever Winx still has plenty left to give the racing world including a possible international campaign later in 2018.
“They have done a wonderful job with her and she has come back refreshed and her feet are in really good condition,” he told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“She came back to Rosehill on Thursday.”
First the Sydney fans will be in line to watch the brilliant mare chase her 23rd straight victory when Winx runs first-up at Royal Randwick in the Group 2 $250,000 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
Winx has won the past two editions of the Apollo Stakes, including her easy three length win over Hartnell first-up last February, and is out to be the race’s first triple champion.
This autumn gone, the heroic galloper went on to take out the Group 1 treble of the Chipping Norton Stakes, George Ryder Stakes and Queen Elizabeth Stakes by a combined margin of 14.6 lengths.
Racing plans after the Apollo Stakes this time in remain open however, Waller keen to show Winx off on the international stage with a trip to England’s Royal Ascot during our winter targeting the Queen Anne Stakes over the mile in June.
Winx was given her inoculation booster over the weekend keeping the overseas’ racing option firmly open.
“We updated her inoculation, so everything is right up until at least June,” Waller said.
“It keeps the option of going overseas available but we will not make a decision about whether she travels for a while yet.
“She is older and we want to see how she comes back.”
There is also the chance Winx will remain down under and be given a light autumn ahead of a possible historical fourth shot at the Cox Plate next spring.
All-in Cox Plate betting at race sponsor Ladbrokes.com.au already list Winx as the $3 favourite to become the first horse in history to take out the Australasian weight-for-age classic four times.
She currently co-holds the triple feat record with Kingston Town (1980-82).
To back Winx next race and to access all the best upcoming racing odds online including those on the 2018 Cox Plate head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
