Champion race mare Winx galloped in between races at Randwick last Saturday as she continues in her 2018 Spring Carnival preparation which is aiming towards a fourth Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
Winx, above, will be chasing a 4th Cox Plate win during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx was given a short break after winning her twenty-fifth straight victory in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 14 on day two of The Championships and has had one barrier trial in the countdown to her return to the race track in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18.
Regular rider Hugh Bowman was on board when Winx had a quiet workout when seventh in a 900m Rosehill trial on July 23 and he also had a tight hold of her when she galloped in between races at Randwick last Saturday.
Bowman was very pleased with the way Winx strode out on the firm Randwick surface and is looking forward to riding her in her second barrier trial this campaign over 1000m at Rosehill on Tuesday.
“She felt good, pretty strong today,” Bowman said
“It was her first time in public this preparation so she was up for the occasion. It was quite windy too which ignited her. I was hoping to let her stride a bit more than I did but the ground is extremely firm here today so I kept hold of her.
“It was a good exercise and I’m looking forward to the second trial now.”
Trainer Chris Waller said that Winx was in the right place at this stage of her preparation and couldn’t fault her after seeing her gallop on Saturday.
“I thought bringing her here (Randwick) would help stimulate her without having to go too hard whereas this morning (Saturday) at Rosehill I would have had to go quite quick to get the same energy and benefit from the workout,” Waller told Racing New South Wales News Desk.
“Everything is in order. The only thing we have to worry about is her safety. We don’t have to make her run faster or do anything different. We know where she is at and she is perfect in terms of her body weight, breathing and her attitude.”
Pre-post betting for the 2018 Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au has Winx as the $1.55 favourite, well ahead of her nearest rival in the market order, Humidor at $15.
Winx’s record
35 starts, 29 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds.
18 Group 1 wins.
Total prizemoney earnings: $18,998,424
Early betting for the 2018 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.55 Winx, $15 Humidor, $21 Benbatl, $26 Gailo Chop, $31 D’Agento, Happy Clapper, Grunt, Roaring Lion, Unforgotten, Kementari, Youngstar, Johannes Vermeer, $41 Accidental Agent, Poetic Dream, Poet’s Word, Youngstar $51 or better the rest.
