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The 2025 Winx Stakes kicks off Group 1 racing for the new season in Sydney today with the 10-race Royal Randwick meeting set to go ahead, and below we take a look at the latest odds, late mail and tips for the feature.
Despite the big wet in Sydney and concerns the meeting would be postponed, the Australian Turf Club (ATC) has given the go ahead with the track a Heavy (10) at time of publish.
Click here for the full 2025 Winx Stakes Day track report and Randwick scratchings for today’s racing in Sydney.
The big news is the withdrawal from the Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) of the Chris Waller trained Fangirl.
Fangirl was scratched from the 2025 Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick due to the Heavy 10 track conditions following a week of extreme rainfall in Sydney.
Waller made the decision to withdraw Fangirl because she has a poor record on heavy tracks – having raced five times on such surfaces without placing. Waller opted to delay her season return rather than risk her performance or wellbeing on unsuitable ground.
This leaves Waller with four runners in the race, including Via Sistina, the defending champion and current $2.25 favourite in Winx Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Via Sistina won this race fresh on a Good (4) last year heading an all-Waller trifecta and, despite the mud, is tipped to go back-to-back.
The Heavy going is definitely a concern for the now eight-year-old Fastnet Rock mare however.
The nine-time Group 1 winner has run on a Heavy rated track just once before when failing to fire at Flemington in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) second-up off her Winx Stakes success last year.
She finished a distant fifth beaten 6.46 lengths by Mr Brightside on a Heavy (9) that day.
Via Sistina, who is set to be honoured as Horse of the Year at the upcoming Australian Champion Racehorse Awards later this month, is very short in betting and we’re happy to lay her.
Instead, our value 2025 Winx Stakes Each Way tips is No. 2 Ceolwulf ($9 at time of publish).
Via Sistina may be the standout on class, but for us Joe Pride‘s Tavistock gelding, who is a dual Group 1 winner with proven Heavy track form (2:1-1-0), arrives fit off a sharp trial behind Private Eye.
Ceolwulf is drawn well in barrier seven and reunites with Chad Schofield so looks primed to run a bold race after a strong autumn that included a narrow George Ryder second and a gritty Neville Sellwood win on Heavy ground.
His Queen Elizabeth run behind Via Sistina was better than it reads, and he’s a serious player with the mud flying.
Latest Odds – Race 8: Winx Stakes (1400m)
- Via Sistina ($2.25 favourite): Drifting slightly due to heavy track concerns but still the standout in the markets.
- Gringotts ($5 second elect): George Ryder winner from the Maher stable considered the danger but has eased out slightly. Has strong Soft track form but the Heavy going is an unknown.
- Aeliana ($6.50): Well-supported with Waller opting to run her, she’s drawn ideally and was a huge five length ATC Derby winner in the autumn.
- Ceolwulf ($9): Backed in from $11 to single figures with multiple bets based on his strong wet track form.
- Linderman ($20): One of the roughies but his price has been slashed and more than halved after opening at $46 with some market support despite his poor heavy track record.
- Full Count Felicia ($61): Notably drifting with the Waller trained US import unknown on wet tracks.
Late Mail
- Fangirl scratched due to poor heavy track record (0 from 5).
- Track remains Heavy 10, with jockeys expected to avoid the inside later in the day.
- Via Sistina has only one prior run on heavy ground (unplaced), raising slight concerns despite being the class horse.
Top Tips
Lucy Henderson’s Selections:
- Ceolwulf – Proven wet tracker, strong trials and looks the value first-up.
- Via Sistina – While Heavy track is a query, she’s got the class edge.
- Arapaho – Stayer with speed, loves wet tracks and is more than capable of a big run fresh with conditions to suit.
Same Race Multi (Randwick Race 8) – ($61 at time of publish through Ladbrokes.com.au)
- Top 2: No. 2 Ceolwulf
- Top 3: No. 9 Via Sistina
- Top 3: No. 4 Arapaho
| 9. Via Sistina (1) J: James McDonald57kg 3111xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 12. Aeliana (2) J: Jason Collett56.5kg 3421xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Arapaho (4) J: Rachel King59kg 5241xT: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 2. Ceolwulf (7) J: Chad Schofield59kg 5315xT: Joseph Pride | ||
| 3. Gringotts (9) J: Tommy Berry59kg x310xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. War Eternal (5) J: Dylan Gibbons59kg 5x821T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 6. Robusto (8) J: Josh Parr59kg 2x021T: Bjorn Baker | ||
| 11. Full Count Felicia (10) J: Adam Hyeronimus57kg 17x4xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 8. Diamond Diesel (3) J: Andrew Adkins59kg 00926T: Adam Duggan | ||
| 5. Lindermann (11) J: Nash Rawiller59kg 2490xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Light Infantry Man (6) J: Ethan Brown59kg 6310xT: Ciaron Maher |
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.
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