Champion mare Winx won’t run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes this week, with trainer Chris Waller feeling the mare has done enough this preparation after a long season.
While she was originally targeted at the rich Group 1 2000m race at Randwick, Waller made the call to send Australia’s best racehorse to spell to enhance her chances of running for some years to come as she becomes an icon in racing.
Waller advised Racing NSW of the decision on Tuesday morning, after speculation on Monday forced stewards to suspend betting on the race.
“We are a little concerned that the winning run in the Doncaster Handicap did require a lot of effort which is hard to quantify but visibly looking at her this morning I as the trainer can see a horse that although she is at 90 per cent we don’t feel she is 100 per cent of her normal self,” Waller said in a statement.
“She is a horse that has exceptional talent but I feel she only has this talent due to the amount of effort she puts into her races and expecting her to back up after a tough run in the Doncaster in a seven day period and running against a 2000m weight for age field would just be expecting too much of a horse that puts so much determination into her races.
“I am very mindful that the public do want to see her race on Saturday, but it is more important that the public get to see her race next preparation and beyond.”
The move dramatically opens up the Queen Elizabeth, with The United States to be sent north to compete with likely favourite Preferment in the $4 million race.
kv joef
Roar Guru
i-dips-the-lid to Chris Waller again for making right choices for his horses, owners reflecting positively on the industry. Will be hard for the anti-racing narks to suggest that the industry is driven by sniveling greed. Waller Racing passing on a $4m race for the horse's overall welfare. Well done to Chris and Winx's connection ... Sad news about Boban. His magic spring when he made good horses look average will stay with me for a while.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
The markets suggested that some people "knew" while others didn't. On Betfair, her price had gone out to $50. The market knew, even if the public didn't. Hence the takedown.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Why did Stewards force bookmakers to suspend betting? It was all-in, Winx not running was the risk you take. Never heard of stewards forcing a pre-post market to come down due to one horse
michael steel
Guest
I think it's great that Chris Waller has put the welfare of Winx before the dollar. Not many would.
andrew
Guest
AJC only have themselves to blame. if you spend your money on a big grandstand instead of a track that can drain properly, you are going to run on bogs at your feature time of year in april. talk about having priorities wrong. no rain in the 2-3 days leading up and 31 and sunny on the day and it was a genuine slow track. just not good enough. the irony is, that winx is the one horse who could have filled their grandstand (and it is an impressive piece of architecture), but given only $22,000 on sat, i can only imagine it will be a paltry crowd this sat up in syd. shame AJC, shame........
E-Meter
Guest
It's a wide open affair now
peeeko
Roar Guru
so disappointing, would have loved her to win again