Autumn is finally here and so is the good Group 1 racing, with the return of Winx seeking a 23rd straight career victory in the 2018 Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
Winx is looking to win her third straight Chipping Norton at odds of around $1.06-1.08, particularly short when first-up. She’s had a slightly disjointed start to her season as they missed her usual starting point of the Apollo Stakes while waiting for Hugh Bowman’s suspension to clear.
And the great mare didn’t have the best time of things in her early work in spring, notably when very slow to leave the barrier when first-up in the Warwick Stakes, but champions overcome adversity, and it’d still be very very hard to see her beaten given the weight-for-age conditions and the fact that her rivals aren’t exactly Group 1 milers.
At trackwork on Thursday, trainer Chris Waller and trusted jockey Bowman both said very good things about the superstar physical and mental condition.
“She was very strong this morning,” Bowman said. “I think she’s more excited about race day than we are.
“She’s been going along really nicely, all preparation and this morning suggested to me, the way she worked, she’s ready to go to the races.
“The first question Chris asked me when I got off her, ‘how is she compared to last preparation?’.
“The short answer is she’s more settled which suggests to me that’s she’s happier in her own skin.
“Trying to determine is she better, is she worse, it’s really until we get to the races and see her perform, that’s a question we can’t answer but mentally and physically she couldn’t be in a better position.”
Waller said he and his team had done everything they could for her to be ready, despite the hiccup to her schedule.
“We’ve done everything we can to make sure she’s fit and well to go over a mile first-up,” Waller said. “She’s fit and well and it’s a good way to start her preparation.
“To offset being at the mile first-up, we gave her the extra trial, an extra pre-season game.”
So, can anything challenge her tomorrow? In a word, no. It’s a pretty average field but at least she has a more than a handful of rivals.
Prized Icon is a very good horse with two wins at Group 1 level, although we haven’t seen a huge amount recently. The former Cummings galloper should still offer something, especially with the track looking like a Soft 5 or 6 and some nice cushion in the surface.
Vinland has come up from Melbourne with trainer Tony McEvoy seeking a damp track which he has. He’s rising through the ranks, with two wins from seven starts and started this preparation at Group 3 level six lengths off the winner. He’s one to include in the quinella at odds, as he aims towards the Randwick Guineas.
The Waterhouse-Bott trained Stampede is likely to run well on a soft track as well, while Libran is up to this grade but only over quite a bit further. Who Shot Thebarman goes around again which is great to see, and will be one of the best placed on a soft track, but if he won over this distance half of Australia would need a Bex and a lie down.
I could go through others but this is really just about Winx and ticking the boxes. Waller confirmed next up for her will be the George Ryder Stakes, while the connections of the horse are still yet to decide if she runs in the lucrative Queen Elizabeth Stakes as part of The Championships, or if she sets sail to Great Britain for a campaign at the famous Royal Ascot meeting.
I’d like to see her taking on the best in the world at Ascot. She doesn’t need to do it to prove anything; those arguments just have no credibility. But it would be wonderful to see her stamp herself as the world’s Queen of the turf, in front of another Queen, and racing royalty.
Scott
Guest
Arkansan I fully understand all that and agree with some points. I think she should have been set for Dubai though. It would’ve given the owners all the same options as she had now. If she decided to go to Ascot after, she would’ve already been halfway there. If she won by 6 lengths (which she may have) she would have more than proved herself against the world. She then could’ve come back for a spell (at the same time she always has) then gone for another campaign in the spring. The tracks in Europe aren’t flat and there is a higher chance of injury and also a very high chance she won’t acclimatise. She still would’ve raced Europe’s best and the worlds best in Dubai, but on a neutral, Australian like track. She would’ve killed them and collected a purse double that of her biggest win. I’m glad they are planning on taking her to Europe, because it will be the greatest challenge and I want to see it. Dubai just seemed like a way more logical path though.
Aransan
Guest
The Dubai Turf is a race that commenced in 1996 and is currently run over 1800m. The next running is March 31 thus Winx's entire preparation this time would have had to be focussed on that race if she were to run: https://www.paulickreport.com/news/thoroughbred-racing/world-approval-sets-sights-6-million-dubai-turf/ The Queen Anne stakes at Ascot dates back to 1840 and is run over a mile (1609m). Admittedly the prize money doesn't compare to Dubai, but does everything have to be analysed in terms of money? The Queen Elizabeth is run at Randwick on April 14 and is worth $4m. I can understand why the connections would favour that race over the one in Dubai, less prize money but no travelling. In addition it has a long although chequered history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_Stakes_(ATC)
Scott
Guest
If I were the owners I’d be focusing on Dubai. Why does she need to go to Europe and race for pittance. Race in The Dubai Turf for $8000000 Aussie dollars. She still proves herself against the best horses in the world, it’s half the distance and the weather is similar to Sydney at this time of year. They have watered the track more in recent years as well to suit European horses and it’s a good flat track, so less chance of sustaining an injury like black caviar. I’m truly baffled how this isn’t the main race of discussion
Aransan
Guest
Winx would be a 1600m to 2000m horse by European patterns of racing. The Arc would be 400m too far and even 2000m races over there can be a real test of stamina. I hope prize money won't be a significant factor in the connections decision making, surely Winx has won enough for them already.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Too right!
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Yes the money is definitely part of their consideration mate. Lot of bikkies. The Arc would be fantastic but the timing, again...
Kangajets
Guest
Gazumba Go Winx. Does it so easy
peeko
Guest
People will go, wow that horse won 4 cox plates Champion mares rarely produce The Queen Anne is worth very little money and there are better races in other countries The only people that will be appeased will be English people who don't rate Aussie horses
peeko
Guest
Good point about the timing Another consideration is the money 4 million at Randwick or 1.2 at royal Ascot
Aransan
Guest
Street Cry, the sire of Winx, was great but is now deceased. Danehill was great but there is now too much of his bloodline in Australia. Generally when a northern hemisphere shuttle horse proves themselves, they are removed from the Australian roster. There is a greater variety of top stallions available in Europe, America and Japan and a better chance of finding a suitable mate. The owners of Black Caviar would have done better to have retired her after her Diamond Jubilee victory and left her to breed in Europe. If Winx wins a fourth Cox Plate people in the future will wonder why she wasn't given the opportunity to showcase her talent on the international stage. There is a stronger argument for Winx to be raced internationally than there was for Black Caviar -- we know we have the best sprinters, our middle distance horses don't have the same status overseas.
i miss the force
Guest
We have great stallions in Australia A fourth cox plate would be all time
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Spot on mate. I'd rather she comes back and keeps going, mind you! ;)
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Yes he's a good horse Razzar and you've said it well. I would say by now the Winx factor means you can either throw caution to the wind, Red Excitement style, or just run your own race and be happy to be there or thereabouts.
Tristan Rayner
Editor
Ooh, here's an interesting topic you've opened up. Which races would you rather see her in overseas? One small advantage of Ascot is that the timing isn't too bad to come back over for the spring.
Aransan
Guest
Winx doesn't need to go to Ascot to prove to us how good she is, but it would show the rest of the world her greatness. I would also like to see her run in one of the Breeders races in America. I am doubtful as to whether she will ever have an extended period outside Australia, trainers like to hold onto and control their good horses. Winx won't add anything to her resumé by winning a fourth Cox Plate. If she does go overseas she should stay there and be mated to one of the world's best stallions.
Razzar
Guest
Been impressed by Prized Icon this time in. For mine it’s best to ride the race like as If Winx is not even there. Keep it simple, get a sit, hope tempo is sweet. Pull out into clear air on straightening, and run out race, as best possible. Then we can judge how well did Prized Icon finish off behind Winx. She may be a touch more vulnerable this campaign, as age could catch up. But it’s only a very slim chance at that, and Waller won’t take her out to 2400 to put her great record at any risk.
peeko
Guest
really looking forward to seeing her race tomorrow, she has scared away all the opposition but thats ok. not so much looking forward to the daughter of the Inghams (debbie Kepetis) parading around. I think there is no reason to go to Royal Ascot, as aussies we over value the meeting. We care about trivial things like racing in front of a European monarch. its a great meeting but there are better races to be found in the USA, france, Ireland Japan and HK. For the same reason as we think winning the Ashes is bigger than beating SA, we think Royal Ascot as the epitome