Winx will have her final run before the Cox Plate on Saturday as she takes on the 2000-metre Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Join The Roar for live updates and coverage of the race from 3pm (AEST).
One of the best horses in the world, Winx is now going after her own records.
Winx picked up her 27th win in a row a few weeks ago at the George Main Stakes. She looked under pressure at various points during that race, but in the end, no one got close to the champion mare as she galloped away down the straight.
It followed number 26 at the aptly named Winx Stakes just a few weeks prior, and this will be her final lead-up event before Chris Waller puts her into another Cox Plate, where she would be gunning for four in a row.
While the previous race at the George Main Stakes was only 1600 metres, this will be races over 2000 and it’s a distance which seems to suit Winx more, giving the horse more time to find the top gear and get to the front.
She has been unbeatable over any distance, but has looked particularly commanding on anything around the 2000 mark.
There are few horses in the field who look like they might be able to challenge Winx, and as per usual, it seems the scriptwriters will simply be working out who will slot into second place.
Kings Will Dream has been showing some good form in the lead-up and, behind the $1.16 Winx, is rated the next-best $12 chance of winning the Turnbull Stakes.
A third-place finish behind Humidor a month ago in the New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes seems to be the one which trainer Darren Weir will hang the hat on and point to having a chance here. Grunt is the other option, rated a $14 option, but the horse really struggled last week at Caufield, finishing back in sixth during the Underwood Stakes.
The outsider for mine is Youngstar, trained by Waller as well. The four-year-old had a strong run to finish third in the Shannon Stakes during the last outing and is paying $31 today.
Prediction
Winx. How can you go past the champion mare, gunning for a ridiculous 28th straight victory? It’s not going to happen. No one will beat her, and she will go into the Cox Plate at the top of her game once again.
Winx by plenty ahead of Youngstar and Kings Will Dream.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the Turnbull Stakes from 3pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 3pm (AEST)
Racecourse: Flemington
Distance: 2,000 metres
TV: Live, Seven, Sky Racing
Full field
1. Grunt – Barrier 9
2. Winx – Barrier 8
3. Mighty Boss – Barrier 7
4. Kings Will Dream – Barrier 1
5. Jon Snow – Barrier 2
6. Divine Unicorn – Barrier 3
7. Trap for Fools – Barrier 6
8. Ventura Storm – Barrier 5
9. Tally – Barrier 10
10. Youngstar – Barrier 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
That's all for the Turnbull Stakes. We will be back at 4:20pm (AEST) for the first Melbourne Cup ballot exemption race of the year at The Bart Cummings. See you all then.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the race Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
Kings Will Dream took the photo finish for third.
Scott Pryde
Expert
It really wasn't a big gap for Winx to get through there. Opened up just enough though.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, it was Youngstar finishing second. Still waiting on the photo for third place.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Probably a little bit of luck there for Winx that it opened up like it did.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Hugh Bowman did well not to panic there. He had to bring Winx from the back to the front off the rails down the final straight, but did so nicely in the end, just getting her over the top in the closing metres.
Scott Pryde
Expert
WINX WINS AGAIN! It's Devine Unicorn and Trap For Fools to the front. Jon Snow pushed them, but Trap for Fools leads through the first 30 seconds. Winx has settled in nicely second last on the inside with Tally bringing up the rear of the field. Field spacing out now with Trap for Fools ahead of Devine Unicorn. Slow race, but Jon Snow is two lengths back at the halfway mark. Winx is still second last with 800 to go on the rails and there might be a problem here for Winx - eight lengths back and boxed in around the turn. It's going to take a very serious run. She is going to need to explode but by heavens she does. Hugh Bowman left it late on Winx, but she comes home by a nose ahead of Youngstar and it's a photo finish for third. Winx was never, ever supposed to win that race from where she was, but she came through at a million miles an hour to pip Youngstar at the line by almost a length for the 28th win in a row!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Away!
Scott Pryde
Expert
Tally the last horse in.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Winx loaded in now. Most of the field are in. Just waiting for the stragglers.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Horses behind the barrier now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Horses are heading out of the mounting yard now. We won't be too far from a start here.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The track has been rated a Good (3) today. It's currently 23 degrees and fine in Melbourne.
Scott Pryde
Expert
The biggest bet in Winx history has been received by the TAB today - $170,000 at $1.16.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So, Winx has come into $1.12. Kings Will Dream is $14, Youngstar $34. Forget the rest.
Scott Pryde
Expert
FULL FIELD 1. Grunt – Barrier 9 2. Winx – Barrier 8 3. Mighty Boss – Barrier 7 4. Kings Will Dream – Barrier 1 5. Jon Snow – Barrier 2 6. Divine Unicorn – Barrier 3 7. Trap for Fools – Barrier 6 8. Ventura Storm – Barrier 5 9. Tally – Barrier 10 10. Youngstar – Barrier 4
Scott Pryde
Expert
We are just under ten minutes from the race start.
Scott Pryde
Expert
As always, feel free to add a comment throughout
Scott Pryde
Expert
Afternoon all, Winx is about to go for 28 in what could be her final run at Flemington, with the Cox Plate just weeks away.