Winx faces a ‘hell of a race’

THE bookies have Winx at unbackable odds but rider Hugh Bowman believes the mighty mare faces one of her toughest tests in the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick tomorrow.

“On form alone it’s probably the hardest task she has had for quite some time and when I say that I mean a couple of years — probably her first Cox Plate (2015),’’ Bowman said. “It’s going to be one hell of a race.’’

He was speaking at Rosehill trackwork yesterday where he rode Winx in strong work.

“She’s in great order and I’m really happy with how she has come through the George Ryder win. Her work here on Tuesday morning was absolutely outstanding,” he said.

But Bowman is a man under pressure as Winx attempts her 25th consecutive win to equal Black Caviar’s record.

Winx is at $1.15 TAB Fixed Odds favourite for Sydney’s richest race of the autumn carnival with Humidor next at $12, Gailo Chop at $15 then Happy Clapper at $16.

“Usually there is one main horse to be focused on as opposition but this week there is three or four or maybe even five who are primed for their target,’’ Bowman said.

“They are over a suitable distance and racing in the form of their lives.

“If Gailo Chop is allowed to control things he will take some running down. If the pressure is right on he might be feeling the pinch from the 200-300m mark but if that’s the case a horse like Humidor or Ambitious, who I thought was very impressive in the Tancred Stakes, will be capitalising on the genuine pace.’’

Bowman said it was important he judged the pace right early in the race.

“I want to have Winx close enough if they go slow but not too close if they go fast,’’ he said.

“I don’t want to overanalyse it but the bottom line is there are horses there, no matter how it is run, that are going to perform very, very well.”

Winx starts from the outside in gate 10 which Bowman countered “is better than barrier one”.

“The reason I ride her a little differently to most horses is that she has more of an engine than most horses,” he said.

“If they go fast from the outset it really plays into her hands. However, if they don’t go fast and it develops into a sprint home, she is capable of overcoming that, too.”