Success is being second

Irish trainer has game plan behind Winx

THE hype surrounding Winx has been inescapable since Ken Condon arrived in Sydney but the Irish trainer is not obsessing over the champion mare.

Condon has seen one race involving the world’s greatest horse on turf, Red Excite- ment’s bold attempt to catch Winx unaware in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick last September.

The front-running ploy failed and reaffirmed his belief he needs a strategy to finish second in today’s $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

“I’m a realist. Even on an ordinary day for her she’ll have too much for him. There’s no point getting too bogged down on her,” he said.

His focus is on ensuring the Group 2 quality performer can try to foot it with the likes of Humidor, Gailo Chop and Happy Clapper for the lucrative minor placings.

Joao Moreira flies in from Hong Kong to ride Success Days for the first time, and a clear game plan will be in place when they jump from barrier eight of 10.

“He’s not a horse who can go towards the back and quicken, he’s more of a grinder. If you try to take him back he can grab the bit and then you can forget about it,” Condon said.

“I’ll be happy if he sits third or fourth, relaxes and Joao gives himself a chance.”

Success Days was a $34 chance with the TAB yesterday and, perhaps more importantly, $13 in the Winx-less market led by the Darren Weir-trained Humidor ($3).

The six-year-old had a lowkey workout at Canterbury yesterday before playing a supporting role as Winx strives to equal Black Caviar’s 25-race winning streak.