Punters get picky as Winx returns

THE world only has to wait three more days to see the champion Winx race again, and most are expecting her to run three more times after this weekend before she’s retired.

But the big punters aren’t so sure.

Winx resumes in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Randwick and the general thinking is that she’ll repeat what she’s done in past preparations.

The Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on March 2 will follow this Saturday’s run, then she’ll head back home to Rosehill to contest the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 23 before her swan song in the $4m Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at The Championships on April 13.

If all goes to plan, she’ll win all four starts and extend her famous winning streak to 33 race wins.

The TAB is offering $2.20 for Winx to win all four races this preparation, but that’s not where most of the big bets have come.

Many of the bets of $5000 or more have been for her to only extend her winning streak to 32, which is paying $1.70.

The biggest bet of $60,000, however, has been for her to win four races this preparation, and another of $20,000 has been taken.

But many more have been bet on her to only win three races.

This Saturday she’s set to start around the $1.10 mark in the race she missed last year due to Hugh Bowman’s suspension.

Her main rival this weekend will be multiple Group 1 winner and Randwick track specialist Happy Clapper, but even his connections hold little hope of knocking her off.