Autumn assault main goal for Winx
TRAINER Chris Waller is planning for Winx’s assault on Sydney’s The Championships and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in autumn as part of a long-term ambition to win a third Cox Plate with the great mare next year.
But whether Winx races again in Melbourne this spring in the Group 1 $2 million Emirates Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5 is up in the air.
Winx has come through her Cox Plate triumph on Saturday in good order but Waller is unsure if the mare will stay in training this spring.
“All I know at this stage is she is not running in the Melbourne Cup,’’ Waller said on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast Weekend yesterday.
“I would love to back her up and race but so many things have to be considered – first and foremost is the horse.
“If we feel she is up to it then we have to say how will this affect her autumn preparation.
“It is so important to have her back for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and The Championships in Sydney (next autumn). We also have to remember her longevity. Australia has embraced Winx and Australia wants Winx for a few more seasons to come.
“This is more important than backing her up in two weeks’ time. I would like to put it on again in two weeks but it is not as easy as that.’’
Waller has managed Winx’s race career very carefully and it is worth pointing out the mare has not had more than four starts in a campaign since her three-year-old days.
Winx won the Cox Plate at the third and final start of her campaign last year, before she had a four-race preparation in autumn which culminated with her Doncaster Mile win.
Waller then decided against backing up with Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes seven days later and sent the mare to the spelling paddock instead.
Winx was having her fourth run this spring in the Cox Plate on Saturday, so Waller must weigh up whether to give the mare one more start in the Emirates Stakes, thus delaying the mare’s spell for another couple of weeks, or send the champion to the spelling paddock immediately.