Super Winx facing long Spring action
SUPER mare Winx is set for an extended Sydney spring campaign after coming through her outstanding Warwick Stakes better than any first-up run of her illustrious career.
Winx recorded sizzling sectional times to overcome a horror start and run down her rivals in a memorable comeback win but fears the mighty mare had a “gut-buster” have been allayed by trainer Chris Waller.
“I guarantee you it is the best she has ever pulled up after a first-up race,’’ Waller said yesterday.
“Normally, she will have a good blow and sweat up but she was as good as gold on Saturday. I went and looked at her 15 minutes after the race and you wouldn’t even know she had had a run.’’
Winx was fractious in the barriers and came out four lengths behind her rivals before unleashing a stunning burst of acceleration from the home turn to catch stablemate Foxplay on the line.
The mare was independently timed to run her final 600m in a stunning 31.88s, including a final 400m split of 20.96s and 200m of 10.72s.
There was a strong tailwind all day with gusts over 50kph but Winx’s sectional splits still make for amazing reading. She ran the fastest closing sectional of the day although Last Witness was timed to come home hjs final 600m in the exact same time in the 1000m sprint race when he ran second to Super Too in course record time.
So many variables must be taken into account when comparing race times including track conditions, the wind factor, handicaps and distance but racehorses don’t go much faster than Winx did in the Warwick Stakes.
This is first time Winx has broken 32s for the final 600m of a race, a feat the great Black Caviar achieved twice in her unbeaten career.
In the 2012 Lightning Stakes over the Flemington 1000m straight course, Black Caviar sprinted her final 600m in 31.82s to defeat Hay List. Then a year later in the same race, Black Caviar scorched home the closing 600m in 31.36s.
Winx’s ability to sustain her finishing speed is one of her greatest assets and has been a factor in her 18-race winning sequence, stretching more than two years. Waller said Winx is almost certain to line up next in the Group 2 $250,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 2.
The Hall of Famer could then contest the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m), Group 2 Hill Stakes (1800m) and Group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) all at Randwick and separated by two week intervals as she builds towards her attempt to equal Kingston Town’s unprecedented three successive Cox Plates.
“Winx is an older mare now and we have got to keep on top of her so that is why she will run in two weeks rather than four,’’ Waller said.
I GUARANTEE YOU IT IS THE BEST SHE HAS EVER PULLED UP AFTER A FIRST-UP RACE ... CHRIS WALLER ON WINX