United bid to get look at Winx in full flight

ENGLISH racing officials from Royal Ascot, Goodwood and York have joined forces in an effort to lure the connections of Winx to race their mare overseas this year.

Royal Ascot’s international equine recruiter Nick Smith, Goodwood’s managing director Adam Waterworth and York’s chief executive William Derby are in Sydney to meet Team Winx and detail an extended European race campaign tailored to suit the world’s best racehorse on turf.

The trio caught up with Winx’s part-owner Debbie Kepitis yesterday and plan to discuss the overseas campaign today with trainer Chris Waller (pictured) and another of the mare’s owners, Peter Tighe.

Smith revealed Winx was the No.1 priority for the English race clubs although they are also targeting Team Snowden’s super sprinter Redzel and Group 1-winning stablemate Russian Revolution, Newcastle’s top mare In Her Time and brilliant Melbourne colt Merchant Navy.

Waller has determined that no decision on Winx’s longterm race program will be announced until after she contests the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 24.

Smith said various European race programs had been devised to give Waller options if he decided to take Winx overseas this year.

“We brought together the leading tracks from the UK, France and Ireland to design a whole road map of potential races for Winx,’’ Smith said.

RACING NSW stewards concluded the Star Sensation inquiry and took no action against Blake Shinn after finding there were no integrity concerns with his ride.

SOME of Sydney’s best three-year-olds – including Kementari, D’Argento, Ace High, Pierata and Siege of Quebec – are among 17 nominations for Saturday’s Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.