Cummings’ late bid to dethrone Winx
WINX’S famous winning streak may face its toughest test at Randwick on Saturday.
The champion is shooting for an Australian record of 26 successive wins in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), having last tasted defeat in the ATC Oaks in April 2015.
Her task seemed a straight forward one until trainer James Cummings yesterday pulled a surprise by throwing in a late nomination for Saturday’s race.
That runner just happened to be Godolphin’s best horse, Kementari.
Cummings said the Lonhro stallion was working too
well not to have a crack at Winx second-up after he ran a close second to Pierata in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.
Kementari’s regular rider Glyn Schofield has been one of the few jockeys to publicly say Winx can be beaten. And that hasn’t changed. “We wouldn’t be in it if we didn’t think we could (win),” he said.
“Clearly he’s a very, very good horse, so why can’t he?
“No horse is unbeatable. She’s been beaten before, so there’s no reason to suggest she’s infallible.
“The whole team has a very big opinion of Kementari so it will be an interesting race.”
Kementari has raced against Winx once, when he finished a 1½-length third to her in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in the autumn.
His record suggests he races much better second-up with a bit of race fitness on his side, and Winx’s regular jockey Hugh Bowman has admitted in the past that the champion is most vulnerable first-up over 1400m.
Ladbrokes installed Kementari as an $8.50 second favourite behind Winx, who drifted to $1.15 after Cummings entered his star fouryear-old in the race.
The excitement around Kementari’s clash with Winx was tempered by the news yesterday that Godolphin’s dual Group 1 winner Alizee had been ruled out for the spring after suffering a bleeding attack following a trackwork session at Osborne Park.
She was set to run first-up in the Winx Stakes.