Winx in record times
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 career.
Winx recorded sizzling sectional times to overcome a horror start and run down her rivals in a memorable comeback but fears the 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 right on the line.
The champion 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.
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 25- start career.
Winx’s ability to sustain her finishing speed is one of her greatest assets and has been a major factor in her 18- race winning sequence that now stretches 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 weeks when she could be very fresh and we might be flirting with danger again,’’ Waller said.
“She has done everything right in her training and looked really fit on Saturday which she indicated that after race when she didn’t even have a blow.”