Winx on trail of Caviar

CHAMPION mare Winx could equal the great Black Caviar’s famous winning streak in Sydney’s richest autumn carnival race, the $ 4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, after trainer Chris Waller delayed her comeback until next month.

Waller announced yesterday that Winx would not resume until the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes ( 1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 3 so that regular jockey Hugh Bowman could retain the mount. Winx will then contest the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes ( 1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 24.

If she can win those two weight- for- age races, it will extend her sequence to 24 wins in succession.

This sets up an opportunity for Winx to equal Black Caviar’s record of 25 wins in succession in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes ( 2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 14.

Waller maintains he won’t make a decision on Winx’s race program until after the George Ryder Stakes because he is also considering taking her to England for the Royal Ascot carnival in June.

But it would be tempting for Winx’s connections to run in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes if she had the chance to match Black Caviar’s winning run.

Winx’s comeback had been scheduled for the Group 2 Apollo Stakes ( 1400m) on February 17 but Waller decided on a change of program after Bowman lost his appeal against a careless riding suspension on Monday.