Winx deadset Payne barrier
THE punters say Winx is unbeatable in the Group 1 George Main Stakes ( 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday – and competitor Ace High’s trainer David Payne can’t argue.
“They could only beat her if she fell down. She’s so much more superior to anything around at the moment,” Payne said.
Winx firmed from a $ 1.15 to $ 1.10 chance after the fields were announced yesterday morning, and a massive 99.33 per cent of the single bets in TAB’s all- in market were put on the champion.
There’s already been a number of $ 5000 and $ 8000 bets on Winx to win but expect them to rise in amount as the week goes on.
She’s set to start at her shortest price since sent out at $ 1.08 for the same race in 2016, not that Payne is too fazed by it all.
“I’ve been in the game too long to worry about racing against her,” he said.
“They say there’s no certainties in racing, but on paper it certainly looks like she is.
“The owners are keen to run Ace High against her even though we can’t beat Winx, but if we could run second it adds value to him as a stallion, being a Group 1 race.”
Chelmsford Stakes winner Unforgotten attracted a $ 30 bet to beat Winx while two punters put $ 20 on Ace High to beat the great mare in the all- in market.
Last year’s VRC Derby winner, Ace High put in an unusually poor run when last of 11 to the champion mare in the Winx Stakes ( 1400m) at Randwick on August 18.