No royal visit as Winx chases fourth Cox Plate win

Expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller has confirmed Winx will be kept in Australia to chase a fourth Cox Plate and not travel overseas for a Royal Ascot campaign later this year.

Australia’s leading Group 1 trainer announced the mare, who has won 24 races straight and the last three Australasian weight-forage championships, would try to eclipse Kingston Town’s record as a three-time winner of the Cox Plate.

Winx equalled the feat when she edged out Humidor in last year’s race.

Royal Ascot officials had tried for months to lure Winx’s connections in a bid for the six-yearold mare to have her first start overseas in the Queen Anne Stakes, but Waller and part-owners Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Richard Treweeke have opted to stay in Australia.

Winx has never travelled on a plane before.

‘‘Following lengthy discussions between the owners, Hugh Bowman and I, it has been decided that Winx will remain in Australia following the Queen Elizabeth Stakes held on April 14 at Royal Randwick and not embark on an international campaign,’’ Waller said in a statement.

‘‘As a group we have all held ambitions to travel horses internationally and it has been our dream to have a horse race in front of the Queen at Royal Ascot. However, the decision is not about us and must be based on the best interests of Winx.

‘‘It is our plan to continue to race her into the spring and hopefully Australia can play host to international visitors during our carnival.’’

Winx can equal Black Caviar’s astonishing 25-race winning streak in the A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of The Championships after coasting to victory in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes last weekend.