Super star mare Winx will jump from barrier eight in 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Winx, above, has drawn barrier 8 in the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx is one of ten final acceptors for the Turnbull Stakes which is run under set weights and penalties conditions which allows the Chris Waller trained mare to only carry 57kg even though she has won her last twenty-seven starts as well as collecting twenty Group 1 winning trophies while the topweight Grunt, with 58kg, is the winner of two Group 1 races.

Hugh Bowman will again be aboard Winx while Kerrin McEvoy will ride her stablemate Youngstar who has drawn barrier four.

Trainer Chris Waller released the following statement detailing Winx’s latest build up to the Turnbull Stakes.

“Winx had her final piece of work this morning (Monday) in preparation for Saturday’s Seppelt Turnbull Stakes.”

“Hugh Bowman was aboard and she worked with her stablemate Invincibella. They worked well together and ran approximately 1.08 for the 1000m and last 400m in 23.23.”

“Hugh could not have been any happier with the way Winx felt and the way she finished her work off.”

“Hugh and I are both very pleased with the way the preparation has gone as we head towards the third start of her campaign on Saturday. She is in good shape and looks well.”

Winx won the Turnbull Stakes last year on her way to claiming her third straight win in the Cox Plate and equalling Kingston Town’s long standing record of a hat trick of wins in the Weight For Age Championship of Australasia.

The champion mare has been as impressive as ever during her 2018 Spring Carnival campaign with a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 followed by an effortless four lengths victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White (George Main) Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 15.

Youngstar was the winner of the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks over 2200m at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival and will appreciate the step up to the 2000m of the Turnbull Stakes after finishing third at her second run back in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Shannon Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on September 22.

Caulfield trainer Mick Price will also have two runners in the Turnbull Stakes with Mighty Boss drawing barrier seven with Michael Walker to ride and Grunt with Mark Zahra in the saddle from gate nine.

Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir will saddle up Kings Will Dream who has drawn the rails with Craig Williams on top.

Final field for the 2018 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)