Champion mare Winx is one of thirteen horses among the nominations for the 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx, above, is among the nominations for the 2018 Winx Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

The nominations deadline for the Winx Stakes, which was previously known as the Warwick Stakes and was won by Winx in the last two years, have been extended until 11am on Tuesday, August 14, 2018

Winx one of six Chris Waller trained stablemates entered for the 1400m weight for age contest and she could be up against D’Argento, Libran, Religify, Single Gaze and Unforgotten.

Winx will be having her first start back since claiming her eighteen Group 1 win and her twenty-fifth victory on the trot in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on April 14, day two of The Championships, and has pleased trainer Chris Waller in her lead up which included two Rosehill barrier trials.

“I can’t fault her,” Waller told AAP.

“She is a happy horse, a fit horse and seems like she always does.

“She is not a complicated horse to train.

“It would be a great honour to win the race named after her.”

The Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27 will be Winx’s main 2018 Spring Carnival goal to try to make it four in a row after winning the weight for age championship for the last three years in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Of the other Waller trained horses nominated for the Winx Stakes, there are also Group 1 winner’s with D’Argento taking out the $600,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill and Unforgotten winning the $1m Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick, both during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival while new stable acquisition Single Gaze was the winner of the 2016 $500,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

Other Group1 winners to be nominated for the Winx Stakes are the David Payne trained Ace High and James Cummings’ Alizee.

Ace High proved his early staying potential during the 2017 Spring Carnival with a win in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick followed by a win in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

Alizee also claimed Group 1 glory during the 2017 Spring Carnival with a win in the $500,000 Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick and then claimed a second Group 1 trophy with her victory in the $1m Coolmore Legacy Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Randwick during the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Final acceptances for the 2018 Winx Stakes will be taken on Wednesday, August 15.

Nominations for the 2018 Winx Stakes (1400m)