Glamour mare Winx will trial at Warwick Farm on Friday morning ahead of her delayed second-up run in Sydney’s George Main Stakes Saturday week at Royal Randwick.
Winx will trial at Warwick Farm on Friday ahead of her 2016 George Main Stakes run Saturday week. Photo: Daniel Costello.
Australia’s best racehorse will line up in the first heat at the Farm on Friday as one of 10 runner sin the open trial over 1000m instead of a gallop between races at Rosehill Gardens on Golden Rose Stakes Day on Saturday.
“I think going to Warwick Farm and trialling against other horses will be more stimulating than just a gallop on her own between races,” he told Racing Victoria.
Waller hopes the hit-out will be enough to keep the five-year-old daughter of Street Cry ticking over in top form after she was scratched from a run last weekend.
Posting her 10th win on the trot first-up in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 20, Winx was originally set to race again in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
A rain-affected Randwick track saw Waller withdraw his six-time winner from the mile weight-for-age clash however in an effort to save her strength ahead of a long spring bid.
Not only is Winx set to defend her historic $3 million Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) win from last season at Moonee Valley on October 22, but Waller also hopes she can continue onto the $2 million Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 5.
She has another Sydney run scheduled before her trip south however with the $500,000 Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) on September 17 on the cards and Waller thinks Friday’s trial will bring her on nicely for that.
“She doesn’t need to do too much but I think trialling will ensure she isn’t so fresh going to the George Main Stakes,” he said.
“Going in to the gates and having other horses around her just makes it a little more competitive.
“She is ticking along nicely, we are all very pleased with her condition.”
Waller has dominated the George Main Stakes over the four years with three wins: Shoot Out (2012), Sacred Falls (2014) and Kermadec (2015).
The last George Main Stakes winner not to come off a Chelmsford Stakes win meanwhile was Streama (2013) for the late Guy Walter who backed up from a Warwick Stakes fourth that season.
Winx was the headliner among the 87 Cox Plate first acceptances taken by Racing Victoria on Tuesday.
Waller paid the first declaration fee for seven from his stable including his three-year-old filly Omei Sword.
Just one filly in history has won a Cox Plate when Surround saluted back in 1976.
Omei Sword races this Saturday at Rosehill as the firm favourite to beat home the boys in the $1 million Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
She is joined in the Golden Rose field by stablemate Nikitas, the Snitzel colt out to improve on a last start sixth in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).
Run To The Rose winner Astern is the $4.20 second favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au behind Omei Sword ($3.70) to win for John O’Shea and complete the double for the third straight year.
