Winx will line up alongside seven other horses in the feature race at Royal Randwick on Saturday afternoon following the confirmation of the 2017 Warwick Stakes field and barrier draw.
Winx is one of eight horses confirmed in the 2017 Warwick Stakes field. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
The champion mare’s winning streak spans more than two years and seventeen competitive starts; highlighted by two dominant Cox Plate triumphs and a further ten wins at the highest level of racing.
Having resumed in autumn this year for a comfortable win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), the daughter of Street Cry jogged clear of her rivals to win the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and was rock-hard fit by the time she won the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) by nearly eight lengths on March 18th.
Last seen winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships by close to six lengths, Winx has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to the Warwick Stakes and she will jump from the ideal barrier 2 on Saturday, with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Chris Waller is offered a good opportunity to saddle the trifecta in the feature race after also confirming Foxplay and Antonio Giuseppe in the Warwick Stakes field.
Foxplay was another standout for the leading Sydney horseman in autumn; breaking through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m), but arguably at her best when she overcame a tough run in transit to win the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) on March 11th.
Foxplay could receive the run of the race from barrier 3 and she is sure to be boosted by Kerrin McEvoy taking the ride.
Antonio Giuseppe has been a strong performer at varying trips and while he will undoubtedly improve further into his preparation, is capable of finishing towards the front of this Warwick Stakes field.
Capping his 2016 preparation second behind Sir John Hawkwood in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), Antonio Giuseppe resumed this year for a smart win in a 1500m race at Rosehill, before placing second in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m).
The Shocking gelding placed fourth on a rain-soaked track in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 18th, but failed to fire in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at his most-recent appearances.
Gerald Ryan will also be offered several chances of a boil-over in the feature race after confirming Red Excitement and Harper’s Choice in the Warwick Stakes field.
Red Excitement has drawn ideally into the Warwick Stakes field in barrier 4, but he will likely require this run to tune up and an increase in distance.
Harper’s Choice flew home to finish a close second in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at the conclusion of his Autumn Carnival campaign, but ran well for fifth in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) first-up a fortnight ago; proving that he is capable at shorter trips.
He will only improve second-up and at the distance of the Warwick Stakes and should be able to find a position close to the speed from barrier 7.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Ecuador (barrier 6) has also been confirmed in the Warwick Stakes field, while Godolphin runner Allergic (barrier 1) and Group 1 winner Inference (barrier 8) complete the running group.
