winx one of five Waller runners in 2016 Chipping Norton Stakes

Chris Waller’s glamour mare Winx is one of five runners the premiership winning trainer will saddle up in the Group 1 $600,000 Precise Air Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx, above, is one of five runners trainer Chris Waller will have in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx, above, is one of five runners trainer Chris Waller will have in the Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx will be chasing her seventh win in succession and has drawn barrier eight in the twelve horse weight for age Group 1 with Hugh Bowman to ride again.

Bowman has been aboard Winx for four of her latest six wins, including three Group 1 victories in the $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben during the Brisbane Winter Carnival, and in the $1m The Star 150th Epsom (1600m) at Randwick and the $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley during the Spring Carnival.

Waller’s other runners in the Chipping Norton Stakes are 2014 Victoria Derby winner Preferment, 2014 Melbourne Cup placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, 2015 Sydney Cup winner Grand Marshall and English import Storm The Stars.

Preferment is resuming and has drawn barrier five with Jason Collett to ride, Grand Marshall has drawn gate three while Who Shot Thebarman has drawn the  outside of the field at twelve with Christian Reith.

The well performed English stayer Storm The Stars has drawn barrier six with Tye Angland to ride and will be having his first start for the Waller stable with the blinkers for the first time.

Trainer John O’Shea will saddle up three Godolphin horses, Group1 winners Hartnell and Magic Hurricane and the promising four year old Hauraki.

Hartnell is resuming with James McDonald to ride from barrier seven with a crossover noseband going back on, while Magic Hurricane, barrier eleven, will be having his second run back with English jockey William Buick in the saddle.

Hauraki will also be second up after running third to Winx in the Group 2 $250,000 Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 13 and has drawn barrier ten for Sam Clipperton.

Last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan is resuming and will jump from gate four with Kerrin McEvoy having is first ride on the Kiwi stayer.

Early market order for the Chipping Norton Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.45 Winx, $5.50 Hartnell, $10 Mongolian Khan, $13 Hauraki, $15 Dibayani, $19 Storm The Stars, $26 Magic Hurricane, $41 Preferment, $61 Centre Pivot, $81 Who Shot Thebarman, Gust Of Wind, Grand Marshall.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.