Champion mare Winx is one of trainer Chris Waller’s six nominations for the Group 2 $250,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx, above, is one of six Chris Waller trained horses nominated for the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The weight for age Chelmsford Stakes has attracted a total of twelve nominations with the Tattersall’s Club electing to extend the entry deadline to 11am on Tuesday August 20, 2016.
Winx resumed from a spell to score an impressive first up win in the Group 2 $250,000 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 20, taking her winning sequence to ten and will use the Chelmsford Stakes as another stepping stone on the path to defending her Cox Plate title.
Waller was able to win his first Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival with Winx and the Street Cry mare is on track to claim back to back victories in the ‘Weight For Age Championship.’
Waller said that Winx has come through her first up win in the Warwick Stakes in fine order and will step out in the Chelmsford Stakes in first class condition again.
“She has come through the (Warwick Stakes) really well and we know exactly where she is at now,” Waller told The Herald Sun.
“It’s just about maintenance really and just keep taking the necessary steps towards each race she runs in.”
“The only pressure now is not to overtrain her and make sure she just keeps taking gradual steps.”
Sydney’s premiership winning trainer has also nominated Grand Marshall, Preferment, Spiritjim, Storm The Stars and Who Shot Thebarman for the Chelmsford Stakes.
Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshall have both had one run back from a spell and the two stayers finished sixth and seventh behind Winx in the Warwick Stakes while Preferment and European imports Spiritjim and Storm The Stars will be making their first Spring Carnival appearances this Saturday.
The John O’Shea trained Hartnell is also among the Chelmsford Stakes nominations and will be taking on Winx again after finishing three and a half lengths behind her when second in the Warwick Stakes.
P.B. Lawrence Stakes placgetters Jacquinot Bay and Entirely Platinum as well as sixth placed Suavito have been nominated for the Chelmsford Stakes and the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Randwick trainer James Cummings has nominated three year old Prized Icon for the Chelsmford Stakes and has also entered him against his own age in the Group 3 $125,000 Ming Dynasty Quality Handicap (1400m).
Prized Icon has had one run back from a spell following his win in his two year old season in the Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on April 16 when he ran fourth to Divine Prophet in the Group 3 $125,000 Primo Smallgoods Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on August 20.
Restricted class galloper Bring Luck is also a dual nomination and as well as being among the entries for the Chelmsford Stakes in nominated for the 2000m BenchMark 78 Handicap.
The early market order at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Chelmsford Stakes has Winx as the unbackable $1.20 favourite with Hartnell and Prized Icon the closest in the betting at $8.50.
Early market order for the Chelmsford Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.20 Winx, $8.50 Hartnell, Prized Icon, $15 Suavito, $34 Entirely Platinum, Jacquinot Bay, Preferment, Storm The Stars, $41 Spiritjim, $81 Who Shot Thebarman, $101 Grand Marshall, $251 Bring Luck.
