Holiday for Winx

Ben Dorries, Tara Madgwick - Friday November 3

Winx has gone for a holiday but next year she is likely tobe given the chance to race in the hoofprints of Frankel at Royal Ascot.

Chris Wallerhas ended a week of speculation by announcing the mighty mare who has won 22 consecutive races, including her third Cox Plate last Saturday, would be sent to the spelling paddock.

Winx - Grant CourtneyWaller had been mulling over whether she should race on to the Group I Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on November 11 but declared: "Winx needs a holiday, and we are not far behind."

Winx is likely to resume in the Sydney autumn and Waller has thrown down the gauntlet to all-comers, inviting the world's best horses to Australia to tangle with the champion mare.

However the big-picture plan is a trip to England where Waller indicated Winx's most likely target race was the Group I Queen Anne Stakes (1609m) next June.

It was the race where Frankel was a runaway winner by an astonishing 11 lengths in 2012.

"I think realistically we would be looking at a race like the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, the race that Frankel won, over a straight mile which would be unchartered waters for Winx," Waller said.

"It is over a distance that we think we would see close to the best ofWinx.

"I'm a sporting tragic and that is what everyone wants to see – the best in every sport clashing.

"Racing is very aware of Winx and they are certainly welcome to come here in the meantime.

"The best know we are here, to take on the world's highest rated horse in the great country of Australia , there's plenty of good reasons to come to Australia not just the prizemoney.

"We are here ready to put up any challenge."

Waller has always taken a conservative approach with Winx and he indicated he didn't want to extend her preparation into a sixth start.

While Winx pulled up well after the Cox Plate, connections were mindful she had to stretch her neck to beatHumidorand they didn't want to go to the well once too often and push onto the Emirates.

"Winx needs a holiday and we are not far behind," Waller said.

"This has been her longest preparation she has been successful in five starts.

"We have never asked her for too much, we think now is the right time, based on her longevity.

"We are hoping this amazing story goes a little bit further.

"Right up until this morning she had a saddle on her back and she was exercising and she was ready to have a serious gallop tomorrow morning.

"She is still in great shape and that gives us the hope to say she can continue on her another 6-12 months.''

Winx's jockeyHugh Bowmanwill now ride Rosehill Guineas winnerGingernutsin the Emirates Stakes.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Wings Of Song Makes Stunning Return
A star of the carnivals in Tasmania and South Australia, Wings Of Song made a triumphant return from a 30-week break to capture Saturday’s Rosemont Stud Pendant (1400m) at Cranbourne.
Storyville Downs the Colts in G2 WA Guineas
The WA Champion Fillies Stakes heroine Storyville earned a shot at the Group 1 Northerly Stakes after she gave the colts a start and beating in Saturday’s $500,000 Group II White Claw - WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.