No Black Caviar-like service for Winx

Clinton Payne - Thursday August 31

Champion mare Winx will not be afforded any special treatment when she is loaded into the barriers chasing a 19th straight win in the Group II Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said Winx will be in the third group of horses loaded into the gates as per the order of the barrier draw.

"Every horse on a level playing field," Van Gestel said. "There hasn't been an approach made by the stable and it wouldn't be approved if it was.

"Chris knows the rules and we're quite regimented in the way we police that rule here in Sydney."

It was in October 11 2011, when Victorian stewards took the unique action to move a known barrier rogue to a wider gate to protect champion galloper Black Caviar after they'd drawn side-by-side in the in the Schweppes Stakes on Cox Plate day.

When Winx resumed in the Warwick Stakes two weeks ago, her anxiety once loaded into the gates got the better of the champion mare and she reared as the barriers opened, missing the start by four lengths before recording one of her most memorable wins.

Since that run trainer Chris Waller has left no stone unturned, attempting to take Winx's enthusiasm for her work out of the equation.

Last week the mare to the barriers at Rosehill with a barrier blanket on for the first time but it didn't have the desired effect and on Saturday she will race in ear muffs for the first time in the hope that a reduction of sound will settle the champion once she has been loaded into the gates by the barrier attendants.

"It's the only time I'm nervous when I'm on her back in the barriers because she does have a tendency to be a little bit anxious," jockey Hugh Bowman said.

"I think it's a case of Winx being Winx.

"The reality is she's likely to be a little anxious in the barriers because she always is. It's just a case of me staying as relaxed as I can to help her stay as relaxed as she can.

"We tried the barrier blanket but the reality was it made little or no difference.

"She was no better, she was no worse, she was just the same as always.

"She knows it's game time (when she goes into the barriers), she's obviously very intelligent and just wants to get on with the job."

The loading process for Saturday's Group II Chelmsford Stakes will be to split the field of 12 into two groups of six. Horses in barriers one and seven will be loaded first and so on until barriers six and 12 are filled last.

"If you draw the inside you go in first, if you draw out wide you go in late," Van Gestel said.

"We think it's fair they load from inside to out, in two banks depending on the field size and it's been a consistent policy here since I've been stewarding."

Advertisment
More Reading...
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
Coolmore Announce Euro 2025 Fees
Coolmore have announced fees for their 20 strong European sire roster with three new additions City of Troy (Justify), Auguste Rodin (Deep Impact)and Henry Longfellow (Dubawi) and a significant increase for Wootton Bassett, who is currently in Australia.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
Melbourne Cup Winner for Extreme Choice – Rare Slice of History
This year’s $8.5million Group I VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m) produced a genuinely amazing fairytale result for the connections of five year-old Extreme Choice gelding Knight’s Choice, but part of that fairytale is his sire Extreme Choice, who has carved out something seriously special as being only the second sire in history to produce the winner of a Golden Slipper and a Melbourne Cup.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.