Tropical Squall will give Chris Waller’s team something to catch in the Group 1 Winx Stakes

Adrian Bott is confident dual Group 1 winner Tropical Squall can fend off Chris Waller’s six runners in the Winx Stakes on Saturday.

Tropical Squall (red and black silks) was purchased by Yulong and will race in different colours when she resumes in the Group 1 Winx Stakes on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Tulloch Lodge has Tropical Squall fit and ready to give Chris Waller’s armada something to catch in Saturday’s Group 1 $1 million Winx Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.

Waller is set to unleash six of his leading spring contenders in the first Group 1 of the season with the likes of Fangirl, Via Sistina, Atishu, Riff Rocket, Zougotcha and Buckaroo set to return.

• Winx Stakes field and barrier draw: G1 racing is back!

Fangirl won the same race last year and opened as a $2 TAB favourite to defend her crown in the Winx Stakes.

But trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are eager to claim first major blood this spring with Tropical Squall and last year’s The Metropolitan winner Just Fine both engaged.

Tropical Squall, recently purchased by Yulong in a multimillion-dollar deal, is already a two-time Group 1 winner with victories in the Flight Stakes and Surround Stakes as a three-year-old.

🐴Tropical Squall🐴Pericles🐴Communist
🐴Via Sistina🐴Hell Hath No Fury🐴Riff Rocket

A classy opening trial at Rosehill on Tuesday with the @GaiWaterhouse1 & Adrian Bott mare, now owned by @YulongInvest, leading all the way. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/77Ti6dBbqk

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) August 5, 2024

The daughter of Prized Icon, rated an $8.50 chance, has drawn one from the outside in the Winx Stakes but will go forward and take catching.

• Yellow Brick on road towards Sydney Group 1 tilt

“She has good speed, that’s her natural pattern and has the speed to offset the gate,” Bott said.

“I think she has come back stronger this time around and we have tried to have her as forward in condition as we can.

“It’s a difficult race in the carnival being placed so early, having them up and at their peak so early in their campaign when they have a while to go.

“We did think it could be a nice race to capitalise on the opportunity and have her nice and forward.”

Tropical Squall, to be ridden by Adam Hyeronimus, is being aimed at the $10 million Golden Eagle in November.

Just Fine is ready to bounce back this spring. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Her stablemate Just Fine is looking to recapture his best after an autumn carnival that saw him fail to fire in two starts.

A pair of recent trials have Waterhouse and Bott confident he’s ready to bounce back this spring.

• ‘You don’t get horses of her calibre very often’: Filly excites Curtis

“It’s fair to say Just Fine was nowhere near his best form last preparation,” Bott said.

“He just didn’t quite come up. He ultimately felt the effects of his first Australian campaign.

“We gave him a really good break and he looks to have come back really well.

“1400m weight-for-age is probably not the conditions he will be looking for but it’s a really good race to start him off in.”

Just Fine is a $26 chance with Rachel King in the saddle.

Originally published as Tropical Squall will give Chris Waller’s team something to catch in the Group 1 Winx Stakes