Chris Waller begins ‘intense week’ in countdown to Winx’s final race, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes
One of the biggest farewells in Australian sport is fast approaching but trainer Chris Waller is determined to keep Winx to her usual routine despite all the fanfare around her this week.
One of the biggest farewells in Australian sport is fast approaching and trainer Chris Waller will keep Winx to her usual routine as he tries to cope with the increasingly intense build-up to the great mare’s final race.
The champion mare will line up for the last occasion in the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Waller is even counting how many fast trackwork gallops Winx has left before she attempts to end her phenomenal race career with a 33rd consecutive win.
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“There’s two gallops to go and she’s certainly well prepared going into her grand final,” Waller said after Winx produced a strong piece of work on the course proper before the opener on Derby-Doncaster Day.
“She’ll have a similar piece of work on Tuesday morning. We’re at the end of her preparation so it’s all about maintenance and making sure the horse is safe.
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“We’ve just got to try not to bugger it up now. Our job now is to maintain her and make sure she’s sharp.
“We don’t need to do too much more to make sure it’s a fairy-tale ending.”
Winx has scored typically dominant wins in the Apollo Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes and George Ryder Stakes this autumn, and she is now into $1.06 favouritism to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
Waller isn’t changing anything in the countdown to the most anticipated horse race in memory including having a Thursday morning media call at Rosehill trackwork which has become a ritual in the week Winx races.
“This Thursday morning will even be a bit sad for us,’’ Waller said as another chapter ends in the storied Winx career.
“To start with we were overawed with the media mornings but it’s become part of Winx’s life.
“There’s been a lot of great memories. From where I’ve come from and to be in this position is pretty humbling.”
Winx’s campaign seems to be going like clockwork which is some respite for Team Winx given the pressure and scrutiny they are under to keep the mighty mare’s famous winning streak going for one more race.
“The last week will be quite intense,’’ Waller said. “She’s got a following, you’re hearing about her a lot more and the intensity is amazing.
“We (connections) do have a bond, especially me and Hugh. People don’t know what we’ve gone through and it is intense.
“The respect forever will be there. The bond will last forever.”
WINX’S WEEK
The great mare will spend the week at Rosehill Gardens, preparing for her farewell race, the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
MONDAY
— Light exercise, trot and canter
TUESDAY
— Fast gallop over 800-1000m, followed by a massage.
— Afternoon walk.
— Final acceptances and barrier draw where connections find out who Winx will face in her final gate and from which gate she will start.
WEDNESDAY
— Trot and canter, maybe even a swim, depending on the weather.
— Afternoon walk.
THURSDAY
— Short, sharp workout over about 800m in front of cameras and journalists as part of a pre-dawn media call at Rosehill Gardens.
— Massage and an afternoon walk.
FRIDAY
— Trot and canter, maybe even a swim, depending on the weather
— Afternoon walk.
SATURDAY
— Short early morning gallop at Rosehill Gardens to stretch her legs before she hops on the float for the 26km drive to Royal Randwick for the final time.
HARD TO STOP CHARGE OF THE YOUNG BRIGADE
Brutal, the most inexperienced Doncaster Mile winner in decades, is another richly talented young galloper who is ready to step into the void left by Winx’s retirement.
This season’s three-year-old crop has some very promising gallopers. Brutal has joined Arcadia Queen and Sunlight as Group 1 winners against the older horses.
Then throw into the mix The Autumn Sun and Mystic Journey and there is real depth in the sprinter-miler ranks among the three-year-olds.
This stellar quintet are emerging as leading chances for the $7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens next spring.
If you add the likes of Graff, Zousain, Ringerdingding, Roehyrn, Amphitrite, Nakeeta Jane, Vegadaze and others then the inaugural Golden Eagle is shaping as a cracking race.
Team Hawkes has indicated the long-term goal with Brutal is the Golden Eagle after the colt’s outstanding effort to win the Doncaster at just his seventh start.
The only other Doncaster winner in recent memory to have had so few starts was Grand Armee, who won the race in 2004 at his eighth start.
Hall of Fame trainer John Hawkes, who took his Group 1 tally to 112 with Brutal’s Doncaster win, is unsure of immediate plans for the colt.
Hawkes did rule out taking on Winx in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday but said the All Aged Stakes in two weeks was an option.
SANTA CLEARLY BEST IN THE LAND
Santa Ana Lane has surely earned the ranking as the nation’s best sprinter after his three-and-a-half-length TJ Smith Stakes win.
The Anthony Freedman-trained Santa Ana Lane scored his fifth Group 1 win and took his earnings past the $5 million mark with his last-to-first effort.
With Santa Ana Lane likely to be set for the Chairman’s Sprint Prize in Hong Kong next month and then a possible trip to England for the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, Godolphin sprinter Osborne Bulls may get his chance to win at Group 1 level in the All Aged Stakes.
Osborne Bulls was runner-up to Santa Ana Lane in the TJ Smith Stakes, the same position he filled
in the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap at Group 1 level at his two previous starts.
Sunlight’s third was tremendous because the filly was three wide facing the breeze throughout.
FINE ARTIST BOWS OUT WITH INJURY
Trapeze Artist has run his last race after pulling up with a shoulder bruising following his unplaced TJ Smith Stakes effort.
Owner-breeder Bert Vieira said Trapeze Artist has nothing left to prove after winning four Group 1 races and more than $5.5 million prizemoney.
“He’s not lame which is a good sign but what happened to him is telling me enough is enough,’’ Vieira said.
“We won’t run in the All Aged Stakes, Trapeze Artist will be retired to Widden Stud in the spring.’’
CLAPPER TO LOOK HIS BEST FOR WINX
Happy Clapper will have a new look when he takes on Winx one more time in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
“I’ve taken the blinkers off and put winkers on,’’ trainer Pat Webster said.
“I’m hoping by taking the blinkers off he will settle a bit better and run the 2000m out strongly.
“We have to take on Winx and she’s the best we’ve seen but if ‘The Clapper’ can run second in her last race then that would be a real honour.’’
Happy Clapper has finished behind Winx in 10 previous clashes including five second placings.
RANDWICK TO BE AT CAPACITY FOR FAREWELL
The Australian Turf Club is expected to announce in the next few days that the Queen Elizabeth Stakes meeting is a sell-out.
There are only a few hundred general admission tickets left to see Winx’s farewell race with a bumper crowd of well over 40,000 expected to Royal Randwick on Saturday.
RON DUFFICY’S RANDWICK SNAPSHOT
RUN OF THE DAY
How can you go past the performance of Santa Ana Lane who has gone from strength to strength as he’s got older under the careof Anthony Freedman. Horse and trainer are proven big time performers and Santa Ana Lane produced sizzling figures in comparison for the day.
FORGET THEY RAN
The two notable forgive runs were definitely both Self Sense and The Chosen One.
Self Sense is absolutely flying and it was incredible the way he fought to the line after a wide no cover run while The Chosen One had an impossible task from a mile back when the pace slowed in the Derby.
THE BLACK BOOK
Considering it was probably grand final day for most at this meeting I have to say the first starter Libertini did enough to say she has a bright future. It’s not easy taking on seasoned juveniles at your debut in Group 3 company on days like this but she passed the test with flying colours.
RIDE OF THE DAY
There were some great winning rides on the day but how can you deny Glen Boss.
Bossy rode his 7th Doncaster Mile winner from an outside barrier with poise, dedication, balance and experience.
NSW RACING — THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Ballina, Scone
Tuesday: Hawkesbury, Moruya
Wednesday: Gosford
Thursday: Wyong
Friday: Orange, Port Macquarie
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Gosford, Lismore
Sunday: Armidale, Wagga Wagga
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