Chelmsford Stakes 2016: Chris Waller confident heavy rain won’t throw Winx’s spring campaign off course at Randwick

CHRIS Waller is expecting the Winx show to roll on this Saturday despite the forecast of heavy rain this week.

Winx will be chasing her 11th straight win on Saturday at Randwick.

CHRIS Waller is expecting the Winx show to roll on this Saturday despite the forecast of heavy rain this week.

Up to 56mm has been tipped to fall in Sydney over the next four days and the potential deluge could turn Randwick into a quagmire come Saturday.

But while Waller didn’t rule out scratching Winx from the Chelmsford Stakes if the track became bottomless, he hinted the superstar would run providing there is no severe weather on Saturday.

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“If there is a thunderstorm five minutes before the race we won’t be running and we wouldn’t risk her running in a thunderstorm or lightning,” Waller quipped. “The beauty with her is she has had the first-up run and she is not soft. We will just go easier on her after Saturday.”

Waller’s comments will come as some relief to the two TAB punters who have already plonked $5000 each on Winx at $1.20 in the all-in Chelmsford market. However, Waller admits he has planned Winx’s preparation so she can afford to miss a run if she has to.

“She has had a first-up run and she can go three or four weeks between runs and she won the Cox Plate at her third run last prep and this time in we are looking at doing it at her fifth run in,” he said. “We have planned her preparation to miss a race. I hope I don’t have to and I doubt we will have to.”

Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman are happy with Winx’s progress this campaign. Picture: Mark Evans

Meanwhile, Winx’s regular jockey Hugh Bowman opened up about just how special it was to be involved with the great mare at the Sydney Spring Carnival launch at Randwick on Tuesday.

“Being a jockey you dream of winning a Melbourne Cup and riding a horse like Winx and I’m just in the moment and enjoying it,” he said.

“When Reliable Man won the Queen Elizabeth here (in 2013) that was an amazing victory and I wasn’t sure if I was going to feel that again.

“Winx does it every week now.

“I’m very grateful, I’m in my mid-30s ... and I really do understand how lucky I am one to be riding a horse this good and, two, how lucky we are she is so fit and healthy.”