Winx back for autumn but trainer Chris Waller restricts grand mare’s future to ‘race-by-race’ scenario
Champion racehorse Winx will contest the Sydney autumn carnival but trainer Chris Waller has confirmed connections are prepared to retire the superstar at any stage during the “race-by-race” campaign.
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Trainer Chris Waller has given racing fans an early Christmas present with confirmation champion mare Winx will have one final race campaign next autumn.
But Waller stressed Winx’s preparation will be determined on a “race by race” basis with the spectre of retirement imminent.
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With Winx being set for what is most likely her final racing preparation next autumn, The Australian Turf Club also announced plans to build a statue of the all-time great champion at her home track of Rosehill Gardens.
ATC officials have had preliminary discussions with Waller and the mare’s owners and are hopeful of unveiling the statue on Golden Slipper Day in 2020.
ATC chief executive Jamie Barkley said Sydney fans were set for more rare moments in Australian racing history during Winx’s farewell autumn campaign next year.
“We are thrilled and grateful to Winx, her owners and trainer Chris Waller for giving Sydney an opportunity to see her live on course for another campaign,” Barkley said.
Waller issued a press release on Friday with Waller indicated it will be “logical to follow the path we have previously” with her comeback race likely to be the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on February 16.
Winx, who is on a 29-race winning streak, has raced exclusively in Sydney during the autumn during her unbeaten run with Waller hinting she will have up to four runs culminating in a potentially historic third successive Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 13.
“Following a discussion with her owners, (jockey) Hugh Bowman and myself in relation to Winx and her racing future, it has been decided she will race on in the autumn and her preparation will again be treated on a race-by-race basis,’’ Waller said.
“She has nothing left to prove to us or her many followers and we are under no illusion that she is getting a little older.
“However, she is in excellent condition both physically and mentally and had she not pleased us in any area of her wellbeing or mental state she would have been retired immediately.
“This is not to say that it may not happen before her first run of her preparation, after her first run or if at any stage where we are not happy with any aspect of her training or physical state.
“If she did manage to get through a four race preparation it would most likely culminate in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.
“I must stress to everyone that it shouldn’t be assumed she will be there, it will be a race by race assessment.”
Winx has won the Apollo Stakes twice (2016-17) but missed her autumn return this year when regular jockey Hugh Bowman was suspended.
The great mare’s autumn preparation then usually includes the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m) — she has won both races three years in succession (2016-17-18) — before she goes to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Waller said “we have and will continue to keep things simple with Winx” which the trainer believes has been one of the reasons the great mare has maintained her unbeaten run for nearly four years.
This also suggests that Winx will remain in Sydney for what seems certain to be her final race campaign.
Winx returned to training at Waller’s Rosehill stables last week and can be expected to have at least one barrier trial before her Apollo Stakes return.
“Each race is important for its own reason and we fully appreciate all of the support that she has had throughout her career,’’ he said.
“For her to be racing in the form that she is whilst remaining in such good health is a credit to the owners, Hugh Bowman, and other riders that have ridden her, and most importantly the staff at Chris Waller Racing.’’