Winx draws perfectly in five to face off against 10 rivals in her race
WINX’S apparent invincibility prompted one fearless punter to place the biggest bet TAB Fixed Odds has ever taken on the champion mare when she resumes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
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WINX’S apparent invincibility prompted one fearless punter to place the biggest bet TAB Fixed Odds has ever taken against the champion mare when she resumes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The punter has placed a massive wager of $140,000 at $1.12 on Winx to win the race named in her honour, the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m).
WINX QUIZ: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE CHAMP?
If Winx extends her famous winning streak and notches her 26th win in a row, the punter will make a $16,800 profit.
This is the sixth bet of $100,000 or more on Winx that the TAB’s Fixed Odds operation has accepted, but easily exceeds the previous highest wager of $114,000 at $1.10 before the mare own the George Ryder Stakes earlier this year.
TAB’s Glenn Munsie revealed the $140,000 bet is the only investment made so far on Winx in her comeback race on Saturday, which has attracted a field of 11 runners, including star four-year-old Kementari.
“I would suggest Winx will stay at $1.12 — I doubt very much she will start any shorter,’’ Munsie said. “There will be some interest in Kementari, who is rated at $7. A lot will hinge on how both horses parade before the race.’’
The shortest odds ever offered about Winx was $1.08 before she won the George Main Stakes two years ago. TAB Fixed Odds is also operating a “Winx out” market on the Winx Stakes with Kementari at $1.45 and D’Argento at $4.
In a boost for the punter, trainer Chris Waller said Winx could not be better prepared for her return. Even after 25 straight wins, Waller still shakes his head at the condition the super mare is in ahead of her pursuit of an Australian record 26th consecutive victory on Saturday.
“I just can’t fault her, she’s spot on, sharp,” he said. “I shake my head in disbelief most mornings, she has developed in to this big strong, horse that has matured.
“Having spaced her races thanks to the owners, thanks to my staff looking after her so well, means she is here on Saturday, as a seven-year-old, ready to go.
Please see below a snippet of our preview of the Winx Stakes on Saturday.
— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) August 15, 2018
To view the full video or to subscribe please visit https://t.co/Z943Hnc6XL pic.twitter.com/lUCrXwXtwN
Winx drew barrier five for Saturday, which Waller said was “perfect”, and while one of only three unplaced runs in her 35-race career has come over 1400m, in the 2015 Surround Stakes, the trainer had no qualms about the distance this time around.
“Absolutely perfect, she’s as sharp as any sprinter,” he said. “The only time she is vulnerable is when there is no pressure, and that’s at trials.”
Waller said her two trials, and an exhibition gallop at Randwick last Saturday, had removed all the “nervous energy” and she was “primed” for this race.
“She’s spot on, she’s ready to go,” he said.
“We’ve probably put an extra 2 per cent in there somewhere. We didn’t take this race lightly, being a Group 1, and fortunately we haven’t because it’s a strong race.”
LATEST BETTING
$1.12 Winx
$7 Kementari
$15 D’Argento
$26 Ace High
$51+ Others
Market: TAB Fixed Odds
With Kementari locked in to do battle with Winx on Saturday, @LizzieJelfs had a chat Mr @Godolphin himself @JamesCummings88 on why the talented 4YO is a worthwhile addition to the field. pic.twitter.com/ZcedZFtXuF
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 15, 2018
WINX’S SHORTEST TAB ODDS OF HER WINNING STREAK
$1.08 2016 George Main Stakes
$1.09 2018 Chipping Norton Stakes
$1.09 2017 Chelmsford Stakes
$1.10 2017 Warwick Stakes
$1.12 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
$1.12 2017 George Main Stakes
$1.15 2017 Apollo Stakes
$1.16 2018 George Ryder Stakes
$1.18 2017 Cox Plate
$1.20 2017 Turnbull Stakes
$1.22 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes
$1.24 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
$1.24 2016 Caulfield Stakes
$1.24 2017 George Ryder Stakes
$1.26 2016 Warwick Stakes
$1.35 2016 Chipping Norton Stakes
$1.60 2016 Apollo Stakes
$1.75 2016 Doncaster Mile
$1.80 2016 Cox Plate
$1.90 2016 George Ryder Stakes
$2 2015 Queensland Oaks
$2.65 2015 Sunshine Coast Guineas
$2.90 2015 Epsom
$3.60 2015 Theo Marks Stakes
$4.20 2015 Cox Plate
Multi figure after the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes: $29,448.52
BIGGEST BETS ON WINX (TAB Fixed Odds)
$114,000 at $1.10 in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes
$108,000 at $1.06 in the 2018 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes
$106,500 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$100,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$100,000 at $1.09 in the 2018 TAB Chipping Norton Stakes
$94,150 at $1.15 in the 2017 Turnbull Stakes
$79,000 at $1.18 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$75,000 at $1.10 in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
$72,000 at $1.08 in the 2017 George Main Stakes
$70,000 at $1.16 in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes
$70,000 at $1.15 in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes
$67,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 George Ryder Stakes
$63,000 at $1.06 in the 2017 Chelmsford Stakes
$61,600 at $1.08 in the 2017 Warwick Stakes
$60,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$60,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$58,000 at $1.20 in the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes
$56,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$56,000 at $1.10 in the 2018 George Ryder Stakes
$50,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$50,000 at $1.15 in the 2017 Cox Plate
$50,000 at $1.10 in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes