Winx opens at $1.25 to make it three Queen Elizabeth Stakes wins in champion mare’s farewell tour

CHAMPION mare Winx has been installed at $1.25 by TAB Fixed Odds prices assessors to take out what is widely expected to be her career swansong, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

With a decision on Winx’s racing future imminent, TAB is taking no risks by installing the champion mare a long odds-on favourite to win an unprecedented third successive Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick next autumn.

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Sydney’s super mare Winx has returned to training at Chris Waller’s Rosehill base and connections are due to meet on Thursday to discuss 2019 plans for the great mare.

But TAB Fixed Odds prices assessors are expecting confirmation Winx will be given one more racing preparation at least and have installed her as $1.25 favourite for what is widely expected to be her career swansong, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick on April 13.

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“With Winx back in work we are anticipating a farewell autumn carnival and have priced her accordingly at $1.25 to win her third straight Queen Elizabeth Stakes,’’ TAB’s Gerard Middleton said.

“She started a similar price last year but was even shorter when she won in 2017.

“Her biggest danger could be stablemate The Autumn Sun ($8) if Chris Waller chooses to go that path with the Golden Rose Stakes winner and contest the 2000m weight-for-age event.’’

Winx is on a 29-race winning streak that includes a world record 22 Group 1 wins and career earnings of a staggering $22.85 million.

Fellow Hall of Famer Tulloch (1858, 1960-61) is the only three-time Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner but Winx will be attempting the first hat-trick in Sydney’s richest autumn carnival race.

Winx wins the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick in April 14.

TAB released pre-nominations markets on Monday on some of the major races during The Championships next autumn including:

#DUAL Everest winner Redzel is the $6 favourite for the $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

#THE Autumn Sun, rated by many as the heir apparent to Winx’s crown as the nation’s best racehorse, is $4.50 favourite for $2 million ATC Australian Derby (2400m) and also $4.50 favourite for the $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m).

#SPRING Champion Stakes winner Maid Of Heaven and talented filly Miss Fabulass are at the top of $1 million ATC Australian Oaks (2400m) markets at $8.

#WALLER’S stayers Finche and Youngstar, who ran fourth and sixth respectively in the Melbourne Cup, are the $8 co-favourites for the $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m).

#THE first market for next year’s $14 million The Everest in October was also released with Redzel $6 favourite to win the world’s richest turf race for a third successive year.

Middleton conceded the TJ Smith market reflected what is shaping as a hugely competitive race with last year’s) TJ Smith) winner and 2018 The Everest runner-up Trapeze Artist on the second line of betting at $8.

Winx captures her fourth consecutive Cox Plate. Picture: Getty Images

“Seven of the first nine in betting contested this year’s The TAB’s Everest, with the only exception’s being Pierata ($11) and Kementari ($15),’’ he said.

Boom three-year-old colt Graff, trained by Kris Lees, is at $11 for the TJ Smith Stakes. Graff ran very well for fifth in The Everest and was described by Middleton as having “untapped potential”.

“Four-time Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane is at also $11 which highlights the quality which is likely to contest the Group 1 race (TJ Smith) on Day 1 of The Championships,’’ Middleton added.

Redzel also heads opening markets at $6 to win a third successive The Everest at Royal Randwick next October.

“It is a market that looks very similar to the TJ Smith which the result will no doubt have a significant bearing on the betting for The Everest,’’ Middleton said.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy pilots Redzel to his second consecutive Everest victory.

T.J. SMITH STAKES (1200m)

Royal Randwick, April 6

$6 Redzel

$8 Trapeze Artist

$11 Graff, Pierata and Santa Ana Lane

$15 In Her Time, Kementari, Osborne Bulls, Shoals, Sunlight, The Autumn Sun and Zousain

$26 and longer the rest

QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (2000m)

Royal Randwick, April 13

$1.25 Winx

$8 The Autumn Sun

$15 Arcadia Queen, Avilius, Humidor and Te Akau Shark

$26 and longer the rest

THE EVEREST (1200m)

Royal Randwick, October 19

$6 Redzel

$8 Trapeze Artist

$11 Graff, Pierata and Santa Ana Lane

$15 In Her Time, Kementari, Nature Strip, Osborne Bulls, Shoals, Sunlight and Zousain

$26 and longer the rest

LATEST MARKETS: TAB FIXED ODDS