Field of 12 to run in Winx Stakes on Saturday

The field has been declared and barriers allocated for the first Group 1 race of the 2024/25 Australian racing season – the $1 million Winx Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Last year’s winner Fangirl headlines the field for Saturday’s Winx Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

The field has been declared and barriers allocated for the first Group 1 race of the 2024/25 Australian racing season – the $1 million Winx Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

A field of 12 runners has been declared for the 1400 metre weight-for-age contest named after one of Australia’s greatest ever equine athletes.

Saturday marks the seventh running of the feature contest since it was renamed from the Warwick Stakes and upgraded to Group 1 status.

Sydney’s premier trainer Chris Waller has won the race seven times in the past nine years, and he looks primed to improve that record to eight from the past 10 with this year’s team which represents half of the acceptances.

Last year’s winner Fangirl will defend her title but she’s likely to face stiff opposition from her Group 1 winning stablemates Via Sistina, Zougotcha, Riff Rocket and Atishu.

FANGIRL WINS THE G1 WINX STAKES! @cwallerracing secures his 150th Group 1 victory in the race named in Winx's honour, while @mcacajamez records his 80th.

An incredible moment. pic.twitter.com/WSy7ndn0UI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 19, 2023

The main opposition from opposing stables is expected to come from proven Group 1 performers.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will saddle up multiple Randwick Group 1 winner Tropical Squall and Just Fine while Ciaron Maher’s team consists of Semana and Detonator Jack.

Another quality entrant is Godolphin’s classy mare, the James Cummings-trained Zardozi.

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The field for the Winx Stakes is;

No. - Horse - Trainer - Jockey - Barrier - Weight

1 - BUCKAROO - Chris Waller - Joshua Parr - 8 - 59kg

2 - DETONATOR JACK - Ciaron Maher - Jason Collett - 2 - 59kg

3 - ZEYREK - Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes - Reece Jones - 3 - 59kg

4 - JUST FINE - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Rachel King - 4 - 59kg

5 - RIFF ROCKET - Chris Waller - Nash Rawiller - 12 - 58.5kg

6 - FANGIRL - Chris Waller - James McDonald - 9 - 57kg

7 - VIA SISTINA - Chris Waller - Kerrin McEvoy - 7 - 57kg

8 - ATISHU - Chris Waller - Tyler Schiller - 10 - 57kg

9 - ZOUGOTCHA - Chris Waller - Tommy Berry - 6 - 57kg

10 - SEMANA - Ciaron Maher - Dylan Gibbons - 5 - 57kg

11 - TROPICAL SQUALL - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Adam Hyeronimus - 11 - 56.5kg

12 - ZARDOZI - James Cummings - Zac Lloyd (a) - 1 - 56.5kg

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Other feature races on Saturday’s program are the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) for the three-year-old fillies, the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and the Group 3 Premier’s Cup (2000m) for the open class horses and the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) for the fillies and mares.

The Randwick track was rated a soft (6) at acceptance time. The rail will be in the 3-metre position on Saturday.

“It’s in good shape and the with the forecast it should be nice ground,” track manager Michael Wood said.

“I think we can get back to good ground, or close to it, come Saturday.”

Saturday’s 10-race program commences at 11.45am with the final event to be run at 5.05pm.

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The Bureau Of Meteorology forecast for Sydney is.

Wednesday – Mostly sunny. 25.

Thursday – Partly cloudy. 22.

Friday – Mostly sunny. 21.

Saturday – Partly cloudy. 22.

CLICK HERE to get the fields and free formguide for the Randwick meeting on Saturday.

Originally published as Field of 12 to run in Winx Stakes on Saturday