No pressure on near un-backable Winx for Chipping Norton Stakes
NERVES have given way to a sense of caution as trainer Chris Waller prepares Winx to run as one of shortest-priced Chipping Norton Stakes favourites in the modern era.
Thrill-seekers wanting a piece of the $1.35 on offer about Winx will be relieved Waller has given the mare a glowing report on her condition since a regulation first-up win in the Apollo Stakes.
“Faultless. Worked well. She’s a dream to be training,” Waller said.
Waller admits he was as anxious as he has ever been before Winx beat Solicit in the Apollo, but will be in a relaxed frame of mind heading into the first Group One race of the Sydney autumn carnival at Randwick on Saturday.
“There is less pressure going into this race. I know where she is at,” he said.
“We’ve been there done that now. It’s just important to get those horses back.
“Her weight is similar to first-up which shows she has come through the first-up run well.”
Lonhro sets the benchmark for overwhelming favouritism in the Chipping Norton, winning as a $1.26 chance in 2003.
But Waller said experience taught him to take nothing for granted in a Group One race and he had the utmost respect for the versatility of some of the mare’s rivals.
“Never underestimate an Australian or New Zealand-trained stayer over a mile,” he said.
“They can pull one out of their backside.”
To emphasise Waller’s point, two Group One winners over 2400m are rated closest to Winx in early betting and both are resuming after contrasting spring carnivals.
Hartnell was below his best in Sydney and Melbourne late last year but his autumn form 12 months ago was of the highest calibre with a first-up Chipping Norton placing and a Group One win in the BMW.
“He’s had two trials and his work has been good. He’s where I’d like him to be at this stage of his preparation,” trainer John O’Shea said.
Mongolian Khan has better 2400m credentials than Hartnell as the winner of last year’s New Zealand Derby, ATC Australian Derby and Caulfield Cup.
The four-year-old was beaten less than two lengths when he resumed at 1600m in the Makybe Diva Stakes in a spring that ended abruptly after the Caulfield Cup when a serious bout of colic put him out of the Melbourne Cup.
Tourneur in frame for Diamond, Futurity
When Dom Tourneur rides in Victoria, the South Australian jockey makes it count.
He heads to Caulfield for three rides in Group One races on Saturday, all for Phillip Stokes, and two are leading contenders.
Hucklebuck is a $5.50 second favourite behind Turn Me Loose ($3.30) in the Futurity Stakes while Samara Dancer shares the third line of betting at $6.50 for the day’s feature, the Blue Diamond Stakes.
His third, Eclair Choice, is a $31 chance in the Oakleigh Place.
Tourneur is banking on a better draw for Hucklebuck to break a 15-month losing streak.
Hucklebuck finished a last-start third behind Suavito in the CF Orr Stakes on February 13 after jumping from barrier 18.
While the gelding ran on strongly in the straight, Tourneur said Hucklebuck peaked on his run.
But his trackwork since indicates the five-year-old has taken improvement and Tourneur is confident he will show his best in the Futurity.
“No Group One is easy to win but we go in confident with where our bloke is,” Tourneur said.
“It helps to draw a gate as we’ll be able to put him in a position that we want to be rather than having to find a position.”
Tourneur hopes to track Turn Me Loose, who he just beat into fourth place in the CF Orr Stakes, knowing that he too will take improvement from that first-up run.
Tourneur partnered Samara Dancer in her final gallop in front of stewards at Morphettville on Tuesday.
She was passed for the Blue Diamond after a trickle of blood was found in a nostril after her win in the Blue Diamond Prelude on February 13.
“She’s done everything asked of her to date,” Tourneur said.
“You can’t do any more than win and we’re going in knowing we’ve got a live chance in the race.”