Winx to have three Sydney spring starts
Champion mare Winx is slated to have three Sydney starts on the way to her defence of the Cox Plate.
Trainer Chris Waller said her three planned weight-for-age races would be at two-week intervals starting with the Group Two Warwick Stakes (1400m) on August 20.
She will then step up to 1600m in the Group Two Chelmsford Stakes before the Group One George Main Stakes over the same distance.
This year’s Cox Plate is at Moonee Valley on October 22.
Winx has not been beaten in her nine starts since she ran second to Gust Of Wind in the 2015 Australian Oaks, her only attempt at 2400 metres.
Winx has been back in training for the past couple of weeks along with several other Group One performers for the stable.
“Preferment is back and he will be set for the Turnbull Stakes again and probably the Mackinnon,” Waller said.
“Japonisme is back in training at the Gold Coast and he will be aimed at Group One sprints.
“Vanbrugh is also back getting ready for the spring.”
The 2014 Victoria Derby winner, Preferment won three Group One races last season, the Turnbull Stakes, the Australian Cup and the BMW.
Japonisme won the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes for three-year-olds and was third twice against older horses in photo-finishes to the Lightning Stakes and William Reid Stakes.
He was also third at his most recent start in BTC Cup at Doomben last month.
Vanbrugh, the Spring Champion Stakes winner, hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in the Australian Derby won by Tavago.