Winx’s owner has entree win to Cox Plate
Days before Winx’s Cox Plate defence, the champion mare’s part-owner Debbie Kepitis has had another win to cheer about at Warwick Farm.
As trainer Chris Waller puts the finishing touches on Winx’s preparation for Saturday’s weight-for-age championship, he teamed up with Kepitis for Chaussure’s win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The three-year-old colt justified his $2.70 favouritism, coasting to a dominant two-length win in the Tab Maiden Plate over 1400m.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Silent Warrior ($4.40) was second with Ready For Success ($10) a further 1-3/4 lengths third.
Chaussure’s jockey Tommy Berry had the colt second last during the race before urging him forward around the turn and Chaussure made a sustained run wide down the straight to claim an easy victory.
“I think he’ll definitely make Saturday grade without a doubt, but next prep he’s definitely going way beyond,” Berry said.
“He’s got a beautiful presence about him.
“He’s well bred and he’s bred to get over further and off that run you’d think he would.”
Chaussure’s sire Jimmy Choux was runner-up in the 2011 Cox Plate.
It was Chaussure’s second career start after he charged home late to finish second at Kembla Grange in July.
Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said Chaussure would be taken through the grades.
“He’s always promised a lot,” Duckworth said.
“He actually started out down in our Melbourne stable but obviously never had a start down there.
“He had a few jump-outs which are great education.”
Apprentice jockey James Innes scored a race-to-race double with the Gerald Ryan-trained Diddums and Cosmic Cameo, from Gary Portelli’s yard.
“James rides this filly very well. He’s just starting to get a couple of winners lately and that gets his confidence up after a couple of run-ins with officialdom,” Ryan said.
“He’s great around the stables and once he gets to know the horses he gives them every possible chance.”
Cosmic Cameo was supported in the market and started at $7.50 in #TheRaces Handicap(1000m).
“We were pretty keen on him today and we got a huge price,” Portelli said.
“I nearly lost my voice – great result.”
Gwenda Markwell-trained stayer Caton made it back-to-back Warwick Farm wins in a week when he took out the Schweppes Handicap over 2400m.