The scratching of Arapaho has paved the way for J J Atkins winner King Colorado to take his place in the Group 1 Winx Stakes at Randwick.
The three-year-old had been first emergency for the 1400m feature but with the withdrawal of Arapaho on Thursday due to a wide gate, King Colorado was vaulted into the field.
The colt now gets a chance to become the first of his age group to win the Winx, formerly known as the Warwick Stakes, since Trusting in 2009.
Co-trainer Ciaron Maher has been rapt with the horse’s build up and says his rapid rise from winning a Kembla Grange maiden at his second start to capturing the Group 1 J J Atkins a run later could be just the start.
“He did everything he did on raw ability and a good ride,” Maher said.
“Last prep, when we’d trial him, he’d be a bit on one day, a bit quiet the next day, just immature stuff.
“That’s why we went to the maiden, and he did everything right there and then raised the bar.”
King Colorado has trialled twice in preparation for his return, winning a 1030m heat at Rosehill last week and finishing fifth to Winx Stakes rival Lindermann in a Canterbury hitout on August 1.
It was his performance behind Lindermann that started Maher believing the colt was set for a good campaign.
“I reckon he’s in really good order,” he said.
“You don’t take too much from trials but a lot of them were Group One horses. It was only a trial, but I was pretty taken by it.”
Louise Day has landed a rare Group 1 ride on King Colorado, who will carry just 50.5kg and is rated a $10 chance.
