If any horse in Australian racing deserves to have its workload lightened, Chris Waller says it is Queensland Oaks winner Winx.
In the 12 months between her introduction to racing and her Oaks triumph, Winx raced 12 times for six wins, three placings and more than $1 million in earnings.
Winx
But Waller said it would be unfair to give Winx another stayer’s campaign in the spring and that’s why she was one of the higher-profile names missing from Caulfield Cup first acceptances.
“She had a tough year,” Waller said.
“So I want to give her a soft spring and she’ll probably end up in the Myer Stakes and then we’ll get serious in the autumn again.”
Winx will be first-up from a wide draw after her Queensland Oaks win at the end of May when she contests the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
It will be her only lead-up run to the $1 million Epsom Handicap.
“She’ll be a bit soft on Saturday after just one trial but she’s on track for the Epsom in three weeks,” Waller said.
James McDonald will ride Winx in a race for the first time and the mare is favourite to beat Vashka, a horse he knows well as a retained jockey to the sprinter’s Godolphin stable.
Vashka has 53kg which is too light for McDonald and the last-start Show County Quality placegetter will have Joao Moreira doing the riding.
