Robusto isn’t the most accomplished horse in the Winx Stakes but he is one of the fittest and in conditions expected to be at the extreme end of the spectrum, that might be enough to cause a boilover.
Trainer Bjorn Baker has deliberately programmed the gelding to arrive at Saturday’s Group 1 race hard-fit as he prepares to clash with the likes of equine stars Via Sistina, Fangirl and Ceolwulf, who are all resuming.
In fact, nine of the 12 runners are Group 1 winners and while Robusto isn’t in that class, regular jockey Josh Parr says it might not matter.
“He obviously doesn’t have the status of some of his opposition but in a race where fitness is going to be very important, that brings him into it,” Parr said.
“I don’t think a bottomless track is ideal for him but if it becomes the survival of the fittest, you just never know. He might be it.”
The winner of The Ingham (1600m) in December, Robusto has been racing in great heart during the off-season, finishing second in the Winter Stakes (1400m) two starts ago and claiming the Winter Challenge (1500m) last month.
While he missed a planned lead-up when the Missile Stakes (1200m) was washed out two weeks ago, Parr said Baker had done an incredible job to keep the horse in the zone.
“I was able to gallop him on Tuesday morning and his piece of work was really good,” Parr said.
“It’s quite amazing how he has been able to keep him at this level of performance for the entire preparation. He hasn’t shown any signs of going off.
“For whatever reason, he’s a happy, fit horse who is racing really well.”
Baker has history in producing an upset winner of the Winx Stakes having prepared Samadoubt ($31) to claim the scalps of then heavyweights Happy Clapper, Avilius and Verry Elleegant in 2019.
Robusto will be one of three runners for the form trainer along with War Eternal and Sydney Cup winner Arapaho.
Parr will also partner the John Sargent-trained Glad You Think So in the final race, confident the five-year-old is ready to put some good performances together after breaking through in Midway grade last start.
“It was a good win at Randwick on soft ground and he does appreciate wet ground, which we’ll get on Saturday, so that will bring him into it,” Parr said.
Glad You Think So placed behind Riff Rocket and Ceolwulf on a heavy track in last year’s ATC Australian Derby and has the benefit of three runs under his belt.
