This week was all around the great mare Winx and her return to racing at Randwick on Saturday and boy didn’t she disappoint in the race named in her honour, the Winx Stakes. Here is this weeks edition of ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’.
KEY NEWS:
Showgirl Is A Showstopper
Winx may be the daughter of Vegas Showgirl, but the show she has put on for over three years is the best show racing has to offer. The win by her in the Winx Stakes on Saturday was unbelievable. Her late splits, as always, mind boggling. She defied the track bias for the afternoon and in the end did it comfortably. She surpassed the record of 25 straight held by Black Caviar, ironically on her birthday. A fourth Cox Plate is hers to lose.
Showtime A Memsie Contender
Arrowfield Stud has stood three outstanding stallions in Danehill, Redoute’s Choice and Snitzel. This time next year, Team Hawkes will be hoping Showtime gets onto the stallion roster after the four year old son of Snitzel scored a tough on speed win in the PB Lawrence Stakes (1400m) and will ensure he is a leading contender in the Memsie Stakes, a Group l that if he should win, would all but secure his a future at stud.
Farewell She Will Reign
The 2017 Golden Slipper, who resumed with a poor run in the Missile Stakes, was retired earlier in the week, with mild inflammation found in her lower airway. The mare won the Slipper then backed up in the Spring to score an outstanding win in the Moir before failing in The Everest. She is expected to go to stud in the Northern Hemisphere.
PERFORMANCE OF THE WEEK:
How could it be anything else other than Winx? Tick over 32 for her final 600m, a time that is just unbelievable, and bear in mind she did it in the worst part of the track out wide. Wet, dry, inside, outside, Sydney, Melbourne, whatever obstacles she has to face, she does it with absolute ease. It’s a pleasure to watch her. If you’re looking for one outside the square, follow Sunreel, who won the last at Newcastle on Thursday. She’s finally putting it all together and could comfortably win a midweek metro race.
DEBUT OF THE WEEK:
Owned in the same interests as Hong Kong sprinter Lucky Bubbles, so not sure how long he’s got left in Australia, but it was hard not to be impressed by the debut win of Happy Bubbles at Newcastle on Thursday for Gerald Ryan. Had the box seat sit throughout and looked to be bolting but was having trouble getting clear but Tye Angland steered him into clear air and he dashed immediately, running quicker time than the Class One 35 minutes prior which is a good sign.
RIDE OF THE WEEK:
Isn’t Rachel Hunt riding in super form at the moment. Helped by bias yes, but I loved the aggressive tactics she displayed on Zonk to win at Canterbury on Wednesday. Her last win came in October last year so it had been a while between wins. Got the lead comfortably, stacked them up, then at the 600m, Hunt pushed the button, making the mare earn the win and wanting her to win, which she ended up doing and that move definitely won her the race.
SLAUGHTER OF THE WEEK:
Was pretty confident that Remember The Name could run well in the first at Caulfield on Saturday. Gate three, Olly on, right form, she looked the one…but instead of that, she ended up sitting three and four wide throughout in what was just a really plain and ugly steer from Olly. The mare was a beaten horse on the turn. Thankfully the day improved, but it was a far from ideal start.
HORSES TO FOLLOW:
Biodynamic – Only horse to break 35 seconds in the last 600m of the Highway, in the quicksand. Back to country level, he can win a race.
Libran – 32.77 last 600m in the Winx Stakes. I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t win a race this time in. Second/third up, back him with confidence provided Winx isn’t there.
Long Leaf – Gave the rest of the field weight and sat back in what was a very slow tempo and hit the line extremely well. On sectionals he had no right to go as close as he did. Big watch for the Caulfield Guineas on that run.
Golden Halo – All credit to Sunlight, but this girl was very stiff not to finish closer or even win the race. She’s got blacktype in her for sure.
ONE MORE CHANCE:
Was hot on Kellstorm at Morphettville in what looked a very thin race. The ride from Froggy was just bizarre. Snagged back to near last, then was four wide for pretty much the last 1000m. Horse had no chance of winning from that point on. Hopefully that hasn’t busted him, because the run prior behind Morton’s Fork was a beauty.
NEVER EVER AGAIN:
A masterful ride from Walker and bias helped Mighty Boss win the Caulfield Guineas. Take that out and what has he done? Win a maiden at Sale. The jury is well and truly out on him after a somewhat plain return in the PB Lawrence and the depth will only get stronger. If he was my horse, I’d almost be tempted to go back to the handicaps aka Rupert Clarke/Toorak. He’s not a WFA horse IMO.