Dual Group 1 winner Autumn Boy will bypass Saturday’s Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick and instead launch his spring campaign in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 29.
Chris Waller scratched Autumn Boy from the Winx Stakes along with stablemates Beiwacht and Barnavara, although Beiwacht could also make the trip to Melbourne next weekend.
“Beiwacht has a very minor temperature. We didn’t want to risk him first-up, so we will take a blood on him throughout the weekend and on Monday and see where he fits in in terms of getting to the Memsie next week,” Waller told Racing HQ.
“Autumn Boy will go to the Memsie next week, and Barnavara, I just would like a better draw and an easier starting point for her.”
While the trio were withdrawn, Waller has elected to run Aeliana first-up in the Winx Stakes despite indicating on Friday that the Memsie Stakes appeared the more likely starting point.
Nash Rawiller will partner Aeliana in Saturday’s highly anticipated Group 1, which is headlined by star mares Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi.
Waller said feedback from James McDonald about Aeliana’s previous experience at Caulfield played a significant role in the decision to keep her in Sydney.
“Her trials have been good. We tossed up, with her, whether we took her to the Memsie next week and it actually came down to advice from James McDonald, who suggested she’s not as comfortable at Caulfield. She ran a terrific race in the Thousand Guineas there, running second, but he said she wasn’t really that comfortable,” Waller explained.
“By running her today, it gives us three weeks into her next run.
“She’ll run well and she should never be underestimated.”
Winx Stakes Field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CEOLWULF (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 8 | 59kg |
| 2 | GRINGOTTS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 7 | 59kg |
| 3 | LINDERMANN | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 59kg |
| 4 | MIDNIGHT DYNAMITE | Bjorn Baker | Tim Clark | 5 | 59kg |
| 7 | GREEN SPACES | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 14 | 58.5kg |
| 8 | AUTUMN GLOW | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3 | 57kg |
| 9 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 11 | 57kg | |
| 10 | FANGIRL | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 10 | 57kg |
| 11 | IDLE FLYER | Matthew Smith | Tyler Schiller | 9 | 57kg |
| 12 | LADY SHENANDOAH | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 2 | 57kg |
| 14 | SHEZA ALIBI | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 1 | 56.5kg |
Winx Stakes Odds
