Winx’s Chelmsford Stakes rivals will have the inside running as the champion mare attempts to extend her remarkable winning streak to 11.
But with Winx facing just seven rivals in Saturday’s Group Two race at Randwick, trainer Chris Waller is not concerned about the outside barrier.
“It’s not a bad draw in the field of a 1600 metre race,” Waller said.
“She showed last start she’s pretty versatile whether she goes back or forward it just depends on the tempo of the race.
“The beauty of Hugh Bowman is that he knows her so well.
“She’s got speed to get herself out of trouble wherever she is.”
Five of her seven rivals are from the Waller stable with the other two Godolphin’s Hartnell and the James Cummings-trained three-year-old Prized Icon.
Prized Icon drops 10.5kg from his last start as he switches to weight-for-age company.
Hartnell ran second to Winx when she returned to racing a dominant winner of the Group Two Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 20.
Godolphin trainer John O’Shea said Hartnell, a Group One winner over 2400m, was fitter after his first-up effort.
“I couldn’t be happier with him. He’s made nice improvement since his first-up run,” O’Shea said.
“The wet track won’t be a problem for him and the mile is more to his liking than the seven (furlongs) last start.”
Hartnell has drawn barrier two inside the Waller-trained stayer Grand Marshal.
Grand Marshal’s stablemate and fellow stayer Who Shot Thebarman will start from barrier four with Blake Shinn taking the ride.
Prized Icon is the only one of Winx’s rivals at single-figure odds at $7 while the favourite is set to be sent out the shortest price in her career. She was rated a $1.15 chance on Wednesday afternoon.
With heavy rain forecast in Sydney towards the end of the week the Chelmsford could be run on a heavy track but Waller has indicated she will start as long as the surface is safe.
