The good times keep on rolling for Winx’s connections, with the champion mare’s part-owner owner Richard Treweeke teaming up with trainer Chris Waller for another win.
Days after Winx won back-to-back Cox Plates in breathtaking fashion, the 85-year-old Treweeke was at Canterbury on Wednesday to watch Zumbelina win the Schweppes Maiden Plate (1200m).
The three-year-old filly appeared to be in a precarious position at the home turn, but jockey Brenton Avdulla aggressively pulled her into the gap to give her clear running.
After jumping the $1.75 favourite, Zumbelina bore down on her rivals in the straight and finished ahead of Fantastic Man ($9.50) and Moccasin Miss ($7.50).
“The owners were just saying it’s unfortunate that she’s going off at a similar price to Winx, but they’re very happy nonetheless,” Waller’s racing manager Charlie Duckworth said.
“She’s obviously got a bright future ahead of her winning like that first-up.”
It is the second time in a week Winx has had to a connection to a midweek winner in her home city.
Treweeke’s fellow part-owner Debbie Kepitis owned three-year-old colt Chaussure who opened his account at Warwick Farm on October 19.
Avdulla said when he got out from behind horses Zumbelina was too strong.
“She gave me a lovely feel,” Avdulla said.
“But she’s still obviously not all there yet.”
Zumbelina was the second leg of a treble for the stable, with Dagny too strong in the TAB Handicap (1250m).
“She’s quite a classy filly and that got her through today,” Duckworth said.
Dagny’s win made it two-from-two since being transferred to Waller after the four-year-old mare started her career with Sam Pritchard-Gordon in Victoria.
Almost a quarter of the horses running at Canterbury were trained by Waller including four of the seven runners in the Ranvet’s Power Formula Handicap (1900m) where Montauk edged out stablemate Estikhraaj.
Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith was delighted one of his two runners, Quantrill, made it two on the trot in the Tab.com.au Handicap (1250m).
“He’s always shown he’s a Saturday class horse but he’s just done plenty wrong when he runs,” Smith said.
Smith trains Quantrill’s full-sister Rebel Miss who has been nominated for a 1000m race down the Flemington straight on Melbourne Cup day.
Meanwhile, Anthony Cummings trained a double with Crown Him winning the first race and Maven Wiz taking out the penultimate event.
