Debbie Kepitis is putting her trust in Chris Waller and Hugh Bowman as Winx heads to the Doncaster Mile as the shortest-priced favourite in almost a century.
The co-owner of the star mare has been in racing most of her life as the daughter of Bob Ingham, part of the famous Ingham family.
Winx
Things are a little different with Winx who she owns with a group of friends including Queensland businessman Peter Tighe.
Cox Plate winner Winx is bidding to win her ninth consecutive race and her sixth at Group One level.
Kepitis was happy to draw barrier 11 of 15, believing it could be an omen.
“My mother was born on the 11th of the 11th so that could be lucky,” Kepitis said.
“We can’t help the barrier.
“It’s a big test for her but Chris has an affinity with the Doncaster and as owners we follow the genius that he is.
“And we have faith in Hugh. He has ridden her perfectly every time.
“It has been an amazing experience and even though I’ve had a lot of good horses with my family, this is an experience that is mine.”
The Doncaster market remained much the same as it was before Tuesday’s barrier draw with Winx the $1.85 favourite.
Her stablemate, last year’s winner Kermadec, is the $6.50 second favourite.
Zac Purton, who rode the Waller-trained Sacred Falls to win the 2014 Doncaster, will ride Kermadec who carries 57kg, 6kg more than a year ago.
He finished second to Winx in the George Ryder Stakes last start.
The third of the Waller stable runners is Good Project who is at $26.
Happy Clapper, who gained automatic qualification via his Villiers Stakes win, is third elect at $13.
The Pat Webster-trained gelding has finished fourth in his past two starts at weight-for-age in the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder Stakes and drops to 50.5kg with Brenton Avdulla to ride.
