Trainer Chris Waller has penciled in a race over the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington for champion mare Winx this Spring.
Winx’s main aim will still be a third Cox Plate but she is likely to continue her campaign if all goes to plan and head to the G1 Emirates Stakes on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Chris Waller had planned to take Winx to the Emirates Stakes following last years Cox Plate but she was treated with antibiotics following her win and was spelled.
The Champion mare has not raced at Flemington with all of her Melbourne runs being at Caulfield and Moonee Valley and the VRC has obviously welcomed the news that she may headline the last day of the Cup Carnival.
The Emirates Stakes which will be run over 2000m is a slight step back in distance from the Cox Plate which is raced over the iconic 2040m Moonee Valley course but bookmakers don’t feel that will be any issue for her installing her as the $1.60 favourite in early Emirates Stakes markets.
Winx is set to resume in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes on August 19th.
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Winx’s current Spring campaign:
August 19 – Warwick Stakes (1400m)
September 2 – Chelmsford Stakes (1600m)
September 16 – George Main Stakes (1600m)
October 14 – either the Craven Plate (2000m) or Caulfield Stakes (2000m)
October 28 – Cox Plate (2040m)
November 11 – Emirates Stakes (2000m)