An interruption to Winx’s campaign is of no concern to trainer Chris Waller.
After a comprehensive win over Hartnell in the Warwick Stakes, Winx missed a scheduled start in the Chelmsford Stakes because Waller did not want to risk her on a heavy track.
The champion mare is again likely to have only a few rivals when she runs in Saturday’s Group One George Main Stakes at Randwick before she heads to Melbourne.
“We planned her program so that she could miss a race if she had to,” Waller said.
“She is fine. She is fit enough and I have no concerns.”
Winx was an eye-catching third in a 1000m-barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Friday and will have her final lead-up gallop at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Her stablemates Spiritjim and Storm The Stars will be entered for the George Main (1600m) with the latter third in the Chelmsford won in dominant fashion by Hartnell who lines up in the Hill Stakes (2000m).
Japanese horse Tosen Stardom will run in the George Main Stakes with her owners, Australian Bloodstock, keen to see how he measures up against Winx ahead of another possible clash in the Cox Plate.
Hartnell’s John O’Shea-trained stablemate Hauraki, winner of the Tramway Stakes on September 3, runs in the George Main on his way to the Epsom Handicap.
Hauraki has been placed four times in Group One races including a third behind Winx in the Chipping Norton Stakes in autumn.
Waller will take on Hartnell in the Hill Stakes with Preferment, Who Shot Thebarman and Grand Marshal who are all on a Cups campaign.
O’Shea has not committed Hartnell to any races in Melbourne with the Group One Metropolitan in Sydney his preferred target.
“He is a horse that likes to get his toe in the ground and he’s more likely to get that in Sydney,” he said.
Tosen Stardom’s stablemate, the Darren Weir-trained Signoff, will also be entered for the Hill Stakes.
