Winx's half-brother El Divino will line-up in the G2 Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield
On the same day champion Winx takes centre stage in her return to racing at Randwick, her younger half-brother El Divino could also chase a feature race win in Melbourne.
El Divino is entered for Saturday’s Group Two Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield which will be run 15 minutes after Winx resumes in Sydney in the Apollo Stakes.
But El Divino’s trainer Darren Weir said the colt’s owners would decide whether he runs or waits a week for a crack at the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
El Divino, who dead-heated with Astern to win the Kindergarten Stakes as a two-year-old last year, started his career with Gai Waterhouse before being transferred to Weir ahead of his current campaign.
He ran a close second in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) at Flemington in his first start for Weir last month and Victoria’s premier trainer said the three-year-old was ready to go on Saturday if connections decide to head that way.
“He’s in great shape. Obviously I’ll have to talk to the owners to see whether they’re keen to still run in this race,” Weir said on Thursday.
“The Lightning is an option as well next week. So I’ll have a chat to the owners and see which way they go.
“He’s probably a little fitter than Hellbent at this stage of the preparation.”
The Rubiton features the return of star sprinter Chautauqua who is the $2.40 favourite while El Divino’s stablemate Hellbent, who has the Oakleigh Plate later this month as his main aim, is at $5.
Wild Rain is at $5.50 and El Divino is at $6.
