Winx Stakes Tips - Runner-by-Runner Guide for the Randwick Group 1
- Winx Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the season at Royal Randwick
- Race features top-quality horses, including champions like Tulloch and Winx
- Top picks: 1st Via Sistina, 2nd Fangirl, 3rd Riff Rocket, 4th Zougotcha
The Winx Stakes is the first Group 1 of the racing calendar, run over 1400m at Royal Randwick at weight-for-age.
The first Group 1 of the new racing season is finally upon us with the Winx Stakes the starting point for the spring for many Group 1 quality horses.
First run in 1923, the race has been won by some champion horses including Tulloch (1957), Kingston Town (1980,81,82) and the mare herself Winx (2016,17,18).
We’ve gone through every runner and our thoughts and top four selections can be found below.
1.Buckaroo (8)
Has yet to win since arriving in Australia but did manage a placing in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes behind Via Sistina during the autumn.
He kick started that campaign over 1400m in the Apollo Stakes but was 3.2 lengths off Fangirl on that occasion.
Doesn’t seem up to the highest level of racing in this country and I’m not predicting he will feature in a race with a lot of quality horses.
2.Detonator Jack (2)
Placed twice from four runs during the autumn and winter months but was beaten just two lengths in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile on a heavy track.
Does handle all surfaces, and a recent trial was impressive but this seems too tough an ask at weight-for-age.
3.Zeyrek (3)
All of his best performances have been over a further distance and he is yet to place from eight starts at Group 1 level.
4.Just Fine (4)
Put together a string of wins when working up through the grades but once he got to the top level he has been found out a bit.
Was beaten by over 20 lengths in two starts during the autumn and they will be too sharp for him over this distance.
5.Riff Rocket (14)
Proved himself the dominant three-year-old staying horse during last season which was evident with wins in the Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby.
Has won three times first up from as many attempts including the C.S Hayes over 1400m fresh last campaign.
This is a big ask but his class will take him a long way.
6.Fangirl (9)
She’s won over $7 million in prizemoney on the track and is proving herself a very expensive broodmare prospect the more she races.
Won the Group 2 Apollo Stakes during a short autumn campaign and has missed a place only once in seven first up starts.
Four of her eight wins have been at 1400m and two trials leading into this first up assignment will have ready to perform fresh.
7.Via Sistina (7)
There may not be a more exciting prospect leading into the spring than this seven-year-old mare who burst onto the Australian racing scene by winning the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes in the autumn.
You can forget the Queen Elizabeth Stakes run when all the jockeys were caught napping when Pride Of Jenni led by 30 lengths and her two trials have been okay leading into this.
She will likely be in front of Fangirl rounding the turn and I think she can record another Group 1 win first up.
8.Atishu (10)
A two-time Group 1 winner in her own right, she was only narrowly denied in the Australian Cup and Queen Of The Turf during the autumn.
It usually takes her a few starts to get into her prep but she can not be discounted especially at double figure odds.
9.Zougotcha (6)
There were none more impressive horses during the Sydney autumn than this mare winning three of three, two at Group 1 level.
Chris Waller has done a fantastic job at placing this mare and she has a will to win like few other.
I love that he has thrown her straight into the deep end to start this prep but he’s facing a couple of high quality mares that are proven against the boys.
10.Semana (5)
Another consistent mare that has performed with aplomb against her own sex for a while now.
Found one better in the form of Bella Nipotina in the Tatt’s Tiara but should hold some residual fitness from her winter campaign.
Has missed the top two just once from eight goes at 1400m and drawn to get a lovely run in transit.
11.Tropical Squall (11)
Really excited to see this now -four-year-old mare compete against as an older horse in the spring.
She is a horse that gives her all every time she is asked and she wasn’t beaten far when competing against the older mares as a three-year-old.
Has won both her trials leading into this you can expect a forward showing at a nice price.
12.Zardozi (1)
Beat the boys in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill and then placed twice at group 1 level to close out her autumn campaign.
Her targets will come later in the spring but she has a turn of foot that means she could be competitive over this shorter distance given a soft run in transit.
Verdict
SELECTIONS
1st: No. 7 Via Sistina
2nd: No. 6 Fangirl
3rd: No. 5 Riff Rocket
4th: No. 9 Zougotcha
Via Sistina
Each-Way
@6/1 - 2 Units
Racing Specialist with keenest odds
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