Three-time consecutive Cox Plate winner Winx lining up against The Everest champion, and Australia’s number one sprinter, in Redzel – it’s a pretty juicy prospect by anyone’s standards.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It’s happening in a 900-metre barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday morning too, as the pair tune up for their respective autumn campaigns.
It’s a fair field outside those two as well.
Winx and Redzel, the latter is part-owned by Orange punters, will face the likes of Victoria Derby winner Ace High and Golden Rose victor Trapeze Artist, along with three of Winx’s stablemates in Comin’ Through, Endless Drama and Oklahoma Girl.
Incredibly, between them, the field for Monday’s trial has earned a staggering $28 million in prizemoney.
It’s Winx’s first public appearance since winning her third straight Cox Plate at Mooney Valley during the 2017 Spring Carnival, when she equalled Kingston Town’s long-standing record of three on the trot back in 1980, 1981 and 1982.
Trainer Chris Waller has the $250,000 Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick next month earmarked as Winx’s campaign-opener, with the $4m Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at The Championships likely to be the main target.
Waller also told Melbourne radio there’s a chance he’ll take the super mare overseas this year. Another resounding win on day two of The Championships could secure a ticket to the Royal Ascot Carnival.
“If she wins the George Ryder by three lengths, and the Queen Elizabeth by two lengths she’ll be on the plane,” Waller told RSN 927.
“She will go if she’s 100 per cent.”
Redzel, meanwhile, is targeting the $2.5m Group 1 Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 7.
With preparation from Peter and Paul Snowden, the gun sprinter should open his autumn account in the $750,000 Group 1 Black Cavier Lightning (1000m) at Flemington next month.
He’s coming off seven consecutive wins, including the inaugural $10m The Everest, the $1m Darley Classic and the $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000.
Monday’s trial jumps at 8.15am.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
