Chris Wallerâs dual Cox Plate winning mare Winx had opened odds-on favourite in futures betting for next autumnâs Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2017 during âThe Championshipsâ in Sydney.
Superstar mare Winx is already odds-on to win the 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in her Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival Grand Final next April. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Waller laid out early new year plans for his $9.3 million earner with a four-start campaign to culminate with a run in the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 8, 2017.
The five-year-old daughter of Street Cry was last seen making history with a record breaking eight length win in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, successfully defending her title in the Australasian weight-for-age championship.
The bookmakers are now taking no chances with the superstar who will shoot for a 14th consecutive win first-up in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 11.
In pre-nomination Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au Winx is already under $2 for the win paying $1.90 to take out the autumnâs richest race.
Waller has prepared two previous Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners with My Kingdom Of Fife (2011) and Reliable Man (2013).
The last favourite to salute for the punters in the race meanwhile was More Joyous (2012) who is one of just two Queen Elizabeth Stakes winning mares since 1987 along with the reigning champ Lucia Valentina (2016).
No other early fancies are under double-figures in futures Queen Elizabeth Stakes markets for next year with the next best in betting behind Hartnell ($11).
The John OâShea-trained Authorized six-year-old has come up against Winx four times to date, his best result producing a second in the 2016 Cox Plate.
He went on to finish a competitive third to Almandin in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and has strong Sydney form including his 2015 The BMW win.
The only other possible Queen Elizabeth Stakes runner listed under $20 at Ladbrokes.com.au is a stablemate of Winx, Wallerâs three-year-old filly Omei Sword ($17).
Only one three-year-old in over 30 years has won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney â Intergraze (1997).
A daughter of High Chaparral, Omei Sword ran second to Astern in Rosehillâs Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in September but was ruled out of another spring start due to a respiratory infection.
Other noteworthy early hopes in all-in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting include Darren Weirâs triple Group 1 winner Black Heart Bart ($26), a highly promising sibling of Criterion Comin’ Through ($26) who won Derby Dayâs Carbine Club Stakes and the reigning Caulfield Cup winning mare Jameka ($26).
The 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes nominations are set for release by Racing NSW in early February so stay tuned.
In the meantime get behind your early selections for the weight-for-age feature online through Ladbrokes.com.au â home of the $500 first time depositorâs bonus with use of the code BETBONUS (T&Cs apply / excluding NSW).
