Jockey Hugh Bowman is predicting another comfortable win second-up for Winx in the 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes before the autumn competition heats up for the superstar mare.
Hugh Bowman believes Winx is almost a sure thing for a 10th Group 1 win in the Chipping Norton Stakes 2017 this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Chris Wallerâs daughter of Street Cry chases down a 15th win on the trot at Royal Randwick on Saturday in the $600,000 Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m).
She comes off a superior win in the Apollo Stakes and defends the Chipping Norton Stakes title she claimed last autumn looking for a 10th Group 1 success.
The Chipping Norton Stakes field features a total of 10 runners and Waller prepares six of them.
The weight-for-age feature looks to be Winxâs for the taking and the latest Chipping Norton Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au reflect that.
She is at $1.12 for the win â or $1.14 at Enhanced Odds with Ladbrokes.com.au (T&Cs apply) â and Bowman sees no reason she wonât easily account for the likes of the John OâShea-trained Hartnell and her imported stablemate Endless Drama again after that duo ran second and third behind her in the Apollo.
“I see this race very similar to the Apollo and she should have the wood on her rivals and should have it comfortably,” Bowman told News Corp.
“It’s a bit like the other day and the only way she is going to be beaten is through bad luck or if something goes wrong and I think that is fairly obvious to everyone.â
Things get a little tougher for the flying $9.49 million earner in her final two autumn assignments however.
Following the Chipping Norton, Winx heads to Rosehill Gardens on Golden Slipper Day for the $1 million Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
She then rounds-out another prep in the $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on April 8 during Randwickâs The Championships before being freshened-up ahead of the spring where she will vie for a third Cox Plate trophy.
âI think with her next two runs competition is going to be stiffer,â Bowman added.
“I would like to think you would get more fashionable odds about her next start in the George Ryder because she will be taking on horses that are really specialist 1400m-1600m horses that are really primed for the race.
“At the moment most of her opposition are horses that are going to be better over further.”
Despite believing the Chipping Norton Stakes win on the weekend is already in the bag, Bowman still has plenty of respect for the always-honest Godolphin galloper Hartnell who is also 2017 Queen Elizabeth Stakes-bound.
“I’m always wary of Hartnell and he is obviously her main opposition most of the time but I think he is going to be more suited against us in the Queen Elizabeth myself,” Bowman said.
Hartnell has faced Winx five times for five losses and is the only other runner on Saturday along with the odds-on favourite under $10 for the win paying $8 in Chipping Norton Stakes betting.
Bowman is hoping that a bad day doesnât come up for Winx in 2017 and the mare gets every chance to run down the historic 25 straight wins record of the mighty sprinter Black Caviar.
âIf she races for long enough [it is possible],â Bowman said.
“I guess it has a lot to do with her health and wellbeing really. The form she is in at the moment it looks like she will never lose doesn’t it. But it’s a horse race and scenarios happen and it really couldn’t be further from my mind whether she can or cannot run down Black Caviar.
“Even the winning sequence right now of 14, the prizemoney record and all that stuff, for me, it’s not really important. Sure, I’ll look back at it and appreciate it but to me it’s about her health and wellbeing and making sure I do my job and enjoying her for what she is.”
To get the best 2017 Chipping Norton Stakes odds on Winx head to Ladbrokes.com.au now!