Champion mare Winx will not back-up from her Doncaster Mile win in this Saturdayâs 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes trainer Chris Waller informed Racing NSW after her track work on Tuesday morning.
Original odds-on favourite Winx will not accept into the 2016 Queen Elizabeth Stakes field this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
The superstar daughter of Street Cry overcame all the odds in the $3 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) to salute for the punters making it nine consecutive wins.
The Doncaster Mile was her sixth elite level title and took her overall career record to 13 wins from 19 starts for an incredible $6.67 million in prize money.
Winx had to do all the work under 56.5kg, a new weight carrying record for a four-year-old mare in the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival classic, and had far from an easy run getting caught in traffic and doing it tough on the Soft (6) track.
Still, class reigned supreme on the day and Winx remained undefeated since her second to Gust Of Wind in last Aprilâs Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m).
Original plans for her this campaign were to target the autumnâs richest race with a run in this weekendâs $4 million Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) back at weight-for-age and back at Royal Randwick.
While Winx pulled through her Doncaster run without any major issues, Waller and connections have decided not to test her on the quick back-up and instead ensure the longevity of the champion.
She will bypass the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, final acceptances closing at 9am (AEST) on Tuesday morning, and instead head to the paddock for a well-earned rest.
“We are a little concerned that the winning run in the Doncaster Handicap did require a lot of effort which is hard to quantify but visibly looking at her this morning I as the trainer can see a horse that although she is at 90 per cent we don’t feel she is 100 per cent of her normal self,” Wallerâs statement on Tuesday morning said.
“She is a horse that has exceptional talent but I feel she only has this talent due to the amount of effort she puts into her races and expecting her to back up after a tough run in the Doncaster in a seven day period and running against a 2000m weight for age field would just be expecting too much of a horse that puts so much determination into her races.
“I am very mindful that the public do want to see her race on Saturday, but it is more important that the public get to see her race next preparation and beyond.”
The talented four-year-old could race again on April 16 however in the $600,000 Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) over less distance.
All-in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting at bookmakers around the country was suspended after the announcement regarding Winxâs non-acceptance.
She returns in the spring and will likely follow a similar path to that of her 2015 end-of-year campaign.
Winx had three spring runs after her successful winter in Brisbane that saw her break her Group 1 maiden with an impressive three and a half length win in the Queensland Oaks (2200m).
She added to her Group 1 tally taking out Randwickâs Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney in early October before traveling to Moonee Valley for Australasiaâs weight-for-age championship, making history with a nearly five length victory in the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
Her other Group 1 victories before last weekendâs Doncaster came second and third-up this season in the Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on February 27 and the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 19.
Winx already sits as the dominant $4 favourite in futures 2016 Cox Plate betting for this October.
Waller is still set to saddle-up this yearâs Queen Elizabeth Stakes top fancy with last start The BMW winner Preferment looking to make it three Group 1 wins on the trot.
Stay tuned for the official Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2016 field and barriers out shortly.
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