The return of equine superstar Winx headlines the first Group 1 race day of the Spring Carnival on Saturday and there is plenty of value to be taken across the card at Royal Randwick.
Formerly known as the Warwick Stakes and run at Group 2 level, the Group 1 Winx Stakes has drawn a number of talented rivals for the three-time Cox Plate champion including Kementari and D’Argento but understandably, it is Winx that has continued to dominate the market.
The rail will be out seven metres around the entire Randwick course on Winx Stakes Day and the track is set to be rated in the ‘Good’ range.
A smart and open field of country horses has been taken for the first and there’s plenty of value to be taken.
Panzerfaust ($3.90) has continued to receive plenty of interest in betting and is set to jump favourite. The Redoute’s Choice filly is yet to finish outside the placings through three career starts and resumed this time for a smart win at Scone before finishing second at Muswellbrook last time out. This is obviously the toughest assignment of her career so far, but she is drawn ideally and has been charged with only 53kgs.
Fui San ($15) ran on well to finish third in a Highway race a fortnight ago and will be tough to beat here. The Authorized gelding typically improves with racing and will be tough to beat third-up here and at a mile.
This is a pretty even field of eleven stayers and there’s a case to be made for most, but the Chris Waller-trained Raqeeq ($3.90) has been racing well and will be tough to beat under the conditions. The son of Champs Elysees returned from a freshen-up for a credible fifth over 1500m in late June before two big runs for second and first over 2000m at Rosehill. He failed to fire last time out but still finish fourth at this track and distance and with better luck, will be right in the finish on Saturday.
Waller will saddle five of the eleven horses in this field and I’m happy to give Raqeeq another go at his current price, but wouldn’t want him a lot shorter.
Nine horses remain in the field for the third after the early scratching of Rebel Miss and Godolphin mare Almanzora has continued to receive plenty of interest in betting; firming into outright $2.55 favouritism. Almanzora returned form a long spell to finish a credible fifth over 1100m at Canterbury three weeks ago and with natural improvement, will go close in this company.
The well-bred Lightz returned to the races for a smart win at Kembla Grange and while he does face a step up in class here, can fight into the finish at long odds. The Sepoy gelding has always shown plenty of potentially without setting the racing world on fire, but he has returned a far-more furnished prospect this time and will be better with improvement.
I am happy to take on the favourite here and I will have a small each-way bet on Lightz at his current price.
Black type racing is underway from 1:50pm and nine three-year-old fillies will step out in this year’s Silver Shadow Stakes; the first step on the traditional path towards the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Golden Slipper runner-up Oohood ($2.80) will make her return to the track in this race and has opened the clear favourite in betting. Oohood did not break her maiden as a two-year-old but she also didn’t miss a place in six starts, all of which at black type level and three of which at Group 1 level. She does appear to have an edge over her rivals here and will go close on class alone.
Queensland raider Outback Barbie has received the greatest share of attention in early Silver Shadow Stakes betting and has firmed $5.50 into $4.40 at the time of publish. The Spirit Of Boom filly finished third in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at only her second career start and was decent in two Sydney autumn start; finishing third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) most recently.
This race is always a good form indicator for next month’s Golden Rose and there’s plenty of value to be taken around a number of runners in the Up And Coming Stakes field.
Encryption ($10) is by Lonhro and out of multiple Group 1 winner Guelph and with any form of improvement off his two-year-old campaign, he can salute in a race of this quality. Encryption won the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) most notably and performed admirably for sixth in both the Group 1 Inglis Sires (1400m) and Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m). He’ll strip fitter for multiple trials and will have plenty of options from the rails draw.
Irukandji ($15) will also resume in the race and could enjoy the run of the race from gate 4. The Dundeel colt showed plenty of ability through his debut campaign and won the Gorup 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) most notably.
Spin ($7.50) will carry winning form into the race and is worth consideration, while Military Zone ($5.50) has continued to receive plenty of attention in betting and has firmed into favouritism.
The former Group 2 Warwick Stakes has drawn an outstanding field, but betting is clearly dominated by the race’s namesake; eighteen-time Group 1 champion Winx ($1.26). Winx has won the two most-recent editions of this race and will obviously take a power of beating once more.
Kementari ($7.50) looms as the mighty mare’s biggest danger and there is a case to be made for the Godolphin runner. He is a proven fresh performer and broke through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) most notably in autumn. He’ll take plenty of benefit from a first-up run for second in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and will appreciate a rise in trip.
D’Argento ($21) looks to be the only other horse capable of challenging Winx here, but the Group 1 winner would obviously need to produce a career-best performance to go close.
CLICK HERE FOR EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE WINX STAKES
A couple of early scratchings has left nine horses in the field for this year’s Show County Quality and betting suggests that it’s a race in two between Le Romain ($2.75) and Siege Of Quebec ($3.10); both of whom are resuming.
Multiple Group 1 champion Le Romain is a proven first-up performer and has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to this preparation. James McDonald in the saddle is a big plus and he’ll be flying home from the inside draw.
Siege Of Quebec is yet to taste anything but success first-up and is unbeaten in two classy trials leading into this race. He takes 8kgs from Le Romain here and I am happy to give him a go at his current price.
This is one of the more open races on Winx Stakes Day and there is a case to be made for several horses, all at decent prices.
Egyptian Symbol ($5.50) failed to fire first-up, but she is a horse will plenty of ability and will improve noticeably second-up this afternoon. She took a position on-pace in the Group 2 Missile Stakes first-up and was entitled to weaken late, and she’ll face a far easier assignment amongst this company.
Luvaluva ($9.50) has continued to receive plenty of attention in betting and on class she can fight out the finish of a race like this, but she might need the run to tighten up and I am happy to watch her go around.
The field for the last is also wide open and it looms as a great opportunity to take advantage of some late value on 2018 Winx Stakes Day.
Kaonic ($4) will take plenty improvement into his second-up run here and should prove tough to beat under the conditions of this race. The son of Savabeel flew home to win with ease first-up at this track and distance and faces similar company on Saturday. Leading hoop Hugh Bowman is a big tick and he’ll be hard to hold out from an inside draw.