For the first time in four years we’re going to witness a new winner of this race and I cannot decide whether or not that is a good thing.
Good because it makes for a far more open betting prospect, bad because the Winx Stakes’ namesake is retired, and never again will we bear witness to her majesty.
Regardless, GROUP 1 RACING IS BACK and I could not be more excited for this race and the impending Spring Racing Carnival – there is absolutely no doubt that we’re in for a cracking season.
There’s a case to be made for several, but my 2019 Winx Stakes tips can be found below.
Suggested Bets
- 2 Units on the nose #1 Avilius
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
There’s little doubt that Avilius will be even better as he gets out in trip, but his first-up record is immense, and he has a class edge over most of the horses in the 2019 Winx Stakes field. The talented Godolphin import returned to the track in typically enormous form in Autumn; winning fourth of five starts including both the Ranvet and the Tancred. Kerrin McEvoy jumps back aboard and with appropriate luck, boy he’ll be hard to beat.
I think there’s every chance that Happy Clapper could win this, but he is getting older and might just need this one to find his best again. The multiple Group 1 champion is one of, is not Australia’s favourite son. He’s certainly mine, and while he didn’t return to winning form in four starts last time, there was still a lot to like about what he did. He’s another horse that races well fresh and he’ll have the notable advantage of Hughie in the saddle, who has obviously won the three most-recent editions of the Winx Stakes.
Given the conditions of this race and the notable fitness edge she’ll have on her rivals, I also think that there’s every chance that Invincible Gem could record a maiden Group 1 victory in the Missile Stakes, and she is over the odds at $9.50. It was a long time between wins for the I Am Invincible mare, but she was excellent in autumn and ran a head second to Alizee in the Missile Stakes first-up a fortnight ago. She’s drawn the rails and isn’t without a good hope.
Eight of the ten horses in the Winx Stakes field are first-up and I’ve therefore decided to stick with the runners that are capable of a sharp performance fresh. Here’s another one; Kings Will Dream. Last year’s early Caulfield Cup favourite won each of his first five starts when debuting in Australia for Darren Weir, and continued to produce outstanding performances during a busy spring campaign. He’s had the benefit of a trial in the lead-up to this race and the $15 on offer when Winx Stakes betting opened is also overs.