The 2018 Winx Stakes is one of the most highly-anticipated races of the Spring Carnival and there is plenty of value to be found in betting.
Winx has won the two most-recent editions of this race, formerly the Warwick Stakes and contest at Group 2 level, and she has interestingly drifted in betting since markets opened on Wednesday; currently available at a $1.23 quote in the market.
The champion mare has won an incredible 25-consecutive races since taking out the 2015 edition of the Sunshine Coast Guineas; a winning streak that now spans more than three years, 18 Group 1 feature races and three-consecutive Cox Plates.
Remaining atop the world’s racehorse ratings leading into the 2018 Spring Carnival and bid for a record-breaking fourth win in Australia’s premier weight-for-age championship, Winx will jump from barrier 5 in her namesake race and will be ridden by regular hoop Hugh Bowman.
Godolphin colt Kementari was a late nominee for Saturday’s Group 1 and has continued to receive plenty of interest in 2018 Winx Stakes betting; firming into $9 second-favouritism.
Kementari has been a strong and consistent performer throughout his entire racing career so far, but he has returned to the track in career-best form in 2018 and is capable of giving Winx a real scare under the conditions of this race.
The Lonhro entire won each of the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) upon resuming in spring, before returning a smart performance for third behind Winx in the Group 1 George Ryder (1500m) – his first venture into open company.
Having returned to the paddock after a lacklustre performance in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m), Kementari flew home to finish a close-up second in the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago and will appreciate the increase in trip that he gets in the Winx Stakes 2018.
Interestingly figuring as the only other horse currently available at Winx Stakes odds of less-than $100, D’Argento ($26) is probably the only other horse in this field capable of shocking the equine superstar.
A winner of his first three career starts upon debuting in July last year and resuming in January this year, D’Argento experienced something of a meteoric rise to prominence and ran on well for third over this trip in the Hobartville Stakes second-up in autumn.
Failing to maintain to the line when he finished mid-pack in the Randwick Guineas, the So You Think entire stormed home to win the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before ending his campaign fourth in the Doncaster Mile.
He’s trialled fairly in the lead-up to the Winx Stakes and has the bonus of James McDonald in the saddle but may need the run to find peak condition.
The remainder of the 2018 Winx Stakes field are available at huge odds, ranging out to rank outsider Oriental Runner at 301/1.