Equine superstar Winx leads an impressive eight-horse 2017 Warwick Stakes field; the feature race at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday afternoon.
Winx leads a talented field of eight for Saturday’s Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos
Winx will be seeking an eighteenth-consecutive win when she takes her place in the 2017 Warwick Stakes field and has trialled extremely well in the lead-up to her competitive return.
Resuming in autumn for a dominant win in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m), the Street Cry mare progressed to a comfortable victory in the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), before handing some of the carnival’s best horses a seven-length defeat in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
Last seen dominating the major Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships, Winx should just win the Warwick Stakes on Saturday and is drawn ideally in barrier 2, with regular hoop Hugh Bowman aboard.
Trainer Chris Waller is set to launch a multi-pronged attack in the feature race after also confirming Antonio Giuseppe and Foxplay in the 2017 Warwick Stakes field.
A noted stayer, Antonio Giuseppe will undoubtedly improve with racing this time, but he is capable of a smart first-up run and is not without a hope of finishing in the Warwick Stakes first three.
Posting four-consecutive wins last spring before ending his campaign second in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m), the Shocking gelding resumed this year for a smart win in the James Ruse Handicap (1500m).
Running second in the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) second-up, Antonio Giuseppe placed fourth in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), but failed to fire in the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) most recently on April 1st.
Foxplay broke through for a maiden win at the highest level at her most-recent start and has drawn ideally into the Warwick Stakes field in barrier 3 and with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
Resuming in autumn for second in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), Foxplay ran fourth in the Group 2 Surround Stakes (1400m) before returning to winning form in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) following an extremely tough run in transit.
Fourth in her first attempt at 2000m in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes, the Foxwedge filly strode clear of her rivals in the final straight at Randwick to win the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) on April 8th.
Inference also posted a maiden win at the highest level during his Autumn Carnival campaign and figures as a genuine first-three contender under the conditions of the Warwick Stakes.
Closing out his 2016 campaign third behind Prized Icon and Sacred Elixir in the Group 1 Victorian Derby (2500m), Inference resumed this year for fifth in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) before storming home to win the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).
Second in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m), Inference was last seen finishing mid-pack in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) during The Championships.
Gerald Ryan-trained stable mates Red Excitement and Harper’s Choice have also been confirmed in the 2017 Warwick Stakes field, while Ecuador and Allergic complete the classy field.
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