Super star mare Winx has drawn barrier three in her 2019 Autumn Carnival opener in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx, above, has drawn barrier 3 in the 2019 Apollo Stales at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx, with Hugh Bowman in the saddle again, is resuming from a spell and chasing her thirtieth successive win in the eight horse Apollo Stakes field that also includes five of her stablemates, Patrick Erin (barrier 4), Tom Melbourne (barrier 6), Brimham Rocks (barrier 5), Unforgotten (barrier 8) and Egg Tart (barrier 7).
The Pat Webster trained Happy Clapper is also resuming from a spell and has drawn the inside gate with Sam Clipperton to ride.
The 2017 Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia from the stables of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, makes up the final place in the Apollo Stakes field.
Aloisia has drawn barrier two with Tim Clark taking the ride.
Winx has had two barrier trials in preparation for her return to the race track after winning her fourth straight Group 1 $5m Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Regular ride Hugh Bowman was aboard Winx in her two recent trials at Rosehill that produced a seventh and a third and the champion hoop was also in charge when the mighty mare went through her paces in a special exhibition gallop at Randwick last Saturday morning.
Winx was matched up against her stablemate Egg Tart in a specially convened gallop on the course proper and the world’s number one race horse warmed up the afterburners to claim victory at the end of the hit out.
Bowman said that he could feel the mare’s mighty engine roaring but didn’t push the throttle to full as Winx went through her gears down the Randwick straight.
“In her trials she does tend to look after herself but judging on what I felt this morning I’m looking forward to the race next Saturday,” Bowman said
“She really put the afterburners on this morning. Although I didn’t let her use them, I certainly felt them.”
“I hadn’t felt that will to go and attack the line this preparation until this morning because she’s done all her work on her own at Rosehill.
“At home on her own she can get a little bubbly, when she comes into the public eye she takes in all in her stride and I would have to say she likes the attention.’’
The final field for the 2019 Apollo Stakes (1400m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2x1213x75x | HAPPY CLAPPER | Patrick Webster | Sam Clipperton | 1 | 59kg | 118 |
| 2 | 14656x641x | PATRICK ERIN (NZ) | Chris Waller | Sam Wheaterley | 4 | 59kg | 106 |
| 3 | 22x332222x | BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) | Chris Waller | Jay Ford | 5 | 59kg | 103 |
| 4 | 8x260408x1 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | Chris Waller | Glyn Schofield | 6 | 59kg | 102 |
| 5 | x111x1111x | WINX | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 3 | 57kg | 132 |
| 6 | 0121x6138x | UNFORGOTTEN | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 8 | 57kg | 109 |
| 7 | 521x53330x | EGG TART | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 7 | 57kg | 107 |
| 8 | 768x83002x | ALOISIA (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Tim Clark | 2 | 57kg | 105 |
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