Winx tries to make it 20 straight wins in Colgate Optic White Stakes
Winx, the reigning Australian Horse of the Year, was the 1-10 favorite in future-book betting Wednesday to win her 20th consecutive start in Saturday’s Group 1 Colgate Optic White Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse outside of Sydney.
Her biggest threat in the one-mile turf race is likely to come from stablemates also trained by Chris Waller, notably Foxplay.
Winx has won 23 of 29 starts in her career. In her two wins since a break through the Australian winter, Winx has tested the patience of her backers with dramatic rallies.
On Aug. 19, Winx won her first start in four months in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes, closing furiously beat Foxplay by a head after a poor start.
On Sept. 2, Winx closed from sixth to catch runaway leader Red Excitement in the final 50 yards to win the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes by a length. Ridden by regular rider Hugh Bowman, Winx closed from about six lengths off the pace.
Red Excitement, trained by Gerald Ryan, also is part of the field for the $399,000 Optic White Stakes, which was previously known as the George Main Stakes.
The Optic White Stakes has a post time of 1:15 a.m. Eastern on Saturday, or 10:15 p.m. Pacific on Friday.
A 6-year-old mare by Street Cry, Winx began her winning streak in May 2015.
Winx, considered the world’s highest-rated turf runner, has won six races this year. The main goal this fall for Winx is a third consecutive win in the Group 1 Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles on turf Oct. 28 at Moonee Valley Racecourse. The Cox Plate is Australia’s top weight-for-age race.
Aside from Foxplay and Winx, Waller trains the outsiders McCreery and Mackintosh.
Foxplay is one of three females in the field along with Winx and Heavens Above. Foxplay, a 4-year-old filly by Foxwedge, won the Group 1 Queen of the Turf Stakes at a mile at Randwick in April.
Red Excitement is likely to set the pace. An 8-year-old gelding, Red Excitement has won 13 of 45 starts. Saturday’s race will be his Group 1 debut.