THE SUNSHINE COAST NEWSPAPER COLUMN - WILL IT BE A THREE HORSE 'STROLL IN THE PARK' FOR WINX?

By Graham Potter | Saturday, October 8, 2016

Graham Potter writes a weekly column for the Sunshine Coast daily. Due to demand from those having trouble accessing the paper these columns are now also published on HRO courtesy of the Sunshine Coast daily.

NB The column has moved from its previous Sunday position to the Saturday newspaper and therefore will also now be published on the Saturday on HRO.

It all started at the Sunshine Coast some seventeen months ago ... on May 16, 2015 to be exact.

That was when Winx won the Sunshine Coast Guineas in truly scintillating style.

The daughter of Street Cry was ten lengths back in the early part and was actually in last place turning for home prompting commentator Alan Thomas to call, ‘Winx is last. She’ll have to come past the seventeen of them.’

Some twenty seconds later Thomas’ voice was raised in excitement. “Look at Winx! Look at Winx! She’s come from last. She’s stormed down the outside. What a win. Winx has got up in an amazing performance. That is unbelievable!’

Since that memorable day at the coast Winx has established an unbeaten sequence which currently stretches out to eleven races and includes no less than seven Group 1 wins which has helped take her earnings to just over $7 million in twenty one starts.

Such has been Winx’s rise to power that she has started at odds of less than $2 in each of her last six starts and the scenario of bookmakers not wanted to take her on has gradually seeped through to her rivals who have become increasingly reluctant to face off against her.

Two runs back Winx faced six opponents. Last time out five were pitted against her ... and today in the Ladbroke Stakes at Caulfield (Race 6) her number of opponents is down to two in a race that boasts a first prize of $360 000.

A three horse race in a Group 1 is quite unbelievable really particularly when you consider that third prize is $54 000 ... so whoever comes last still earns a healthy pay check.

Take that argument even further, fourth place is worth $27 000 and they pay down to eighth place. That means that prize money for five finishing places is being declined by those who would rather watch Winx run then run against her.

In fact an hour before final acceptances closed Winx was the only confirmed entry before Black Heart Bart and He Or She joined the line-up.

It can only be hoped for those who ducked the issue that Winx isn’t a scratching today.

Stranger things have happened and that certainly will leave those who hesitated rueing their call.

All things being equal though, Winx should go out there with an obvious, outstanding chance of extending her winning streak.

Whatever happens, those who were at the Sunshine Coast the day Winx won will always have a cherished memory of the current super star of Australian racing.

*If you are one of those looking to find a reason for Winx to come unstuck, consider this. Black Heart Bart is unbeaten at Caulfield where he has scored three wins from three starts. Winx has yet to race at the track.

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The Sunshine Coast based Group 1 winning trainer David Vandyke will be looking to add to his honour roll when Yankee Rose contests the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick today (Race 7).

Vandyke takes the filly back to the scene of her greatest triumph ... she won the Group 1 Sires Produce over 1400m at the track ... and Yankee Rose will be looking for her own piece of history today given the fact that no filly has won the Champion Stakes since its inception in 1971.

She does step up to 2000m for the first time but with three wins and two runner-up finishes from only six starts, Yankee Rose certainly has the credentials to bring this one home and score one for the Sunshine Coast.

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