By Dane Squance
Not only unbeaten in her last 20 starts, Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) is also, surprisingly, unbeaten in Melbourne and on Saturday will make her Flemington debut in the G1 Turnbull S. (2000m). With four wins over the trip, the Chris Waller-trained mare will tackle the A$500,000 race fourth-up and with a last start victory over Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}), who himself went on to claim a Group 1 at his next start in the G1 Epsom H., jockey Hugh Bowman looks ready to add another elite level victory to his record.
Right on target for her ultimate aim, recording a third consecutive G1 Cox Plate, the hardest (if there is such a thing), for Winx to defeat will be Darren Weir's last start G1 Makybe Diva S. winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}). A winner over the track and trip in the G1 Australian Cup in March, Humidor was emphatic last start over Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), and if there was no Winx on Saturday, the Damian Lane-ridden 5-year-old would be a short-priced favourite.
Holding a nomination to the G1 Melbourne Cup, the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), a multiple Group 1 winner himself, worked home well last time out over 1600m when just over five lengths from Humidor. Connections will be pleased if the 5-year-old is once again seen working home strongly into the places, but it is hard to fathom the entire defeating the top-rated pair.
Another who will need the run and is likely to be aimed towards the first Tuesday in November is Sir Isaac Newton (GB) (Galileo {GB}), a 6-year-old ace in similar connection of last year's Cup winner Almandin (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}).
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