With just seven set to face her, an 11th-straight win for Australia's latest wondermare Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) in Saturday's G1 George Main S. appears to be about as close to a sure thing as there is in racing. As the early $1.15 favourite, Winx far outpaces Godolphin's Hauraki (Aus) (Reset {Aus}) (at $10) and Japanese raider Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) ($11) on the odds board.
Of course, in racing, there are no sure things, and those looking to pick a hole in Winx's preparation could question her fitness after she scratched from her last intended outing, the G2 Chelmsford S. Sept. 3, when the track came up heavy. She therefore goes into the George Main with just one run under her girth this prep, a win in the G2 Warwick S. four weeks ago. Trainer Chris Waller, who sent out Shoot Out (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) to win the George Main first-up in 2012, is no stranger to getting horses fit, however, and he sent Winx out for a barrier trial Sept. 9, in which she finished third without being asked. Jockey Hugh Bowman dispelled any concerns after partnering the 5-year-old in a 1000-metre work on Wednesday, saying, “We're very excited about her progress since her first-up run and she's on track for the weekend. She's certainly tightened up since her first-up run and she's had trial last Friday. I thought that was a very worthwhile exercise because in the past she has been, and can be, a little fractious in the barriers, especially when she's feeling very well. For me, the fact that she's been through the barrier since her last run is a positive.”
Despite having clocked fewer miles this prep than some of her Saturday rivals, the fact is that on paper Winx far outclasses them all, and a loss would be a monumental surprise.
Japanese horses must always be respected on these shores, and Tosen Stardom made a good account of himself when fourth after seven months off in the Sept. 3 G2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam S. after being checked in deep stretch, although his main targets are likely to be over longer trips later in the season. Hauraki was the first-up winner of this course's G2 Tramway S. over 1400 metres Sept. 3, his first outing since finishing second in the G1 Doomben Cup May 21. Le Romain (Aus) (Hard Spun) is another in with a chance to hit the board, but he is also entered in the G3 Cameron H. at Newcastle on Friday and is not a certain runner.
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