Winx stars in Colgate Optic White at Randwick

As an appetizer to the big weekend of racing in Europe and North America, Winx gets the ball rolling in Australia late Friday night (1:10 a.m. EDT) in the Colgate Optic White (G1) at Randwick.

Fresh off breaking Black Caviar’s consecutive win record in her comeback in, what else, the newly renamed Winx S. (G1), the world’s top-rated horse is set to extend her streak to 27. Winx enters as the two-time defending champion of the metric mile feature, historically known as the George Main, and a three-peat would increase her career Group 1 tally to 20.

Trainer Chris Waller, who sends out five of the eight runners, expects nothing less than her typical effort from the supermare. Regular rider Hugh Bowman will steer Winx, #6 in the program, from post 3.

Her Australian Oaks (G1)-winning stablemate, #8 Unforgotten (15-1), moved forward from a sneaky sixth first up in the Winx to defeat #5 Ace High (25-1) in the course-and-distance Chelmsford (G2) on September 1 and rates best of the rest. The three remaining Waller representatives are #7 Egg Tart (25-1), a multiple Group 1 heroine racing herself into shape after a fifth in the Tramway (G2); #4 Religify (80-1), unplaced behind Winx and Unforgotten this preparation; and #2 Who Shot Thebarman (80-1), the venerable stayer just shaking off the cobwebs for his 10-year-old campaign.

Aside from the classy Ace High, hero of last season’s Victoria Derby (G1) and Spring Champion (G1) for trainer David Payne, the others not from Waller’s yard are Kris Lees’ #1 Le Romain (9-1) and Godolphin’s #3 It’s Somewhat (80-1). Le Romain, a multiple Group 1 veteran, made a winning return under top weight of 134 pounds in the August 18 Show County H. (G3) before tiring to seventh in the Tramway. It’s Somewhat, whose signature score came in the 2017 Doncaster H. (G1) at this track and trip, was seventh behind Unforgotten and Ace High in his Chelmsford reappearance for James Cummings.

For more details, check out the free Australian past performances in the handicapping section courtesy of Brisnet, and tune in at 1:10 a.m. (EDT) to watch!

Winx photo courtesy of Australian Turf Club via Twitter