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Winx Shares Trial Spotlight With Boom Stablemate

3 minute read

It’s a rare event when Winx isn’t the centre of attention but the champion mare will be sharing the spotlight at Rosehill on Tuesday.

The Autumn Sun
The Autumn Sun Picture: Racing and Sports

Winx will attract her usual media focus when she appears in her second barrier trial as she heads towards her return to racing in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 16 where she will be seeking her 30th successive win.

However there is certain to be just as much media attention given to her young stablemate The Autumn Sun when he has his first trial since he emerged as racing’s new superstar in the spring.

The pair are drawn to contest different heats over 1000m, making life easier for the media scrum covering the trials.

Winx will command the stage in the first heat for Group and Listed horses on the course proper where her rivals include the G1 winners Ace High, D’Argento and Shillelagh.

As usual Hugh Bowman, who was suspended for three meetings for careless riding at Sha Tin in Hong Kong on Sunday, will be her rider with the mare expected to step up a gear from her first trial over 900m at Rosehill on January 15 where she finished an easy seventh after being ridden quietly at the rear.

The Autumn Sun contests the second black type heat over 1000m on the course proper where his rivals include Oohood, Egg Tart, Unforgotten, Finche, Lean Mean Machine and Sandbar.

It will be interesting to see if James McDonald or Kerrin McEvoy is nominated to ride The Autumn Sun in the trial by trainer Chris Waller.

McEvoy rode The Autumn Sun in his JJ Atkins and Golden Rose wins last year before McDonald took over as his winning rider in the Caulfield Guineas, his most recent start in October before he was spelled.

The Autumn Sun is expected to resume in the G2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 23 before progressing to the $1 million Randwick Guineas on March 9.

Winx may follow Tuesday’s trial with an exhibition gallop at the Warwick Farm meeting on February 9 before she resumes.

Another Group One star who will also command her share of attention on Tuesday is last year’s Golden Slipper Stakes winner Estijaab.

She will take the first step towards her return to racing in a 900m heat for 3YO fillies.

Estijaab has not raced since her Golden Slipper victory last March, being ruled out of the spring with fitness issues after she was unplaced in a barrier trial at Rosehill in August.


Racing and Sports

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