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Gust Of Wind on history-making Cups path

3 minute read

The last horse to beat Winx will start her path towards a historic Melbourne Cup tilt in the Tramway Stakes.

Gust Of Wind.
Gust Of Wind. Picture: Racing and Sports

On the same day Winx is expected to reinforce her champion status, the last horse to beat her will begin a history-making path of her own.

It will be 511 days since Winx was last beaten when she looks for her 11th consecutive win in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

In the following race Gust Of Wind, the horse responsible for her last defeat, will resume her career in the Group Two Tramway Stakes (1400m).

The mares' careers have gone on different trajectories since last year's Australian Oaks but both are attempting to write a new chapter of racing history in spring.

While Winx looks for two Cox Plates and 15 consecutive victories, Gust Of Wind will attempt to become the first pregnant mare to win the Melbourne Cup.

Gust Of Wind finished fourth in last year's Caulfield Cup before an unlucky sixth in the Melbourne Cup in which Criterion was third.

Sir Owen Glenn has since bought Gust Of Wind who will be served next week by his stallion Criterion who is standing his first season.

Gust Of Wind had a fruitless autumn carnival which culminated in the mare pulling up lame after her last in the Epona Stakes at Rosehill in March forcing her out of the Sydney Cup.

"I knew there was something wrong with the way she was galloping," trainer John Sargent said.

"Now she's had a great break and she's heavier than she's ever been so she looks great."

Sargent said it was not uncommon for fillies and mares to have a below-par campaign during their careers.

"I've had a lot of those good three- and four-year-old fillies and they have that off-preparation," he said.

"You'll see a lot of the good ones from last year battle this year but when they finally come back to themselves they're right back at it."

Gust Of Wind is set to start in the Group One George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick in two weeks, where she is likely to meet Winx, before travelling to Melbourne for the Turnbull Stakes (2000m).

"She's quite clean winded so she'll only need three or four runs into a Melbourne or Caulfield Cup," Sargent said.

Get fixed and best tote odds on the 2016 Tramway Stakes with TopBetta

Randwick

Saturday, 03rd September 2016

8
16:30
(local)

Tattersalls Club Tramway Stks (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN
AUD $177,000
1400m TURF HEAVY
8
16:30
(local)
AUD $177,000
1400m HEAVY

Tattersalls Club Tramway Stks (G2)

Age: 3yo and up Type: OPEN

Hauraki was an impressive first up winner. He was ridden quietly by James McDonald and settled in second last place in the ninehorse field, before switching between runners nearing the home turn. He went to fifth at the 200m, sprinted quickly to take the lead at the 50m and then went on to score a smart win. He looks set for really good preparation. Le Romain raced in fifth place on the rails, got through on the inner on straightening, hit the front at the 200m and then fought well for a good second, just finding the winner a bit too good. Dibayani raced outside the leader (Sons Of John), got the better of that runner at the 200m and then battled on nicely for a sound third at his second run this preparation. It’s Somewhat was a handy fourth to the home turn and held on quite well for (2 lengths) fourth at his first run from a spell, while Happy Clapper was sixth, one off the rails, and kept making ground for (2.6 lengths) fifth in a pleasing first-up effort.

FP Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. HAURAKI (AUS) 5yo G
RESET (AUS) - YOUTHFUL PRESENCE (AUS)
JAMES MCDONALD
JOHN O'SHEA
$13
57kg
Godolphin
2nd 1. LE ROMAIN (AUS) 4yo G
HARD SPUN (USA) - MIGNARD (AUS)
KERRIN MCEVOY
KRIS LEES
$4.5
58kg
A Carusi, A P Agius, L Nicaj, A Labbozzetta, G Serratore, J Altamura, Miss M Bilusic & Mrs S Livaja
3rd 9. DIBAYANI (IRE) 6yo G
SHAMARDAL (USA) - DIBIYA (IRE)
BLAKE SHINN
D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG
$4
55kg
Lucky Racing Syndicate (Mgr: R C S Ng)
4th 4. IT'S SOMEWHAT (USA) 5yo G
DYNAFORMER (USA) - SOMETIME (IRE)
TIM CLARK
JOHN O'SHEA
$9
57kg
5th 2. HAPPY CLAPPER (AUS) 6yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - BUSKING (AUS)
BRENTON AVDULLA
PATRICK WEBSTER
$8.5
57kg
6th 7. SONS OF JOHN (AUS) 6yo G
ORATORIO (IRE) - MOUNTAIN ECHO (AUS)
JEFF PENZA
JASON ATTARD
$12
56kg
7th 5. SADLER'S LAKE (AUS) 5yo G
HIGH CHAPARRAL (IRE) - MINGSHAN (AUS)
HUGH BOWMAN
CHRIS WALLER
$7
56.5kg

Sales Information

8th 10. COSMIC CUBE (NZ) 6yo G
DEHERE (USA) - SO KEEN (NZ)
TYE ANGLAND
CHRIS WALLER
$9
55kg
9th 6. GUST OF WIND (NZ) 5yo M
DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) - STARRYSTARRYNIGHT (IRE)
JOSH PARR
J G SARGENT
$41
56kg

Sales Information

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