The Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a strong set of nominations for the first Group 1 event of the 2023/24 racing season.
Among the 23 nominations are 15 Group 1 winners, with Chris Waller expected to have a strong hand.
The master trainer has nine horses nominated for the Winx Stakes, an event he has claimed six times since 2010.
Leading Waller’s charge is Winx Stakes all-in favourite Fangirl, who will be chasing a second Group 1 win following a frustrating run of outs.
Since winning the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m) in March 2022, the mare has had to settle for placings in the Golden Eagle (1500m), Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) and George Ryder Stakes (1500m).
One of Waller’s main Melbourne Cup fancies, Francesco Guardi, is set to commence his spring campaign, while Montefilia will be lining up for her first start since moving from the David Payne stable.
James Cummings has just one nomination for the first Group 1 of the season, with 2022 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) winner Golden Mile looking to add another success in the race for Godolphin following Anamoe’s win in the race last year.
Zaaki is set to make his raceday return, with Jamie Kah expected to make the trip to Sydney to reunite with Annabel Neasham’s star.
Having not been seen since his win in the 2022 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), the Kerry Parker-trained Think It Over is another set to kick off his spring campaign.
The Group 1 Winx Stakes is one of five Stakes events set to be held at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
2023 Winx Stakes nominations
| # | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arapaho | Bjorn Baker |
| 2 | Attrition | Mitchell Freedman |
| 3 | Bandersnatch | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes |
| 4 | Communist | Michael Freedman |
| 5 | Duais | Edward Cummings |
| 6 | Fangirl | Chris Waller |
| 7 | Francesco Guardi | Chris Waller |
| 8 | Going Global | Chris Waller |
| 9 | Golden Mile | James Cummings |
| 10 | Hinged | Chris Waller |
| 11 | King Colorado | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 12 | Lindermann | Chris Waller |
| 13 | Major Beel | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 14 | Militarize | Chris Waller |
| 15 | Montefilia | Chris Waller |
| 16 | Mo’unga | Annabel Neasham |
| 17 | My Oberon | Annabel Neasham |
| 18 | Navajo Peak | David Payne |
| 19 | Osipenko | Chris Waller |
| 20 | Princess Grace | Chris Waller |
| 21 | Think It Over | Kerry Parker |
| 22 | Ucalledit | Kris Lees |
| 23 | Zaaki | Annabel Neasham |
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