The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) field is littered with previous Group 1 winners, but the Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket has been the one who has been best backed since final field markets opened on Wednesday morning.
The 2023 Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner returns to the track for the first time as a four-year-old, and with a record of seven wins from 11 starts, punters are hoping he can return a winner.
Having opened at a $13 quote with horse racing bookmakers, the three-time Group 1 winner is now listed as an $8.50 chance on the fourth line of betting with Picklebet.
The son of American Pharoah was a dominant winner first-up last campaign over 1400m in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes when disposing of a handy field at Flemington.
Watch Riff Rocket win the 2024 CS Hayes Stakes
Truth be told, Chris Waller dominates the Winx Stakes betting markets, with a strong hand of six for the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season.
Fangirl won the 2023 Winx Stakes and is set to have her first start since finishing second in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) on March 2.
Having opened as a $2.10 favourite, punters are happy to keep her Fangirl safe in betting, with the mare a $2.20 favourite.
Watch Fangirl win the 2023 Winx Stakes
Stablemate Via Sistina made a strong impressions during her initial Australian campaign during the Sydney autumn, winning stylishly in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), before finishing a distant second to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Quoted at $5.50 when markets opened, bookies have pushed the mare out a full point to a $6.50 quote, with that price likely to drift further with the former European tending to her best work over a mile and beyond.
Watch Via Sistina win the Ranvet Stakes
Group 1 winners Tropical Squall and Zougotcha have both stuck firm at a $9 quote, with the pair expected to play prominent roles in Handicap events throughout the Sydney spring, whilst Semana ($13) and Detonator Jack ($19) will be looking to build on impressive autumn campaigns.
Atishu ($26) is the best of the rest, whilst Just Fine ($27), Zardozi ($34), Buckaroo ($71) and Zeyrek ($126) are all looking to use the Group 1 as somewhat of paid barrier trial as they look to step up in trip as their campaigns roll on.
2024 Winx Stakes Final Field
1. Buckaroo (8)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Joshua Parr
- W: 59kg
- F: x6535
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fastnet Rock
- Dam: Roheryn (IRE)
+1200
2. Detonator Jack (2)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 59kg
- F: x8263
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Jakkalberry (IRE)
- Dam: Red Delicious (NZ)
+270
3. Zeyrek (3)
- T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- J: Reece Jones
- W: 59kg
- F: x9269
- Age: 8YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam: Zerkaza (IRE)
+2000
4. Just Fine (4)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Rachel King
- W: 59kg
- F: x58x0
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam: Bint Almatar (USA)
+450
5. Riff Rocket (12)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Nash Rawiller
- W: 58.5kg
- F: x1131
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: American Pharaoh (USA)
- Dam: Missile Coda
+145
6. Fangirl (9)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: James McDonald
- W: 57kg
- F: x21x4
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Sebring
- Dam: Little Surfer Girl
-333.33
7. Via Sistina (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Kerrin McEvoy
- W: 57kg
- F: x21x2
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Fastnet Rock
- Dam: Nigh (IRE)
+110
8. Atishu (10)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Tyler Schiller
- W: 57kg
- F: x2318
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: Posy (NZ)
+450
9. Zougotcha (6)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 57kg
- F: x111x
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Zoustar
- Dam: Fast Talker
+160
10. Semana (5)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Dylan Gibbons
- W: 57kg
- F: x20x3
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Winning Rupert
- Dam: Festivity
+220
11. Tropical Squall (11)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Adam Hyeronimus
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x641x
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Prized Icon
- Dam: Squalls
+135
12. Zardozi (1)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x2310
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Kingman (GB)
- Dam: Chanderi (GB)
+550
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