Winx Stakes 2024 betting preview & tips | Saturday, August 24

The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) headlines the action at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of 12 set to line up in the $1 million feature.

11 of the 12 runners engaged are resuming in the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season, with trainer Chris Waller producing a strong hand once again with seven gallopers representing his stable, including last year’s winner, Fangirl. Can she make it back-to-back wins in the Winx Stakes? Or is there an upset brewing?

2024 Winx Stakes odds

Fangirl has been installed as a $2.00 favourite with horse racing bookmakers for the first Group 1 of the season, closely followed by stable companion Via Sistina on the second line of betting at $5.50. There’s been good early support for Zougotcha opening at $11.00 and firming into $9.50, while you can get double-figure odds for every other runner, including Tropical Squall ($10.00) and Semana ($11.00), seemingly the best of those at an each-way price.

2024 Winx Stakes speed map

There should be a genuine tempo in the Winx Stakes courtesy of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained pair of Tropical Squall (11) and Just Fine (4). The latter should clear to the front, provided Rachel King wants to put the foot down, with the stablemate likely to career across and sit outside the lead. The Ciaron Maher-trained duo of Detonator Jack (2) and Semana (5) should land in the perfect stalking positions, while the likes of Zardozi (1) and Zougotcha (6) should be prominent. Meanwhile, Fangirl (9), Via Sistina (7) and Riff Rocket (12) will all be ridden back towards the rear in search of cover.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Winx Stakes.

2024 Winx Stakes preview & form

Zougotcha deserves plenty of respect after producing an unblemished record of three starts for three wins last preparation, two of which came in Group 1 company. The five-year-old mare finally put it all together last campaign, clinging to victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill before fighting off a luckless Atishu in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf (1600m) on April 13 to cap off a faultless preparation. She returns to take on the boys after two soft barrier trials, and with a strong first-up record of five starts for three wins to her name, Zougotcha looks ready to take on Group 1 weight-for-age company.

Semana is the only galloper to bring residual fitness into this event after finishing runner-up behind Bella Nipotina in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 29. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has since had a soft four-length barrier trial victory at Warwick Farm to be kept up to the mark, and with Dylan Gibbons likely to hold a handy position throughout, punters can expect Semana to be one of the first to mount a challenge as they turn for home.

Riff Rocket was sensational first-up last preparation, giving his rivals a galloping lesson in the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 17. He came with a withering burst down the centre of the course over an unsuitable trip, careering away with the prize before going on to secure the Rosehill Guineas/ATC Australian Derby double. This is clearly a big step up in grade for the son of American Pharoah; however, if Riff Rocket can produce a similar finish on Saturday, the $13.00 available will look too big.

There’s simply no knocking Fangirl outside of the price. The Chris Waller-trained mare could prove too classy for this lot over 1400m, however, if she doesn’t get the breaks in the home straight, there could be a few heart-in-your-mouth moments for favourite backers.

2024 Winx Stakes selections & best bets

• 9
  

  ZOUGOTCHA

• 10
  

  SEMANA

• 5
  

  RIFF ROCKET

• 6
  

  FANGIRL

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)

+5000
+800

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)

+2500
+400

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)

+12500
+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)

+2000
+340

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

+1200
+220

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

+110
-384.62

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)

+450
-111.11

8. Atishu (10)

• T: Chris Waller
• J: Tyler Schiller
• W: 57kg
• F: x2318
• Age: 7YO
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Mare
• Sire: Savabeel
• Dam: Posy (NZ)

+2000
+340

9. Zougotcha (6)

• T: Chris Waller
• J: Tommy Berry
• W: 57kg
• F: x111x
• Age: 5YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Mare
• Sire: Zoustar
• Dam: Fast Talker

+850
+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

+1000
+180

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

+800
+150

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)

+2500
+400

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