Winx primed for fourth Chipping Norton

Winx will aim for a record-equalling fourth Chipping Norton Stakes victory at Randwick.

Chris Waller says what you see with Winx is what you get and he expects to see the same in the Chipping Norton Stakes as he has the past 30 times she has been to the races.

The champion will be out to win Saturday’s Group One Chipping Norton (1600m) at Randwick for the fourth successive time, equalling Tie The Knot’s winning sequence from 1999 to 2002.

Her trainer is not taking a win for granted but knows as long as he gets her to the track fit and well, she will do the rest barring bad luck.

“What you see is what you get with her. She is just a class act,” Waller said.

“People are understanding how hard it is to win 30 in a row.

“You don’t do it by being the best horse on one day but by being the best over three or four years.

“She has overcome track conditions, barrier draws, slow starts, wide runs you name it – that’s Winx.”

The mare claimed her 30th successive win in the Apollo Stakes on February 16, beating the gallant Happy Clapper, winner of last season’s Epsom Handicap-Doncaster Mile double over the famous 1600m-course at Randwick.

The Waller stable is likely to supply most of the Chipping Norton field.

“We will nominate Patrick Erin, Egg Tart, Unforgotten, Libran, Brimham Rocks, Winx and might back up with D’Argento,” Waller said.

D’Argento finished last of 11 runners in Saturday’s Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, 6-1/2 lengths from the winner Avilius.

The Chipping Norton is expected to be the third last time Winx will grace the track with just the George Ryder and Queen Elizabeth Stakes in her diary before she is retired.

“I haven’t started counting down the days but I am counting down the runs,” Waller said.

“I’m just trying to have her the same as she has been the last 18 months, from her third Cox Plate onwards really.

“I doubt she can be even better.

“She hasn’t changed a lot. She is still dominant.

“Unless something is there to test her we will see the same horse as last preparation.”