No drama as Winx enters her comfort zone

International racing is dominated this weekend by the Australian colossus Winx, who is confidently expected to register her 19th consecutive win when she lines up for the G1 Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick in Sydney.

Last time, in a 1,400m G2 race, Winx fluffed her lines at the start, missing the break by four lengths. She then had to do it the hard way, circling the entire field before nailing victory right on the line with a last gasp surge of power.

The move up in trip this time, to 1,600m (one mile), makes it much easier for the amazing mare, especially as she is facing a maximum of 11 rivals, all of whom are rated many lengths behind her  on official figures.

The zone from one mile (1,600m) to a mile and a quarter (2,000m) offers supreme comfort for Winx, and the daughter of ill-fated Street Cry, a former Darley stallion, can go about her business without any major worries.

Her regular jockey Hugh Bowman has publicly expressed concern about Winx’s occasional tardiness at the start, but, equally, his experience in knowing her so well, means he never panics if there are many lengths to make on the leaders.

In fact, his cool head left the great mare unflustered and allowed her to gather herself and then produce such a power-packed finish.

Crowds will gather, at Randwick in the stands, and around TVs, iPads and mobile phones worldwide, setting a pattern for the months ahead in Sydney, Melbourne and the global racing village.

Winx is a champion, who is steadily working towards gaining official recognition as the best racehorse in the world. The Chelmsford is another stepping stone, while the Cox Plate on October 28 could be the crowning achievement.

Once again, there are a variety of big international races this weekend, all worthy of recognition and comment. One in particular, the G1 Grosser Preis Von Baden, brings together two very smart German horses, old rivals Guignol and Iquitos, plus the Godolphin duo Best Solution and Prize Money.

The Saeed bin Suroor-trained Best Solution finished an encouraging second to Iquitos in the G1 Dallmayer-Preis, over 2,000m on July 30, with stablemate Prize Money sixth in the same race. A field of seven will line up for this historic German race.

 

Quartet of Godolphin juveniles at Chantilly on Sunday

Four Charlie Appleby-trained two year-olds run at Chantilly, France, on Sunday, September 3.

Dual Listed winner Sound And Silence goes in the five-furlong G3 Prix d’Arenberg with James Doyle in the saddle

The son of Exceed And Excel was successful in the Listed Windsor Castle Stakes over five furlongs at Royal Ascot on June 20. After finishing 11th in the G2 July Stakes over a furlong further at Newmarket on July 13, he bounced right back to form when reverting to five furlongs in the Listed Roses Stakes at York on August 26.

Sound And Silence, who is drawn in stall four, faces six rivals including Listed scorer Rioticism.

The trainer said: “We were delighted with Sound And Silence’s performance at York, where he won carrying a penalty.

“He has come out of that race very well and, as long as the conditions don’t ease any further, we would be hopeful that he will be a player at Chantilly. He deserves to take the step up to G3 company.”

Stage Magic, also ridden by James Doyle, lines up in the mile G3 Prix des Chenes. The Dark Angel colt won over seven furlongs at Newbury on July 21 before going down by a short-head to Francesco Bere in a Listed contest over a mile at Deauville on August 19.

“Stage Magic just got touched off last time in a Listed race at Deauville.

“Ease in the ground will suit him and a repeat performance of his latest run should put him bang there.”

The four other starters in the Prix des Chenes include Olmedo and Diamond Vendome, who were both successful on their only start.

Fillies Expressiy and Wild Illusion both go to post in the mile G3 Prix d’Aumale. Wild Illusion, a daughter of Dubawi, triumphed on her debut when a comfortable winner of a mile novice race at Yarmouth on August 22, while Expressiy scored in a similar event over seven furlongs at Newmarket on August 25, having finished third on debut at Ascot on July 28.

“Expressiy won last time out at Newmarket and did it nicely. She has come of that run well and will be suited by ease in the ground and the step up to a mile. 

“Wild Illusion won impressively on her first start at Yarmouth over a mile, so she is proven at the trip. She has also come out of her race well and hopefully we are going into the Prix d’Aumale with two live chances.”

James Doyle rides Wild Illusion, with Mickael Barzalona aboard Expressiy. The three other starters include Efaadah and Soustraction, who were first and second respectively in an extended seven furlong maiden at Deauville on August 8.

Godolphin is also represented on Sunday’s card at Chantilly by three-year-old filly Val De Marne (Andre Fabre/Mickael Barzalona), who takes the step up to Listed level in the extended 10-furlong Prix de Liancourt.

fonte : Godolphin