Champion mare Winx begins road to fourth Cox Plate in star-studded trial featuring bad boy Chautauqua

THE racing world will stop at 8.15am on Monday morning when mighty mare Winx kicks off her pursuit of a historic fourth Cox Plate in a star-studded Rosehill trial which has consequences beyond her own campaign.

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The “grey flash” Chautauqua is also listed to jump in the talent-filled 10-horse dash over 900m in what looms as the six-time Group 1 winner’s last chance to resume his racing career.

In an extraordinary assembling of horseflesh, only two of the runners in the early morning jump-out haven’t won a Group 1.

There are 32 split between the rest of the field, including Winx’s 18.

The combined prizemoney of the 10 starters is a touch over $40 million and the usual throng which assembles to witness every move of Winx is likely to swell considerably.

It’s just under 100 days until the 2018 Cox Plate where Winx is already a $1.50 TAB favourite to become the first horse ever to secure the race for a fourth time.

Trainer Chris Waller has also entered this year’s Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento, which is on the third line of Cox Plate betting at $21, in Monday’s trial.

Waller has already confirmed Winx, the world’s highest rated horse with 25 consecutive wins, will have two trials before resuming racing in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 18 at Randwick.

Despite her run of victories, Winx has only ever won two trials and the assembled field on Monday morning will probably ensure that record remains in place.

But Winx won’t be getting all the attention as Chautauqua needs to leave the gates successfully to get approval of stewards to keep racing.

Tommy Berry and Chautauqua (grey) settle at the rear during a barrier trial at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images

The seven-year-old gelding finally left the barriers in a jumpout at Flemington last week after four failed attempts earlier this year left the Hawkes training team unsure if he would race on.

Ridden by Tommy Berry, who flew in from Hong Kong just for the occasion, Chautauqua ticked one box but is required to pass a second barrier test to be reinstated.

If he does as expected, Chautauqua will likely head to the Group 2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 4 and hope to gain a slot in the $13 million The Everest in October.

ROSEHILL 900m TRIAL
Monday 8.15am
Group & Listed
ACE HIGH — David Payne
CHAUTAUQUA — Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
CLASSIC UNIFORM — Gary Moore
D’ARGENTO — Chris Waller
DOTHRAKI — Peter & Paul Snowden
KEMENTARI — James Cummings
SHE WILL REIGN — Gary Portelli
TAKEDOWN — Gary Moore
UNFORGOTTEN — Chris Waller
WINX — Chris Waller

Single Gaze and regular rider Kathy O’Hara. Picture: Getty Images

GAZE INTO THE FUTURE

As anticipation grows in the lead-up to Winx’s appearance in a barrier trial, her trainer Chris Waller is keen to get a guide on the prospects of new stable acquisition Single Gaze.

Before Winx runs in a 900m trial at Rosehill on Monday, Single Gaze runs over 800m at Warwick Farm on Friday.

Formerly trained in Canberra by Nick Olive, Single Gaze was recently bought by Japanese racing supremo Katsumi Yoshida.

With the northern hemisphere breeding season beginning early next year, Yoshida has decided to test the mare for a spring campaign.

Single Gaze will be ridden in the trial by Kathy O’Hara who has been her jockey for most of her career including her Group 1 triumph in the 2016 Vinery Stud Stakes and her second in last year’s Caulfield Cup.

“I will rely on Kathy to say how she is going,” Waller said. “It is common sense. From what I’ve seen Single Gaze is well but we will make sure before she races again.”

Friday’s heat for Group 1 and 2 horses also features the Waller-trained Randwick Guineas winner D’Argento and Godolphin’s Group 1-winning filly Alizee.