Winx May Not Have Rated Highly But Her Sectional Times Were Impressive
Her first up win in the Warwick Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Randwick on 19 August received a rating of 118p by Timeform and she matched that assessment with her late-closing victory in Saturday’s Chelmsford Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m).
Those ratings are 16 pounds under Winx’s lofty Timeform peak rating of 134 and subsequent comments on social media this week by ratings buffs suggested that the champion mare may finally be vulnerable.
But the stopwatch has indicated that Winx’s efforts were probably as good as ever and that the disappointing ratings were more as a result of her scaring off highly rated opposition, which affected her final assessment.
In the Warwick Stakes, Winx missed the start badly and was timed to run her final 600 metres in a brilliant 31.98 (albeit wind assisted) in coming from the tail of the field to score from her stablemate Foxplay (Foxwedge), a Group One-winning filly last season with Ecuador (High Chaparral), who finished second to Winx in the 2015 Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m), third.
Then on Saturday, Winx made up many lengths in the straight to courageously run down the tearaway leader Red Excitement (Excites) and win by a length in a fast 1:34.11 for the 1600 metre journey.
Winx also returned brilliant sectional times in that victory, with her final 1400 metres in 1:19.47, last 1200 metres in 1:07.68, last 1000 metres in 55.72, last 800 metres in 44.08, last 600 metres in 33.10, last 400 metres in 22.02 with her final 200 metres in 11.22.
It should be promptly acknowledged that the Randwick track on Saturday was in outstanding order with very fast times being recorded in most races on the nine race card.
That comment aside, Winx was amazing visually and also on the watch.
However, the fact remains that she defeated an eight-year-old gelding in Red Excitement, a winner of 13 races, only two at stakes level (Group Three and Listed) while the New Zealand stayer Chocante (Shocking) took third place.
So all eyes will be on Winx when she steps out next in the George Main Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday week, where she is likely to meet her strongest opposition so far this preparation as she chases her 20th successive win.
Meanwhile, the first Group One race of the season the Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) went the way of the former West Australian-trained Vega Magic (Lope De Vega) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Vega Magic’s all-the-way victory resulted in a new Timeform peak rating of 126, with him defeating a quality field in decisive fashion, although the now Lindsay Park-trained gelding did have conditions tailored to suit after the late withdrawal of noted front-runner Charmed Harmony (Hussonet).
The withdrawal of Charmed Harmony paved the way for Vega Magic to obtain a soft lead, and leading jockey Craig Williams certainly capitalised on that by setting a very moderate tempo that saw the first 800 metres clocked in only 49.06 (12.26 200m rate).
Williams then lifted the pace noticeably nearing the 600 metre mark. Vega Magic sprinted that final section in a fast 34.30 (11.43 200m rate) to score comfortably by just under two lengths from the multiple Group One winner Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars).
Those tactics resulted in fast closing sections from not only the runner-up Black Hear Bart who clocked 34.15 (last 600m) and 22.52 (last 400m) but for the majority of the runners in the ten-horse field.
The fastest closing fractions were recorded by the third-placed Tosen Stardom (Deep Impact), who clocked 33.95 (last 600m), 22.29 (last 400m) and 11.73 for his last 200 metres, in an effort to suggest the Japanese-bred entire looks set for a very good preparation for the Darren Weir stable.
The other noteworthy closing times were the fourth-placed Hey Doc (Duporth): 34.30 (last 600m), 22.67 (last 400m) and 11.73 (last 200m), fifth-placed Le Romain (Hard Spun): 34.07 (last 600m), 22.67 (last 400m) and 11.90 (last 200m) and Humidor (Teofilo): 34.01 (last 600m), 22.32 (last 400m), 11.76 (last 200m) who made late ground for eighth.
Earlier in the program, the Darren Weir-trained sprinter Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) recorded fast sectionals in his impressive first up win in The Heath (Gr 3, 1100m).
Having his first start since April, Voodoo Lad was back in fifth place behind a quick tempo set by the leader Runson (Delzao), who clocked a fast 600 metre mid-race section of 44.00 (from the 1000m to the 200m) before weakening to finish seventh.
Voodoo Lad then ran on strongly, hit the front at the 100 metres and held on to score comfortably by just under a length from So Si Bon (So You Think) with Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) a similar margin away in third.
Time for the 1100 metre journey was 1:03.60 (11.56 200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:09.38 with Voodoo Lad running his final 1000 metres in 55.23, last 800 metres in 44.50, last 600 metres in 33.68, last 400 metres in 22.42 with his final 200 metres in 11.46.
It was an impressive effort and the consistent Voodoo Lad is now a winner of ten of his 22 starts (with nine placings) and looks primed for a very good preparation, adding further to the strength of the powerful Darren Weir stable heading to the spring carnival.