Winx’s sectional times demonstrated her Turnbull Stakes dominance
The accolades flowed freely after Winx (Street Cry) streaked away to an effortless six and a half-length victory in Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) with a subsequent analysis of her sectional times clearly demonstrating the level of her dominance.
Having her fourth start this preparation, Winx confirmed that she is close to her brilliant best which has seen her now win 21 races in succession and 13 at Group One, including the last two editions of the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) in stunning fashion.
And the TAB now has the wonder mare at odds of $1.25 to take out her third successive Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on 28 October.
After being patiently ridden on Saturday by Hugh Bowman, Winx came from well back in fifth place to overwhelm Group One winners Ventura Storm (Zoffany) and Humidor (Teofilo) in a time of 2:02.07 on a Good 4 track at Flemington.
A feature of the race being the closing speed, with Winx clocking fast final sectionals of 57.51 (last 1000m), 45.74 (last 800m), 34.37 (last 600m), 22.91 (last 400m) and 11.60 for her last 200 metres.
While a comparison of the sectional times recorded by Ventura Storm and Humidor tells the story in no uncertain terms.
The runner-up Ventura Storm clocked 59.39 (last 1000m), 47.41 (last 800m), 35.70 (last 600m), 24.18 (last 400m) with his last 200 metres in 12.43.
Ventura Storm therefore was running 1.88 seconds slower than Winx for his last 1000 metres, 1.67 seconds slower for the last 800 metres, 1.33 seconds slower for the last 600 metres, 1.27 seconds slower for the last 400 metres and 0.83 seconds slower for his last 200 metres.
While the third-placed Humidor clocked 58.67 (last 1000m), 46.89 (last 800m), 35.52 (last 600m), 23.95 (last 400m) with his last 200 metres in 12.10.
Humidor therefore ran 1.16 seconds slower than Winx for his last 1000 metres, 1.15 seconds slower for the last 800 metres, 1.04 seconds slower for the last 600 metres, 1.04 seconds slower for the last 400 metres and 0.50 seconds slower for his last 200 metres.
Winx is now a six-year-old mare having won 25 of her 31 starts (with three seconds) for prize money earnings of $13,777,925 having been handled masterfully by trainer Chris Waller and ridden impeccably by Hugh Bowman.
Next year is likely to see Winx cap an amazing career with a trip to England on the agenda and an appearance at Royal Ascot being the perfect way to complete her wonderful chapter in Australian racing history.
Apart from Winx, who naturally was the focus of attention at her first appearance at Flemington, the following race, the Edward Manifold Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) saw a talented young filly in Bring Me Roses (High Chaparral) record her first win and claim VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) favouritism.
Having only her fourth start, after showing potential in two recent late-closing placings in Listed races at Morphettville, Bring Me Roses came from near last in a 15-horse field to win impressively by just over two lengths.
The Tony McEvoy-trained filly won in a time of 1:38.33 with a moderate early tempo of only 1:03.51 adding to the merit of Bring Me Roses’ performance as she needed to accelerate as the leader’s tempo also increased.
Bring Me Roses therefore produced very fast closing times for her final 600 metres, with a 200 metre breakdown of 11.08, 10.88 and 11.57, giving her a final last 600 metres in 33.53.
Another filly to show potential was the Lindsay Park-trained Pure Scot (Purrealist) who was back in last place at the home turn and caught the eye running on late for fourth, beaten two and three quarter lengths.
Pure Scot ran 200 metre sections of 11.08, 11.05 and 11.67 to give her a smart 33.82 for the last 600 metres.
The highlight of racing at Randwick on Saturday was the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) which was taken out in game fashion by the David Payne-trained colt Ace High (High Chaparral).
A winner of the Gloaming Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) at Rosehill at his prior start, Ace High was again taken to the front by Tye Angland and he let the colt run along at a good tempo, turning the race into a solid staying test.
After getting a break on straightening, Ace High then dug deep to defeat the Chris Waller-trained colt Tangled (Snitzel) by a short head with Sully (Reliable Man) running on well to take third, a length and a half further back.
The time for the race was 2:03.94, with a solid 200 metre sections (from the 1600m) of 12.25, 12.33, 12.34, 12.01, 11.60, 11.56, 11.86 and 12.62 to give Ace High the last 1600m in 1:37.38, last 1200 metres in 1:12.73, last 1000 metres in 60.39, last 800 metres in 48.05 with his last 600 metres in 36.04.
It was Ace High’s third win in 11 starts and he now heads to Flemington for the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) on 4 November with sound claims.
And also the runner-up Tangled and especially the third-placed Sully, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding was finishing well from back in eighth place at the 1000 metres, clocking 59.02 which was fastest for that section in the race.
Another winner at Randwick likely to head to Flemington is the Godolphin-raced colt Viridine (Poet’s Voice) who overcame difficulties to remain unbeaten after four starts in winning the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
He raced in third place on the rails but gave Brenton Avdulla a difficult time, racing keenly in stages due to a moderate early tempo that saw the leaders clock the first 600 metres in 36.27.
Avdulla got Viridine along the rails at the 300 metres, after being blocked on straightening, briefly took a moment to wind up in the sprint home but got to the front nearing the 100 metres and then went on to score comfortably by two lengths.
Viridine impressed with closing 200 metres breakdown of 11.25, 10.70 and 11.41 which gave the colt a quick final 600 metres in 33.36 with his last 400 metres in 22.11.
Trainer James Cummings later indicated that Viridine is now likely to tackle the Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.