'The day she retires, I’ll enjoy it': Why Waller still frets over Winx
The end is a step closer for Winx after she romped to her fourth Chipping Norton Stakes win on Saturday but it will not be until she flashes past the finishing post for the very final time that trainer Chris Waller will really be able to relax and enjoy her phenomenal career.
Waller prides himself on taking care of every last detail with his horses and that molecular attention is only magnified when it comes to Winx, with the trainer determined to see out her career without another defeat.
The champion trainer walked the Rosehill track after last Wednesday’s meeting to find the best piece of ground for Winx’s exhibition gallop on Thursday.
“I always feel worried [particularly in races] about slow pace, fast pace, good tracks and wet tracks,” Waller said. “It is impossible to enjoy it. I have a job to do with her. The day she is retired, I’ll enjoy it. It’s been an amazing ride and something we will always look back on. We have two more runs to make sure it’s smooth sailing and get a fairytale ending.”
No All Star approach for Winx
There has been plenty of media talk about Racing Victoria having a shot at bringing Winx to Flemington for the All Star Mile but Chris Waller says talk is all it was.
“They haven’t spoken to me,” Waller said bluntly in the lead-up to the Chipping Norton Stakes. “We have purposely set her program and providing conditions suit there would be no need to change.”
It could only be concluded that Racing Victoria have used Winx as a marketing tool, promoting the fact that she might run in the All Star Mile while having no intention of actually approaching Waller.
So Winx is likely to run in the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 23, with her finale likely to be the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 13.
“You get so many people booking their weekends to come and see Winx, so we respect that. That is why we have been upfront with her program," Waller said. “If things were to change, which would be very rare, we would let everybody know.”
Gates didn't fly in Chipping Norton
There were a couple of horses playing up before the start of the Chipping Norton Stakes and it was not helped by a malfunction of the starter’s button.
Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel confirmed the gates didn’t open on the first time of asking, explaining: “It is something that happens from time to time and then Libran went off.”
Estijaab ready to take up the Challenge
Michael Hawkes is looking forward to seeing Golden Slipper winner Estijaab on a dry track in the Challenge Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Estijaab returned as a runner-up to Fiesta in the Inglis Sprint last month and impressed when winning a barrier trial last Friday.
"Her trial was super and her first-up run behind Fiesta was really, really good. She has definitely improved," Hawkes said.
"Unfortunately, it rained on the day and turned the race into a 1200m race instead of an 1100m race. She's flying, she really is. She's a quality filly and she's taking on the big boys but you know what, she's worthy of it."
Jockey manager to get bet ruling
A number of jockey managers have sent Racing NSW letters asking for an exemption from the new rule that stops them from betting or running tipping services.
The rule came in at the beginning of March and will only be enforced once Racing NSW answers the requests from managers.
“We have received a lot of letters from jockey managers and will be responding to them all this week,” chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.
Parr ready to ride Nateeka Jane in the Guineas
Josh Parr is ready to get down to 54.5kg to continue his association with Surround Stakes winner Nakeeta Jane in Saturday’s Randwick Guineas.
Trainer Mark Newnham said the So You Think filly had come through her last-stride win very well but he won’t make a decision about starting her until acceptance time on Wednesday.
“I had a chat to Josh about it last week and he was very confident that the Randwick mile was the way to go rather than the Coolmore Classic,” Newnham said. “He has already started to get his weight right and it is up to Nateeka Jane in the next couple of days if we are there.”
Pierata on group 1 hunt
Greg Hickman will start a group 1 preparation with Pierata in the Canterbury Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Pierata will be kept to the sprints, with the TJ Smith and the All Aged Stakes on his autumn program as he looks for that elusive group 1 victory.
“I have only given him the one trial this time because he is older and stronger and we have been able to do more with him at home,” Hickman said. “He is ready for the 1300m first-up and Tommy Berry has been booked for the whole campaign.”