Winx has already recorded two wins this campaign and she had the chance to secure yet another Group 1 victory in the 2017 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick this weekend.
It has not been smooth sailing for Winx so far this preparation – she has had to produce stellar closing sectionals to win both the Warwick Stakes and the Chelmsford Stakes – but she will still start this clash as a dominant favourite.
Can Winx make it 20 wins on the trot or will there be a massive George Main Stakes boilover? We have analysed every horse in the 2017 George Main Stakes field and our thoughts on every runner can be found below.
Happy Clapper
Happy Clapper returned to the races with a lovely win in the Tramway Stakes and he looks in for a big preparation. He would have an outstanding chance to win a maiden Group 1 race if Winx was not in this field and he really does look like the horse to beat in any Winx out betting markets.
Ecuador
Ecuador was excellent first-up in the Warwick Stakes, but he was a tough disappointing when beaten as favourite in the Tramway Stakes. He will park himself right on the speed with Adam Hyeronimus and he is a chance to finish in the placings, but it is obviously tough to see him winning.
Red Excitement
Red Excitement gave Winx a very serious scare in the Chelmsford Stakes and it will be interesting to see if Josh Parr will implement similar tactics in the George Main Stakes. Those front-running tactics may not be as effective in this race as Ecuador will likely sit just off the leader and give Winx a nice tow into the race.
McCreery
It has been a while since we saw the best of McCreery and he returned to the races with a fairly flat run in the Tramway Stakes. The Epsom Handicap is his major 2017 Spring Racing Carnival target
Mackintosh
Mackintosh did have genuine excuses when he returned to the races in the Tramway Stakes and he is horse that should improve in the George Main Stakes. Whether that is good enough to finish in the placings is a genuine question, but $5.80 for him to finish in the placings is far from the worst bet in this race.
Tom Melbourne
Tom Melbourne has been scratched from the George Main Stakes and he will instead run in the Bill Ritchie Handicap.
Winx
There is no doubt that Winx has looked vulnerable in both the Warwick Stakes and the Chelmsford Stakes, but she has still been able to reel off some incredible closing sectionals to get the job done and it would take a much braver man than me to bet against her in the George Main Stakes. The obvious concern in this race is barrier one and Hugh Bowman will need to be at his alert best. That makes diving in at the $1.09 tough, but you won’t see be betting against her.
Heavens Above
Heaves Above was not disgraced in the Tramway Stakes and she is a horse that generally goes to another level second-up. She is another horse that is using this race as a lead-in to the Epsom Handicap.
Foxplay
Foxplay almost beat Winx in the Warwick Stakes first-up and trainer Chris Waller scratched her from the Sheraco Stakes last weekend in order to save her for this Group 1 event. The fact that Chris Waller has given her a barrier trial is a big positive and if she improves on her first-up effort she can fill the quinella behind her great stablemate once again.