Super star mare Winx will jump from barrier eight in 2018 Group 1 $500,000 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Winx, above, has drawn barrier 8 in the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx, above, has drawn barrier 8 in the 2018 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.

Winx is one of ten final acceptors for the Turnbull Stakes which is run under set weights and penalties conditions which allows the Chris Waller trained mare to only carry 57kg even though she has won her last twenty-seven starts as well as collecting twenty Group 1 winning trophies while the topweight Grunt, with 58kg, is the winner of two Group 1 races.

Hugh Bowman will again be aboard Winx while Kerrin McEvoy will ride her stablemate Youngstar who has drawn barrier four.

Trainer Chris Waller released the following statement detailing Winx’s latest build up to the Turnbull Stakes.

“Winx had her final piece of work this morning (Monday) in preparation for Saturday’s Seppelt Turnbull Stakes.”

“Hugh Bowman was aboard and she worked with her stablemate Invincibella. They worked well together and ran approximately 1.08 for the 1000m and last 400m in 23.23.”

“Hugh could not have been any happier with the way Winx felt and the way she finished her work off.”

“Hugh and I are both very pleased with the way the preparation has gone as we head towards the third start of her campaign on Saturday. She is in good shape and looks well.”

Winx won the Turnbull Stakes last year on her way to claiming her third straight win in the Cox Plate and equalling Kingston Town’s long standing record of a hat trick of wins in the Weight For Age Championship of Australasia.

The champion mare has been as impressive as ever during her 2018 Spring Carnival campaign with a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 18 followed by an effortless four lengths victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White (George Main) Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 15.

Youngstar was the winner of the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Brisbane Queensland Oaks over 2200m at Doomben during the 2018 Brisbane Winter Carnival and will appreciate the step up to the 2000m of the Turnbull Stakes after finishing third at her second run back in the Group 2 $200,000 Schweppes Shannon Stakes over 1500m at Rosehill on September 22.

Caulfield trainer Mick Price will also have two runners in the Turnbull Stakes with Mighty Boss drawing barrier seven with Michael Walker to ride and Grunt with Mark Zahra in the saddle from gate nine.

Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir will saddle up Kings Will Dream who has drawn the rails with Craig Williams on top.

Final field for the 2018 Turnbull Stakes (2000m)

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 x1111x5816 GRUNT (NZ) Mick Price Mark Zahra 9 58kg 113
2 111x111x11 WINX Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 8 57kg 130
3 41x780x006 MIGHTY BOSS Mick Price Michael Walker 7 56.5kg 104
4 x11111x432 KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) Darren Weir Craig Williams 1 56.5kg 107
5 1x68139x43 JON SNOW (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Stephen Baster 2 55.5kg 110
6 4x1331x140 DIVINE UNICORN (GB) Matthew Dunn Brenton Avdulla 3 55.5kg 99
7 116×632117 TRAP FOR FOOLS Jarrod McLean Ben Allen (a) 6 55kg 104
8 x437829x79 VENTURA STORM (IRE) David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Luke Nolen 5 54.5kg 104
9 760x0551x5 TALLY James Cummings Damian Lane 10 54.5kg 106
10 x311113x63 YOUNGSTAR Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 4 54.5kg 102

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