By Daithi Harvey
Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire})'s historic G1 Cox Plate win was her final run in 2017, as Chris Waller ruled out a possible season finale in the G1 Emirates S. in a week's time. Connections held a press conference on Friday and Waller, in conjunction with Hugh Bowman and part-owner Peter Tighe informed those in attendance that Winx would now take a break from training with a view to preserving her career for another campaign next year.
“We have come up with the decision that we think it is time for her to have a break, she has done a great job, as you can see she means so much to all of us,” Waller said. “We think she is still going very well but we have never asked her for too much so we think now is the right time, based on her, her longevity and for all of you to continue to enjoy. Seeing her pull up so well [from the Cox Plate] was certainly comforting to know that our horse is still enjoying it and still in great shape and that gives us the hope that she can continue on for another six-to-12 months.”
With a potential 2017 swansong in the Emirates only seven days away connections needed to make a decision about her short term plan sooner rather than later and having had a busy three months winning five from five since the middle of August the mare certainly has little left to prove, in Australia anyway.”
“We wanted to make the decision today to ensure she didn't have to go through that hard exercise to start preparing for the next seven days because even with Winx, you can't go in to races lightly, they need to be put through their paces and it is a pretty strict regime ahead,” he added.
Waller would not be drawn at this stage about a possible European campaign next year and racing fans will just have to sit it out and accept whatever decision connections make, as regardless, the decision will be in the best interests of Winx and noone else.
“We won't come to a decision until at least what we call the autumn of Australian racing, which would be around mid-to-the-end of March, based on her form, based on her well-being, and whether she gets on that plane, racing is a big sport, racing is well aware of Winx and they are welcome to come here anytime,” he said.
Waller however, did nominate the G1 Queen Anne S., the opening race at Royal Ascot in 2018, as the most likely starting point if Winx got the green light for a European campaign.
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