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Winx secured her 11th victory in a row when taking out the Group 1 Colgate Optic White George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained runner was slow away, settling back in the field before cruising up to the leaders on the turn and securing a one and a quarter length victory over Hauraki with It’s Somewhat well back in third.
Winx returned a Timeform figure of 122+, four pounds below her first up effort in the Warwick Stakes when beating Hartnell and Rebel Dane
Only two mares had won the George Main Stakes in the last 25 years prior to Saturday being More Joyous in 2010 (122) and Streama in 2013 (121) whilst Winx became the sixth horse to complete the Warwick Stakes – George Main Stakes double since 1945.
Lonhro (2003), Defier (2002), Kingston Town 1981/82, Nippon (1972) and San Domenico (1950) were the only other runners to do the double putting Winx in good company who now has seven Group 1 wins.
Chris Waller continues his strong record in the George Main Stakes now having won the last three and four of the last five with Winx now likely to head south to tackle the Caulfield Stakes before defending her Cox Plate crown.
Three horses have completed the George Main Stakes – Caulfield Stakes double in the same year, being Lonhro (2003), Juggler (1996) and Kingston town in both 1981/1982.
Shaftesbury Avenue is the only other runner to complete the double doing it across two years, winning the George Main Stakes in 1990 and the Caulfield Stakes in 1991.
Heading towards the Cox Plate once again, only one horse has ever completed the George Main Stakes – Cox Plate double in the same year being Kingston Town in both 1981/1982.
Should Winx claim another Cox Plate this year it will certainly put her in illustrious company as she continues to edge her way into the history books among the best and her winning price of $1.08 on Saturday is the shortest in a Sydney Group 1 this century.
Winx’s winning streak of 11 equals the legendary Kingston Town’s longest sequence of victory's with her prizemoney of $7 million making the five-year-old the fourth mare to achieve the feat with only Black Caviar, Sunline and Makybe Diva above that figure.
Of the beaten brigade Hauraki was very brave in second running to a new career peak Timeform figure of 124, four pounds above his first up win in the Tramway.
It’s Somewhat has also returned pretty well this campaign and returned a Timeform figure of 115, one pound above his first up effort in the Tramway.
The Racing and Sports field strength value of 124.2, slightly above last years renewal which saw Kermadec run to 125 when beating Royal Descent and Pornichet.
Hartnell has signalled his spring credentials with dominant five and three-quarter length victory over Who Shot Thebarman and Storm The Stars in the Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m).
Hartnell ran to a new career peak Timeform figure of 127, three pounds above his Chelmsford Stakes win over Grand Marshal and Storm The Stars.
Hartnell, who is the highest rated winner of the race in the last 25 years is the fourth horse in the last 50 years to win the Chelmsford Stakes – Hill Stakes double joining Trusting (2011), Pasta Express (2000) and Emancipation (1983).
Likely to head towards the Caulfield Cup later in the spring, only two runners have done the Hill Stakes – Caulfield Cup double being Descarado in 2010 and Redcraze in 1956.
The average winning Timeform figure of the Caulfield Cup in the last five years is just over 124 putting Hartnell right in the mix off the 127.
Of the beaten brigade, Who Shot Thebarman looks to have returned in good order and will improve as he goes up in trip this campaign.
He returned a Timeform figure of 115, 12 pounds higher than his fifth placing in the Chelmsford.
Storm The Stars also improved off his third placing in the Chelmsford and returned a Timeform figure of 112, only one pound below his previous best achieved in the Group 1 BMW last campaign.
Foxplay followed up her Furious Stakes win with a very impressive victory in the Group 3 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m).
Awkwardly placed on heels at the 300m, Hugh Bowman was able to pick up the Chris Waller-trained runner to hit the line strongly and edge out Skylight Glow in second with Quick Feet third.
Foxplay returned a Timeform figure of 109, two pounds below her Furious stakes win over Bacarella and Global Armour.
Whilst Foxplay is nominated for the Epsom, the three-year-old filly is likely to progress to the Flight Stakes (1600m) as she looks for a clean sweep of the princess series.
Foxplay became the 17th filly to claim the Furious Stakes – Tea Rose Stakes double with Streama the last horse to do the double in 2011.
More Strawberries (2010), Samantha Miss (2008), Cheeky Choice (2006), Mnemosyne (2005), Prisoner Of Love (2004), Shamekha (2003), Victory Vein (2002), Unworldy (2000), Danglissa (1999), Sunline (1998), Stella Cadente (1997), Danarani (1994), Angst (1993) and Bold Promise (1991) have also completed the double since the inception of the Furious Stakes in 1986.
Finding trouble in the straight, Foxplay was unable to run up to her best form and you would expect her to be able to show significant improvement in the Flight Stakes.
Streama was the last horse to complete the Furious – Tea Rose – Flight treble in 2011, with the Guy Walter-trained runner returning a much higher figure than Foxplay in the Tea Rose of 118.
Other fillies to complete the treble are Samantha Miss (2008), Danglissa (1999), Sunline (1998) and Angst (1993).
Should Foxplay win the Flight Stakes then that would see her join some very impressive fillies to complete the princess series treble.
Skylight Glow was good in second for James Cummings running to a new career peak Timeform figure of 108, two pounds higher than his Ming Dynasty effort with Quick Feet in third also running a new peal of 107.