Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted August 22 Journalists Share Posted August 22 Group 1 winner Riff Rocket. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) field is littered with previous Group 1 winners, but the Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket has been the one who has been best backed since final field markets opened on Wednesday morning. The 2023 Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) winner returns to the track for the first time as a four-year-old, and with a record of seven wins from 11 starts, punters are hoping he can return a winner. Having opened at a $13 quote with horse racing bookmakers, the three-time Group 1 winner is now listed as an $8.50 chance on the fourth line of betting with Picklebet. The son of American Pharoah was a dominant winner first-up last campaign over 1400m in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes when disposing of a handy field at Flemington. Watch Riff Rocket win the 2024 CS Hayes Stakes Truth be told, Chris Waller dominates the Winx Stakes betting markets, with a strong hand of six for the first Group 1 of the 2024/25 season. Fangirl won the 2023 Winx Stakes and is set to have her first start since finishing second in the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) on March 2. Having opened as a $2.10 favourite, punters are happy to keep her Fangirl safe in betting, with the mare a $2.20 favourite. Watch Fangirl win the 2023 Winx Stakes Stablemate Via Sistina made a strong impressions during her initial Australian campaign during the Sydney autumn, winning stylishly in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m), before finishing a distant second to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). Quoted at $5.50 when markets opened, bookies have pushed the mare out a full point to a $6.50 quote, with that price likely to drift further with the former European tending to her best work over a mile and beyond. Watch Via Sistina win the Ranvet Stakes Group 1 winners Tropical Squall and Zougotcha have both stuck firm at a $9 quote, with the pair expected to play prominent roles in Handicap events throughout the Sydney spring, whilst Semana ($13) and Detonator Jack ($19) will be looking to build on impressive autumn campaigns. Atishu ($26) is the best of the rest, whilst Just Fine ($27), Zardozi ($34), Buckaroo ($71) and Zeyrek ($126) are all looking to use the Group 1 as somewhat of paid barrier trial as they look to step up in trip as their campaigns roll on. 2024 Winx Stakes Final Field 1. Buckaroo (8) T: Chris Waller J: Joshua Parr W: 59kg F: x6535 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Roheryn (IRE) +7000 +1200 2. Detonator Jack (2) T: Ciaron Maher J: Jason Collett W: 59kg F: x8263 Age: 6YO Colour: Brown Sex: Gelding Sire: Jakkalberry (IRE) Dam: Red Delicious (NZ) +1500 +270 3. Zeyrek (3) T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes J: Reece Jones W: 59kg F: x9269 Age: 8YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Zerkaza (IRE) +12500 +2000 4. Just Fine (4) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Rachel King W: 59kg F: x58x0 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE) Dam: Bint Almatar (USA) +2600 +450 5. Riff Rocket (12) T: Chris Waller J: Nash Rawiller W: 58.5kg F: x1131 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Sire: American Pharaoh (USA) Dam: Missile Coda +750 +145 6. Fangirl (9) T: Chris Waller J: James McDonald W: 57kg F: x21x4 Age: 6YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Sebring Dam: Little Surfer Girl +120 -333.33 7. Via Sistina (7) T: Chris Waller J: Kerrin McEvoy W: 57kg F: x21x2 Age: 7YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Fastnet Rock Dam: Nigh (IRE) +550 +110 8. Atishu (10) T: Chris Waller J: Tyler Schiller W: 57kg F: x2318 Age: 7YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Savabeel Dam: Posy (NZ) +2500 +450 9. Zougotcha (6) T: Chris Waller J: Tommy Berry W: 57kg F: x111x Age: 5YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Zoustar Dam: Fast Talker +800 +160 10. Semana (5) T: Ciaron Maher J: Dylan Gibbons W: 57kg F: x20x3 Age: 5YO Colour: Chestnut Sex: Mare Sire: Winning Rupert Dam: Festivity +1200 +220 11. Tropical Squall (11) T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott J: Adam Hyeronimus W: 56.5kg F: x641x Age: 4YO Colour: Brown Sex: Mare Sire: Prized Icon Dam: Squalls +700 +135 12. Zardozi (1) T: James Cummings J: Zac Lloyd W: 56.5kg F: x2310 Age: 4YO Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Sire: Kingman (GB) Dam: Chanderi (GB) +3300 +550 Horse racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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