The Chris Waller trained Winx proved to be several classes above her opposition with a last to first win in the Group 3 $125,000 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast today.
Winx is one of the top fancies for the Group 1 $500,000 Treasury Casino & Hotel Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben on May 30 and Waller decided to bring her to the Sunshine Coast for her final lead up run.
From an outside alley, top Brisbane jockey Larry Cassidy was content settle the Group 1 filly near the tail of the field until rounding the home turn.
When heads were turned for home, Cassidy had Winx ($2.60 favourite) in the clear out in the middle of track and the Street Cry filly had very little trouble passing the other seventeen runners to record a very soft win over the Peter Moody trained Ulmann ($26) and the locally trained Worthy Cause ($5.50).
Winx went into the Sunshine Coast Guineas as the class runner in the field following some strong Sydney Autumn Carnival form that saw her run fifth to Fenway in the Group 1 $400,000 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 28 followed by a second to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 $1m Seven News Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11.
Cassidy hardly had to move on Winx over the concluding stages although she did try to lay in a little bit in the early part of the straight forcing Cassidy to straighten her up before he cruised to the line..
Third placegetter Worthy Cause will now be heading towards the Group 1 $600,000 Channel 7 Queensland Derby (2200m) at Doomben on June 6.
Justin Stanley gave Worthy Cause the perfect run, third and fourth on the fence, and looked a real hope when he challenged for the lead at the 250m but was passed by Winx and Ulmann.
Source: horseracing.com.au
