Winx taking unusual path to Qld Oaks

Monday 11 May 2015, 4:26pm

Australian Oaks runner-up Winx will add a touch of class to the Caloundra meeting when she runs in the Sunshine Coast Guineas.

Saturday's 1600m Group Three race will be the filly's first start since her second to Gust Of Wind in the Group One Oaks (2400m) at Randwick on April 11.

With a 97 rating, Winx is 10 points clear of the Mike Moroney-trained Group performer Merion in the Guineas for which 21 entries were taken on Monday.

Trainer Chris Waller has been thinking long and hard about the best way to get Winx to the Queensland Oaks on May 30.

"As a lot of trainers have said it will be a different Oaks and Derby this year because they are at Doomben over 2200 metres instead of being at Eagle Farm at 2400," Waller said.

"It is a matter of keeping horses fit and happy. So Winx will be doing something different and she will be going to the Sunshine Coast Guineas for her first run in Queensland."

In the spring, Winx won the Group Two Furious Stakes before finishing second to First Seal in both the Tea Rose Stakes and Group One Flight Stakes.

She has had five starts this year, notching a win in the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes in March.

The Street Cry filly is raced by a group which includes Brisbane businessman Peter Tighe and his wife Patti who also have a share in her Victoria Derby winning stablemate Preferment.

Winx is the TAB's $5.50 early favourite for the Oaks ahead of her stablemate Ballet Suite ($6.50), the winner of the Princess Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.

"Ballet Suite is another one near the end of her campaign so I will just have to keep her happy. Whether we go straight into the Oaks or give her another run in the Doomben Roses is the option," he said.

"But I don't want to go one run too far with her."

Waller also has the Queensland Derby favourite Sadler's Lake who cemented his position at $6.50 with victory in Saturday's Group Three Rough Habit Plate.

The Waller-trained Hawkspur completed the Rough Habit/Derby double two years ago.

– AAP

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