Chris Waller is facing the prospect of sending out four of his top mares against each other first-up, but insists it’s part of a broader plan heading into the spring.
Originally set to trial earlier in the week, heavy rain in Sydney has delayed Thursday’s Randwick session, where Waller’s key spring team will step out for their first public hit-outs of the season.
Despite the schedule shift, Waller said it wouldn’t affect how well his horses are progressing.
“They have just come up beautifully, touch wood,” Waller said.
The quartet — Via Sistina, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah — are all being aimed at the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 23 before heading in different directions thereafter.
“I’m pretty keen to get Via, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah all to the Winx. I can’t see it being avoided,” he said.
“I’ve got a pretty good handle on where they’re at and it’s exciting, but it’s going to be frustrating too that we’ve got to run a few of them together.
“It will only be their first-up run, then there’s King Charles’, Makybe Divas, Turnbulls and Epsoms. They will be goals after that.”
Via Sistina and Fangirl will trial in the opening 1000m heat, joined by the Maher-trained Group 1 pair Another Wil and Light Infantry Man, and stayer Vauban.
Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah will step out in heat two, while promising mares Autumn Glow and Beiwacht line up over 850m alongside Everest contender Jimmysstar and Group 1 colt Linebacker.
As spring racing heats up, explore the best Australian betting sites to place your bets on the Winx Stakes and beyond.