Trial action set to heat up as stars set to collide in the 2025 Winx Stakes
Chris Waller will be forced to run four of his stable stars against each other in the early stages of spring, with their campaigns set to begin in the same race.
Delayed by wet weather, Thursday’s Randwick trials will now feature an array of talent including Waller’s four leading mares: Via Sistina, Fangirl, Lady Shenandoah and Aeliana.
Despite the clash, Waller said the mares were thriving in their preparations.
“They have just come up beautifully, touch wood,” he said.
The plan is to launch all four in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) on August 23 before splitting them into separate Group 1 paths.
“I’m pretty keen to get Via, Fangirl, Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah all to the Winx. I can’t see it being avoided,” Waller 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 are listed in heat one, alongside elite rivals like Another Wil, Light Infantry Man, and Vauban. Heat two features Aeliana and Lady Shenandoah, while Autumn Glow and Beiwacht clash over 850m.
Jimmysstar and Linebacker are also among a deep list of talent appearing across the 17 heats scheduled for the morning.
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