WITH one eye already on the spring carnival, The Punters Show asked punters to nominate Australian racing’s next superstar.
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The current ‘top dog’ is undoubtedly Winx – the Chris Waller-trained mare who is unbeaten in her past nine starts, stretching three preparations, 13 months and six Group 1 races.
But the mighty mare’s reign cannot last forever and as such, we asked punters today to gaze into the crystal ball and predict Australian racing’s next ‘number one’ racehorse.
Of course, some felt that there simply wasn’t a racehorse in training in Australia capable of matching Winx’s feats.
That said, one possible candidate does look last year’s Victoria Derby winner – albeit he was unable to back it up in the Autumn.
One of Tarzino’s stablemates who produced a couple of big runs in the Autumn was also given a chance.
One of Winx’s up-and-coming stablemates (incidentally set to run in the Group 1 Tatts Tiara this weekend) was mooted as a possible successor.
Speaking of the Queensland carnival, the JJ Atkins winner – Kiwi colt Sacred Elixir – was the standout horse for some judges.
Winx’s last defeat came in the ATC Oaks – but this year’s South Australian Oaks winner was thrown up as a horse to watch in the Spring.
Meanwhile, a DK Weir runner with a Group 1 win already under his belt also rated a mention …
There were also a few left-field suggestions …
But there was one story the majority of punters agreed had the X-factor to match Winx’s feats – that was Group 1 Sires Produce winner, Yankee Rose.
But there was some debate about whether or not the Cox Plate, identified as Yankee Rose’s ultimate goal by trainer David Vandyke this Spring, was the right race to target.
But the most comprehensive response we received in favour of Yankee Rose was from regular contributor Luke Bevilacqua, who gets the final word this week with this email about the Vandyke-trained filly.
“I’m firmly of the opinion that Winx is definitely a one of a kind athlete that will be extremely hard pressed to be fully emulated but in saying that there is an up and coming superstar in our midst.
“I speak of 2yo filly soon to be 3yo Yankee Rose. Won well on debut despite market expectations with an SP of $31 but it was her 2nd start where she really stood up and did something special… Queue the “Good Orse” choir.
“On the same day her win in time was faster overall and closing than both of the older horses contests at the same distance and in doing so ran sectionals that no other horse in the race did confirming just what the eye saw.
“It was the day I was convinced she was a superstar in the making and her 1st up slipper 2nd and much deserved 2nd up sires Group 1 win in her 2nd prep was vindication of it all.”
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This article first appeared on the Punters Show HERE