StableTalk

I think the Flemington race is worth a bit more but is much stronger.

Race 6 - 17:15 - COLGATE OPTIC WHITE STAKES 3YO+ WFA (Randwick R6) 1600m
7 Winx Hugh Bowman 1.10 1.00
1 Happy Clapper Blake Shinn 1.50
9 Foxplay Brenton Avdulla 1.90

20 Wins in a row is more impressive than 19 wins in a row

Chris Waller's musings on the possible 2018 programme for WINX have caused quite a stir up here with the likes of Ascot, Sandown, York and Deauville all trying to lure the Australian champion mare to their big races.

There's no doubt a WINX campaign in Europe would be a huge attraction for European racecourses and while it seems no decisions will be made until after her autumn run in the George Ryder Stakes on March 24th, Europe's top tracks have been fighting over which one or ones of them will get to see her in action (with all the extra profit following).

The George Ryder is on March 24th so that would rule out anything before Ascot in mid June - the options look to be the Queen Anne over the straight 1600m or the Prince of Wales over 2000m.

Next up might be the Eclipse over the 2000m at Sandown followed by the Marois at Deauville over 1600m and possibly the Juddmonte at York over 2000m.

As I see it, none of these races look ideal for her - she has presumably never run over a straight 1600m and both the Queen Anne and the Marois are over straight tracks (the Sussex at Goodwood isn't but she's have to take on our 3-y-o and give them weight). Ascot and Sandown have uphill finishes and oddly enough the best fit for me would be the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown but that would kill her Australian spring campaign so that leaves the Juddmonte at York but the ground might go against her.

She could run in the Falmouth or the Rothschild and swerve the colts but what would be the point ? The Pretty Polly in Ireland would be similar and that would involve taking on Coolmore in their own backyard.

Ascot has worldwide significance and that's the obvious place to start but we'll see.

You never know, stodge, but I wouldn't be holding my breath

Have to say I'm hugely impressed with WINX after her win in the Turnbull.

Clearly, 2000m is her trip and for her to win the 1600m races she has won is a real achievement.

The Cox Plate is surely at her mercy and thinking ahead IF she comes over next year, I'd love to see her run in the Prince of Wales at Ascot and then stay on for the Arc.

Why not ? On the Turnbull evidence, she'd have cruised up to ENABLE with 400m to go and then we'd have seen who was better.

Go on, Chris, bring her over next year and make a real campaign of it - Prince of Wales, Juddmonte International, Irish Champion and the Arc.

55 left in the Melbourne Cup at the latest declaration stage and only 14 European challengers, arguably the weakest challenge for a number of years.

The highest European challenger in the betting is RED CARDINAL but if he's the answer somebody should have another look at the question. It's quite likely Willie Mullins will enter WICKLOW BRAVE and former runner up MAX DYNAMITE and possible a third runner but again if any of them are good enough I'd be surprised.

I'll have a longer look at the European challenge tomorrow.

Looking ahead to tomorrow morning (UK) and Caulfield stages the Ladbrokes Stakes which has plenty of European interest.

THE TAJ MAHAL (no THE over here) was fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes but he's always promised more than he has ever delivered. He was Derby favourite one time last year before he'd even run. It may be the quicker Australian turf and the style of race will bring some serious improvement but it will need to.

JOHANNES VERMEER is an interesting older horse also from Team O'Brien. He's often been pitched in as someone else's pacemaker but his defeat of SUCCESS DAYS a couple of runs ago is decent form. RIVEN LIGHT wins on ground much softer than this.

Just a word on CALDERON - he won the Earl of Sefton back in the spring and has always gone well fresh. If I were having a bet, I'd be having some of the 14s on offer up here.

Seems odd not to mention the Everest at Randwick which is now the world's richest turf race and it's to be hoped future years will see more international runners.

It's worth a stupendous £3.3 million to the winner - the two I like in the race are SHE CAN REIGN and REDZEL. Let's hope whoever wins will fancy a trip to Ascot for the Diamond Jubilee next year.

Saturday sees the Caulfield Cup and three European raiders form part of the 17-strong field.

JOHANNES VERMEER ran a huge race in the Ladbrokes Stakes only just failing against ex-European GAILO CHOP but he doesn't have as much form over 2400m though he is Group 3 placed.

MARMELO's European form is over further but the value of that form has been rising all the time. He beat DESERT SKYLINE in the Kergorlay at Deauville last time and the latter went on to win the Doncaster Cup while back in the spring he won the Barbeville beating BATEEL and she went on to win the Vermeille and is favourite for the Fillies and Mares at Ascot on Saturday. I don't see him being quite as effective at this trip.

WICKLOW BRAVE has been well held by ORDER OF ST GEORGE the last twice and I'd be astonished if he was good enough.

Of the three, JOHANNES VERMEER is the clear pick though I expect a decent effort from MARMELO.

Was JOHANNES VERMEER unlucky ? I'm not convinced he would have won but it was a rough old race and he might have nabbed second.

MARMELO ran a huge Melbourne Cup Trial in sixth while WICKLOW BRAVE was no more than fair than twelfth.