Winx Stakes 2021

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Winx Stakes:

The Winx Stakes may be a new Group One race, but isn’t a new race on the calendar. It was formerly named the Warwick Stakes and run at Group Two level, but was elevated to Group One standard when the name was changed to the Winx Stakes, in honour of the great mare. With its increased status to Group One, the Winx Stakes holds a $500,000 prizemoney pool.

The 2022 Winx Stakes will be held on Saturday, August 20th at Randwick Racecourse and was won by Mo’unga in 2021.

The Winx Stakes is a 1,400m race contested under weight-for-age conditions for horses three-years-old and up. Raced at Randwick, the Winx Stakes is the first Group One of the new season. Given its timing, it is often contested by horses first up, being a starting point for bigger races over further distances later in the carnival, much like 2021’s winner, Mo’unga.

For example, Winx won the race for three straight years, from 2016-2018, before going on and winning the Cox Plate later in her preparation.

With the race only just being run and plenty of racing to be done between now and then, we are yet to prepare our Winx Stakes tips for 2022, but be sure to read on below to get all of the information you need to know on the history and formlines for the race.

The Winx Stakes is an Australian Group 1 race that brings some of the best horses and it attracts the attention of many Aussies who like to have a casual punt on. Our expert tipsters will put together a short list of Winx Stakes tips to look out for in the leadup to the big race.

Keep an eye out closer to race time, as we will list The Sharks’ Winx Stakes best tips for the race this year in the week of the big race. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

Winx Stakes Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Winx Stakes in 2022 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Winx Stakes is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2022 Winx Stakes.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned!

It is important to be sure what stage of the campaign each runner is in, and whether they have the class to take this out early in the season if they aren’t set for the Winx Stakes, and have bigger aspirations later in the spring. The past decade has seen a mixture of short-priced favourites win the race, as well as a few at long odds with a fitness edge on their side.

When beginning to look at Winx Stakes betting, there are a lot of important factors to consider. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Is Previous Form in the Winx Stakes a Good Indicator of Future Success?

Since 2000, three horses have been able to win the race after previously winning. Lonhro won in 2001 before winning again in 2003, Pinwheel won in back-to-back years from 2011-12 and Winx won three straight from 2016-18.

Verry Elleegant ran in the race first up in 2019, coming 9th out of 10th horses, before doing the same again in 2020 and winning. She then came 2nd in 2021, running incredibly well but being beaten by one better on the day. Mo’unga was that one better, and hadn’t contested the Winx Stakes previously.

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Winx Stakes?

When looking at Winx Stakes betting, it is always easy to just bet on the favourite, but that might not be the best recipe for success. Verry Elleegant was fourth-favourite at $7 in 2020 before going on to win the race. Con Te Partiro and Master Of Wine jumped as $6 favourites for the race, coming 5th and 12th respectively.

In 2019, Samadoubt caused a boilover, winning at $31, ahead of the likes of Happy Clapper, second, and Avilius, fourth, who were priced at $5.50 and $2.60F respectively.

Looking at the most recent running of the race, Verry Elleegant jumped as $4.20 favourite and finished 0.24L back in second. Mo’unga won the race after jumping at $11, priced as the fifth favourite for the race.

Formlines from Lead Up Races

Given the timing of the Winx Stakes, most of the horses contesting the race often have no immediate formlines coming in, being first-up from a spell. Verry Elleegant, Samadoubt and Winx, in all three years she won, contested the Winx Stakes first up from a spell. Given this, it is best to use trials to see how each horse has returned this preparation, whilst also using their Autumn and Spring success from the previous season.

Age

When looking at Winx Stakes betting, recent form indicates that it is better to look for the older horses in the race. Since 2010, the race has only been won by horses ages five or older.

Winx makes age a hard factor to quantify, due to the mare winning as a 5y.o, 6y.o and 7y.o. Since 2000, just three horses have won the Winx Stakes aged under five-years-old, with Mo’unga winning as the equal-youngest horse in the race in 2021, having his first official run as a four-year-old and winning.

Here is a table indicating the ages of winners of the Winx Stakes since the 2010 edition:

Weight

This weight-for-age Group One sees many talented horses take part each year, often being run by males at 59kg and mares at 57kg. Over the last 12 years, since 2010, six males have won at 59kg, five mares have won at 57kg and Mo’unga, a four-year-old horse, won carrying 58.5kg.

Since 2000, Lonhro has carried the lowest weight to victory with 49.5kg in 2001. The next lowest was Trusting, who had just 50.5kg on his back in 2009.

Winx Stakes Best Bets

Our Winx Stakes best bets for 2022 are not out just yet, make sure you keep an eye out on this page as we will provide more details about our best bets when the final field is announced.

You will find our best bets below once available. Stay tuned!

Long before the Winx Stakes field is officially announced – online bookies will open early markets, or all-in markets, for Winx Stakes betting. This is prime time to bet on your favourite horse, as you might be able to bet on strong contenders for the 2022 Winx Stakes at double-digit odds.

The 2022 Winx Stakes odds will obviously fluctuate frequently in the lead up to the race, especially when we have a better idea of which horses will be targeting the race. Punting early on these markets can find you a favourite at prices of $10 or more, which will retain you a much higher return on investment. However, there is increased risk with doing this and you should be well aware.

Depending on when you place a futures bet on the 2021 Winx Stakes, your horse may not even run but you won’t get your money back, occurring when the market is ‘All-In’ or closer to the starting date. If you are betting when it says ‘Before Noms’, you have the security of receiving your money back if your horse doesn’t run.

The odds for the 2022 Winx Stakes are yet to be released, so take a look back at the odds from the most recent running of the event, won by Mo’unga. The below table shows the 2021 Winx Stakes odds on Tuesday, August 17th, four days before the running of the event, courtesy of Sportsbet:

Now with Group 1 status, the 1,400m weight-for-age contest early in the season presents the Winx Stakes as a perfect launching pad for classy middle distance runners starting their spring campaigns. Three-time winner Winx (2016-2018) used this race as her starting point for her Cox Plate campaigns, and you can expect many runners to follow this path and do the same.

The Winx Stakes field will attract these classier types with their eyes on far bigger prizes later in the spring, which may not be wound up to win the Winx Stakes, simply looking to gain fitness with the run.

These types can clash with slightly less fancied gallopers who have fitness on their side, and are primed to secure an early-season Group 1. Knowing which runners are at which stage of their preparations is key to betting in this race.

It is way too far away from the 2022 Winx Stakes to know the field for that event! However, have a look back at the official Winx Stakes field from 2021, won by Mo’unga:

With the race just being run, we have analysed the Winx Stakes results for 2021! Read on below to get a detailed description of the run.

Mo’unga finished 0.24L ahead of Verry Elleegant and 0.31L ahead of She’s Ideel, who finished second and third respectively. The four-year-old jumped well from barrier 12, going more forward than expected. Tommy Berry eased Mo’unga down, settling right behind Verry Elleegant and stalking her for the first 1000m of the race.

As the champion mare made her move forward, forced to go three wide, Mo’unga followed her into the straight, making her do all of the tough work in front. At the top of the straight, with 400m left to run, Berry then had Mo’unga peel wide, giving him clean air for the entire straight. He was over a length back from Verry Elleegant at this stage, but caught her at the 200m, was in front at the 150m and held on to win by a head.

She’s Ideel came from last at the top of the straight to run the fastest final 400m of the race and probably would have won with another couple of strides.

Dreamforce and Star Of The Seas were the two leaders for most of the race but didn’t have enough to finish off the race, finishing 11th and 13th respectively.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2020 Winx Stakes race:

Here are the results from the Winx Stakes in 2021:

Winx Stakes Winners

The results for the upcoming Winx Stakes are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: