Trainer Chris Waller recently revealed that his prize galloper Winx needed a minor surgical procedure to remove a small bone chip to her near fore fetlock.
The procedure took place in early April after Waller decided to hold Winx out of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes out of Waller’s concern for not running her so soon following her April 2 win in the Doncaster Mile.
Winx won seven times from seven jumps last season and was preparing to take her winter spell when Waller requested a thorough veterinary exam, including high tech scans that uncovered the bone chip.
Racing stewards are satisfied that Waller’s stable was in compliance with regulations pertaining to requirements for notification being provided pertaining to Winx’s condition and treatment, including following the proper protocol prior to trialing her in late July and early August.
Older racing fans can no doubt recall the era when such a malady was at least the end to a career and at worst a death sentence, so the progress in equine medicine is quite heartwarming.
Winx will resume racing in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 20, where she will be attempting to notch her 10th consecutive win in a streak that goes back to May of 2015. She will make three additional starts in Sydney, culminating in the Group 1 George Main Stakes at Randwick in September, and then head to Melbourne to defend the Cox Plate.
