Apollo Stakes

The 2016 renewal of the Apollo Stakes is much anticipated owing to the reappearance of racing's current pin-up - Winx. Scintillating in 3 runs as a 4yo, she may have an adverse track pattern to negotiate this afternoon for the first time this season.

Winx drew favourably on each occasion in the Spring. Wide first up in the Theo Marks, wide again in the Epsom, and finally inside in the Cox Plate, when Moonee Valley played infamously to the rails.

Randwick today is a carbon copy of Epsom Day 2015. On that occasion the 3m rail suited horses drawn and racing away from the rails. The likelihood of a 30km/h Nor-easter mid afternoon will make life more difficult for rails runners at the halfway point in the Apollo Stakes.

Let the games begin.