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Often the kick off for elite horses is in the Winx Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday.

Winx herself won it three times so the 2024 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday is a key race.

2024 WINX STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Winx Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open class horses at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.

The Winx Stakes is run over 1400m. Its main home was always Warwick Farm but the last few runnings and occasionally in the past it has been at Randwick.

It was first run in 1923 and was won by Sunburst.

The Winx Stakes has been run basically at 1400m since its inception bar for a brief period in the 1930s.

It was previously known as the Warwick Stakes when it was a Group 2 race all the way until 2018 when it was upgraded to a Group 1 and renamed after the champion mare.

Winx winning in 2016 was her tenth win in a row as part of her amazing sequence and then her 18th in 2017. The 26th in a row was also her third consecutive win in the race.

Pablo's Pulse won the race in 1987 at 500-1. Samadoubt was an upset at 30-1 in 2019 but wasn't that big a roughie.

The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.

Many a horse's Cox Plate campaign has begun in this race and naturally that is true of Winx wins.

The 2017 edition was remarkable after Winx was fractious, banged against the barriers just before the jump and missed the start by four lengths. She took a time to wind up but just got up.

Anamoe led home five other 4yos in a domination by the age group in 2022.

Fangirl's 2023 win was Chris Waller's 150th G1 success in a race named after his great mare.

The 2024 Winx Stakes was run for prizemoney of $1,000,000.

Notable winners of the Winx Stakes include Fangirl (2023), Anamoe (2022), Mo'Unga (2021), Verry Elleegant (2020), Winx (2016/2017/2018), Racing To Win (2008), Court's In Session (2006), Private Steer (2004), Lonhro (2001/2003), Defier (2002), Sunline (1999), Filante (1996/1997), Shaftesbury Avenue (1992), Super Impose (1990/1991), Kingston Town (1980/1981/1982), Sky High (1961/1962), Tulloch (1957), San Domenico (1950/1951), Bernborough (1946), Flight (1944), Chatham (1933/1934), Amounis (1930) and Limerick (1927/1928/1929).

The 2023 Winx Stakes was won by Fangirl from Princess Grace and Zaaki.