Drama third as Winx wins again

Endless Drama produced a solid effort when finishing third of 12 to two outstanding horses in today's rearranged Aus$250,000 Gr.2 Star Apollo Stakes at Randwick in Australia.

Racing in the colours of Qatar Bloodstock under jockey Tye Angland, Endless Drama (pictured right in track work under Angland) briefly took up the running as they entered the home straight, but was quickly collared by his stablemate, Australia's great new champion, Winx, who readily pulled clear. Hartnell, a dual Group One winner, came out of the pack in fruitless pursuit of the leader, who has been his nemesis on a number of occasions in the past.

Winx, ridden by usual jockey Hugh Bowman, won by two and a half lengths from Hartnell, and there was another six and a half lengths back to Endless Drama, but his good effort confirmed the move down under from Europe he was formerly in training in Ireland with Ger Lyons was one worth making.

In advance of the race which was due to be run on Saturday, but delayed for 48 hours due to extreme heat conditions Waller had warned that the Apollo Stakes would be a very tough task for Endless Drama on just his second start for the yard, but he was keen to set the five-year-old up for further targets ahead.

In that respect the race went as planned, but the outcome was all about Winx, whose win was her 14th in succession. Bowman said: ‚"It was a genuinely run 1,400m [race], and she was caught a little flat-footed when the pace quickened at the 600m marker on any other horse I would have been a little concerned, but not on Winx. It's great to be part of her, and great for the industry.‚"

Waller said: ‚"It is a very humbling experience and a privilege to be part of her career.‚"

McKay takes the eye with Naas win

Carter McKay, who races in the colours of Sheikh Fahad's Pearl Bloodstock, is now disputing favouritism for the Cheltenham Festival's Champion Bumper.

The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old scored impressively at Naas on Saturday, adding to an earlier win at Leopardstown in December. He was ridden each time by the trainer's son, Patrick.

A son of leading Jumps stallion Martaline, Carter McKay was purchased by the Sheikh and his bloodstock advisor David Redvers at Goffs UK's Aintree Sale, held in April last year during the Grand National meeting. Just before his ring appearance he had won an Irish point-to-point for handler Nicky Stokes.