Nash Rawiller believes front-running 1400m specialist Beiwacht remains “untapped” as he tries to upstage superstar mares Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi on Saturday in the Winx Stakes at Randwick.

The first clash between Autumn Glow and Sheza Alibi has lifted the group 1 opener of the season to new heights and the resuming pair have dominated betting.

Autumn Glow, with a perfect record of 11 wins before finishing third when stepping up to 2000m last start in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, was a $1.85 favourite after drawing gate three and having what trainer Chris Waller described as a perfect lead-in.

Sheza Alibi, the dominant Randwick Guineas and Doncaster champion in the spring, was out to $3.10 after drawing gate one in a 14-horse field featuring eight Waller runners.

Co-trainer Peter Moody conceded the draw “probably presents a few challenges” for Sheza Alibi but said “with even luck, we go there without an excuse”.

“She can run very well, but Autumn Glow is a deserved favourite,” Moody told his podcast.

“She’s the best horse in the country, out of the best stable in the country, ridden by the best jockey in the country.”

Outside the headline acts in the Winx Stakes are 11 group 1 winners, although Waller-trained Aeliana and Barnavara may be kept for next week’s Memsie Stakes after drawing wide.

Four-year-old entire Beiwacht ($16) shapes as the main chance of an upset given his two runs at 1400m have been group 1 wins. He won the Golden Rose in track record time and produced a similar front-running effort to beat a class field in the All Aged.

“We’ve got to protect his value so if he’s there, he’s there to win,” Waller said of Beiwacht.

Rawiller was aboard for the All Aged Stakes and his two trials back, and he was pleased with the draw in four.

“He just feels a little untapped,” Rawiller said.

“He’s trialled up nicely and I just feel he’s got a good future ahead of him, so I’m keen to try and follow him when I can.”

Rawiller has also had recent success with Winx runners Lindermann and Gringotts. Lindermann’s last run was beating Autumn Glow when second to Sir Delius in the Queen Elizabeth, and Rawiller hoped to reunite soon with the veteran.

“I was hoping Lindermann might go to Melbourne [for next week’s Memsie Stakes] because there was discussion that they may occur, it still might if the track’s wet, so I guess we’re just keeping options open a little bit, probably with both horses, so we’ll see what happens,” he said.

Rawiller also had high hopes for Brad Widdup-trained Savvy Hallie in the Toy Show Quality (1100m).

“I love her, and she’s trialled nicely,” he said.

“She’s good fresh and she looks like she’s in for a good prep.

“Her trial the other day, it really gives you a lot of confidence going into that race on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Winx part-owner Debbie Kepitis was pleased to have two chances in the race renamed after her legendary mare in 2018 and sponsored by the 25-time group 1 winner’s ownership.

Kepitis, daughter of the late Bob Ingham, owns Lindermann and is part of the Ingham family ownership of Fangirl.

“To have such a formidable entry list is just showing what a great group 1 at the start of the season it is,” Kepitis said.

“It’s a phenomenal field. Lindermann is such a stalwart for us, we couldn’t be prouder of our boy.”

Adding to the occasion is the return of Winx’s jockey, Hugh Bowman, from Hong Kong.

“It’s nice to have Hugh back in town and to have him ride Lindermann,” she said.

“We’ve got a fabulous connection and once he’s back in Australia and retired it will be wonderful to catch up more often.”

The race could be a farewell for Fangirl, which won the Winx Stakes in 2023.

“It depends what she lets us know,” Kepitis said.

“If she shows that she’s ready to go out, that will happen, but she’s an amazing horse that you just pinch yourself we were fortunate enough to have bred her and for her to race on as long as she has at such a level.”

Kepitis paid a record $10 million for Winx’s first live foal, a filly she called Quinceanera, which was retired this year without racing.

“She’s lining up this year for a cover, but there’s no set stallion as yet,” she said.

“It’s possibly Super Seth, Home Affairs, and there are others as well.”

She said no decision had been made about the future of Winx’s Snitzel colt, which was withdrawn from the yearling sales after a paddock accident.

“He’s just ticking along. The setback put him out of the sale, but he’s coming along beautifully and maturing,” she said.

“We’ll just let the horse tell us when he’s ready and what he’s ready for and we’ll make a decision as a group then. Nothing has been decided.”