Con Te Partiro who starts in Saturday's Group 1 Winx Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Australia, may be a familiar name to racing fans in the United States.

In 2016, Con Te Partiro was a stakes winner for trainer Wesley Ward at Saratoga and at Royal Ascot the following year. Con Te Partiro has been based in Australia in the last year and won two Group 1 races earlier this year.

The Winx Stakes at seven furlongs is the start of a late year campaign that could lead to a start in a Breeders' Cup race at Keeneland on Nov. 7, according to co-trainer Adrian Bott. In Australia, partnership can train together. Bott works with the legendary Gai Waterhouse.

Earlier this week, Bott said in an email that Con Te Partiro has trained well in recent weeks in advance of the Winx Stakes, a race that lacks a clear favorite.

"We are extremely pleased with her going into Saturday’s race," Bott said. "She has returned this preparation in great shape, quite possibly the best she has been in. She seems to be enjoying her work at present, she has a good routine and it is helping us achieve the results with her. She has certainly had a few quirks to deal with but she has (worked) impressively leading into the Group 1 Winx Stakes. We are going to try to have her as forward as we can before the race."1

Con Te Partiro has the ability to stalk the pace, and Bott expects her to be prominent in a field of 16 from post 2.

"She has drawn ideally for this race with a soft inside draw," Bott said. "There looks to be plenty of speed to her outside. Ideally we would love to see her use her tactical gate speed to hold a prominent position. With that speed out wide, it should help create a genuine tempo in the race."

The Australian winter is nearing an end, leading to many of the nation's leading stakes in their spring. Winx will have a few more Group 1 opportunities in coming weeks and months before a decision is made on the Breeders' Cup, Bott said.

"At this stage the plan is to still bring her to America and compete in the Breeders' Cup," Bott said. "The current plan is to have three runs in Group 1 races before travelling to the US. Obviously given the current climate, that can change. Ultimately the decision would be down to the owners."

The Royal Randwick program begins at 10 p.m., Eastern, or 7 p.m., Pacific, on Friday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. The Winx Stakes is the seventh race on the program.