WINX FIRES OMINOUS WARNING

Champion mare shows no signs of age catching up

WINX, the champion mare who has made winning a habit, wasn’t racing for prizemoney but she was still compelling to watch at Royal Randwick yesterday.

Trainer Chris Waller arranged for Winx to have a simulated race against three of her stablemates in a 1000m jumpout just before the first event, giving punters and fans who got to the track early the opportunity to watch the world’s best racehorse strut her stuff.

As always, Winx didn’t disappoint. She sat behind her three rivals for most of the trial before jockey Hugh Bowman let her rip in the straight, accelerating clear to win by 1½ lengths.

Winx, who is on a 26-race winning streak stretching more than three years, was individually timed to run her final 600m in 33.17s with a final 200m sectional split of a brilliant 10.52s.

“Believe it or not, because I held her up and didn’t let her work into it like I would in a race she didn’t go through her ‘gears’ as well,’’ Bowman said.

“But you could see the last 50m she was using herself superbly and really stretching towards the winning post.’’

Winx will have four weeks between runs when she races next in the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Septem- ber 15. “Today was just about filling the gap between runs and stop the trainer from getting anxious,’’ Waller said.

“You can work them hard at home but a trial like she has just had gets her blood pumping. It is an easier way to get her fit rather than crunching her on the training tracks.

“The trial today basically simulated a very easy race and she will be back here in two weeks ready to go.’’

Waller said seven-year-old Winx retains her enthusiasm for racing and said there are no signs that age is catching up with the mare.

“I’m looking at her body language everyday and it is so positive,’’ Waller.

“She wants to do it, she is enjoying her job and enjoying the people she has around her. She’s a very happy horse.’’

The George Main Stakes, where Winx is aiming for a 20th Group 1 win, could be the great mare’s final start in Sydney this spring before she is sent to Melbourne to continue her quest for an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next month.

“I haven’t put too much thought into what happens after the next run,” Waller said. “I doubt we’d be changing much unless there was reason to change.”

Waller used the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington as Winx’s final Cox Plate leadup race last year.