Winx and a nod to one special mare
WINX is smarter than the average racehorse, jockey Hugh Bowman has revealed.
The seven- year- old will on Saturday embark on her tilt at a historic fourth- straight Cox Plate at the Valley.
“She’s very uncomplicated,” Bowman, who will attempt to steer Winx to a 29th- straight victory, said.
“She’s very straightforward. What I loved about ( yesterday morning’s gallop) … when I cantered off in front of the crowd, she was very relaxed.
“She was above herself. She would have just jumped straight on the bridle and she would have tried to take off down the hill before I was ready, but she just cantered calmly down the side.
“When we got to the 1200m mark, she knew where that was and she knew I was going to let her go a bit quicker. And before I let her, she took me quicker. All the signs are there … she’s a very intelligent individual.”
Bowman, 38, said Winx “loves it here” at the Valley.
“I remember the first time I worked her here in 2016 – the first time she’d been back after the first Cox Plate win – and she got to where I let her go in the first Cox Plate and just took off on me. I think she knows the track better than I do,” he said.
“She’s very uncomplicated. She’s a real athlete. She’s a very strong horse, but it’s controlled power and it’s something that I just try and control and save it for the race day.”
As for whether her ability has surged even further ahead, Bowman said only Saturday would tell.
“I think she’s a little bit more sensible within herself,” the jockey said. “She’s not as hyperactive. I think she’s a bit stronger physically.
“Is she better? It’s very hard to judge. But she certainly hasn’t gone backwards. I think I’m a little more comfortable this year than I was last year.”