Winx to wait for Bowman

Chris Waller will delay the return of Winx until next month’s Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick, so jockey Hugh Bowman can continue his association with the champion mare.

Winx had been scheduled to return in the Apollo Stakes on February 17 but Bowman will be serving the second of two careless riding suspensions after failing in an appeal on Monday.

Waller stated in a press release that Bowman was a crucial part of Winx’s 22-race winning streak.

‘‘Hugh Bowman is a very important part of Winx and we feel that we can go straight into the Chipping Norton first up without the need to resume in the Apollo Stakes as we had originally planned,’’ Waller said in a release.

‘‘She races well fresh and we are well ahead of schedule with her, so I will simply give her a third trial to ensure her fitness levels are high enough to compete at her best in this race.

‘‘Should Hugh have been suspended in the middle or late in the preparation closer to her significant targets we would have opted to use a suitable replacement rider for Winx, however we are in the fortunate position that we can alter her starting point without affecting her main targets this preparation.

‘‘We continue to be overwhelmed by the support shown towards Winx and do not take for granted the impact she has on her fans and followers throughout Australia and across the world.’’

Winx ran fifth in her second barrier trial on Monday and has options of having another trial or a raceday gallop to maintain fitness level before the Norton on March 3.

The trial would either be at Warwick Farm on Febuary 15 or Rosehill on February 19 where Bowman could ride her.

He also would be able to ride Winx in a race day gallop while suspended if Waller opts to do that.

The world’s best jockey said after the Monday’s trial that Winx was actually where he wanted her to be fitness wise but she saved her best for raceday.

‘‘She doesn’t go out with the mindset in a trial as compared to a race. It’s interesting how she knows it’s not game day,’’ Bowman said.

‘‘She was good in the barriers and seemed a lot more alert. It was all pretty smooth and can head to the races now wherever that may be.

‘‘We know what’s under the bonnet. So we’ll wait for prizemoney for that.’’