Winx starts farewell in style

‘‘I was in pure control, or she was in pure control, from the 600 metres when the pressure started to build,’’ jockey Hugh Bowman said.

‘‘As we have seen over this distance previously, she can be just left a bit flat-footed. But because of the even pace of the race, it wasn’t the case today.

‘‘As I went past Sam [Clipperton, on Happy Clapper], I just really asked her to really put in and give her full effort and she did.’’

Chris Waller admitted the decision to come back for a farewell campaign had weighed heavily on him after the fourth Cox Plate last spring. Winx showed she was still an elite athlete, probably the best to grace the turf of Randwick in more than 150 years, with another show of dominance. But it was relief for the premier trainer.

‘‘It is quite unbelievable,’’ Waller said. ‘‘We had a glimpse of it with Black Caviar, she set the scene in recent years, with Makybe Diva, and now Winx is following on from them. It’s a great sport and she’s a true headline act.

‘‘Racing’s in a great position for having stars on the track. But to tell you the truth, it’s a total relief. It’s been our decision to push on a bit further and there are always the challenges involved in that and how people perceive it.

‘‘There is always a small percentage of people who are a bit negative as to the reasons why we are pushing on. But the reason to push on was Winx. We have looked after her pretty well, she is still enjoying her racing and we look after her. This is better for racing for her to be here.’’

Waller was not the only trainer with a smile. Pat Webster was delighted with the effort of Happy Clapper.

‘‘I just wanted to see him back and he showed he is still a very good racehorse, but he ran into the best,’’ Webster said. ‘‘He beat the rest easily; it is on to the Chipping Norton for another second.’’