Winx shows Waller he had nothing to worry about
SYDNEY: For the first time in about two years, Chris Waller has had to study the form trying to decipher why some experts thought Winx was vulnerable in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Saturday.
He need not have worried as the mare again showed why she is rated the world’s best with her 25th consecutive win to equal Black Caviar, and her 18th at group 1 level.
She was ridden cold by Hugh Bowman from the outside barrier at Randwick and made her customary move approaching the home turn.
Bowman took her to the outside and let her loose down the Randwick straight where she accelerated to sweep past
Gailo Chop
($26) to win by
33⁄4 lengths with Happy
Clapper ($11) running on for third.
Although she dominated the market at $1.24, she was as short as $1.15 earlier in the week, prompting Waller’s concerns.
‘‘For the first time in a long time I sat down and went through the opposition,’’ Waller said.
‘‘I have every respect for the other horses in the race like Humidor, Gailo Chop and, of course, Happy Clapper but she has been going as well as ever.
‘‘I knew I had done my job but it is always a relief when she wins.
‘‘It’s hard to describe what she can do.’’
What she can do is run her final 600m in 33.48sec with seeming ease.
For Waller, the buildup to the Queen Elizabeth Stakes had been a little different with media from the United States, Japan, France and England in Sydney.
‘‘It’s been a learning curve,’’ Waller said.
‘‘We’re at a stage now we are used to this constant pressure which is pretty intense.
‘‘As you see the great sporting coaches, I love watching them, seeing how they cope with losses. You don’t stop learning.’’
One person who does know the pressure is retired trainer Peter Moody, who guided Black Caviar throughout her career and was on hand to see Winx equal her record.
‘‘Winx is unbelievable,’’ he said.
‘‘It’s a joy watching her and there’s no pressure on me.’’
Bowman does not show his emotions as much as Winx’s trainer, ever mindful of the job he has to do.
‘‘I’m so proud of her and I’m just so proud to be a part of it,’’ he said.
‘‘There’s so many cogs to the wheel and I know I get the dream ride here today.
‘‘God forbid if something went wrong it wouldn’t be a good place to be, but she’s so exceptional, she is able to overcome everything and what a pleasure she is for sport.
‘‘I know I’ve got the engine to round them up, but I can’t do it on my own.
‘‘The bottom line is she’s got lengths on her rivals. It makes it easy for me.’’ — AAP