Winx a class above
WINX is as Winx does - and she does it better than any other horse in Australia with a lot less effort.
The champion mare has cruised to her 11th straight win and her seventh at Group I level, to claim the George Main Stakes at Randwick in front of an adoring crowd yesterday.
And she did it without seeming to break a sweat, ambling past Hauraki and holding him at bay by one and a quarter lengths and showing no signs of any problems after her trainer Chris Waller felt compelled to report a slight graze on her knee.
‘‘It was very tradesmanlike,’’ Waller said.
‘‘She just does what is asked of her.
‘‘We didn’t want her to have a gut buster but it was a good win leading to the Caulfield Stakes and the Cox Plate.’’
Although no other horse racing at the highest level has the record to challenge the unbeaten Black Caviar, Winx is carving into some other standards.
At $1.09 she was the shortestpriced Group I winner in Sydney this century and her 11 in a row equals a winning streak by the great Kingston Town in the 1980s.
She may have only had five runners to beat in the George Main but she let them all go ahead of her at the start.
Her jockey Hugh Bowman didn’t bustle her and she caught up at her leisure.
‘‘She just threw her head as the gates opened,’’ Bowman said.
‘‘That led me to the decision to where I rode her which I was happy to do. I was happy to ride her that way.
‘‘It wasn’t a fast pace, but I feel so much confidence in her.
‘‘I’m just trying to do my job and trying not to get too wrapped up in it all.
‘‘She is going to meet better horses now she’s ticked this box but I’m under no illusions.
‘‘She’s beaten inferior oppo- Getty Images sition today, but there is going to be nowhere to hide when we get to Melbourne.’’
Waller admits Caulfield will present a new challenge for Winx whose only start in Melbourne was last October when she won the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.
‘‘That has always been the plan so nothing, has changed there,’’ he said.
‘‘You always look at other races but it looks to fit in nicely.
‘‘Caulfield is probably not perfect for a Sydney horse first time but she’s just got that ability to switch herself around and finish off from wherever she is.’’
Meanwhile, Hartnell’s devastating Hill Stakes win has rocketed him to Caulfield Cup favouritism.
And Godolphin trainer John O’Shea believes that would be his best hope of winning a spring Group I.
Jockey James McDonald had time to stroke Hartnell’s mane as he cruised over the line with more than five lengths separating him from the rest of the field in Saturday’s Group II at Randwick.
He justified his $1.40 quote while Chris Waller-trained horses Who Shot Thebarman ($21) and Storm The Stars ($15) filled the placings.
Hartnell repeated his dominant Chelmsford Stakes win where he smashed a field in a race which was run without Winx after she was scratched due to the heavy track.
‘‘Wow - he’s just come back in amazing order,’’ McDonald said.
In Hartnell’s only run last preparation he finished fifth in the Chipping Norton Stakes and was subsequently ruled out of the autumn carnival after a minor setback.