Champion shocks long time track watchers at Flemington

World champion race mare Winx left track watchers gasping with her gallop at Flemington in preparation for Saturday’s A$500,000 Turnbull Stakes.

Those close to the mare were stunned at the workout and the times that Australia’s finest racehorse reeled off in the early morning workout on Monday.

As the countdown continued to Winx’s Flemington debut, the dual Cox Plate winner, who only arrived in Melbourne late last week, left those in the powerful Chris Waller team elated.

On Saturday, Winx could be racing in front of the biggest audience of her decorated career, with a possible 40,000 expected at Flemington to see the champion mare tackle the Group I encounter.

Working over 1200 metres and trailing stablemate Japonisme by 200m at one point, the mare steadily built momentum and was soon running times rarely seen at Flemington.

As one veteran trackwatcher said ‘‘those sort of times are reserved for champions’’.

Winx, aiming for her 21st victory in a row on Saturday, was working on the course proper in a bid to become accustomed to the long straights at the home of the Melbourne Cup.

Winx attacked the line well. Both Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman could not have been happier with her first serious gallop since arriving in Melbourne.

‘‘It was a good workout which she recovered quickly from, I am therefore happy with her fitness,’’ Waller said.

She ran approximately one minute, four seconds for the

1000m, closing her final 400m in

23s, although a tracking chip in the saddle which timed the gallop by satellite suggested she may have clocked 21s over the final 400m. Winx faces 10 rivals.