Racing: Winx back in style at trials

Winx delighted jockey Hugh Bowman by finishing third in her trial and is due to resume next month.

Winx's first public outing of her spring carnival campaign was what we have come to expect.

Australian racing's queen was not asked for any exertion by her jockey Hugh Bowman at yesterday's Randwick trials but she still managed to reveal a small glimpse of what is under the bonnet.

The result shows that she finished third in the 900m heat, a length-and-a-half behind Diamond Tathagata (winning time of 53.6s), but it is the manner in which she glided to the line that caught the eye, reports Racing.com.

And when you are regarded as the best turf horse on the planet, such actions should ooze class.

The way in which Winx trialled is typical of what she has produced in previous preparations and what is the norm for horses trained by Chris Waller.

She settled back towards the tail of the field, cruised behind her rivals and then quickened while still not being pressured by Bowman.

Trials are trials, there is no glory for being bustled to show a maximum effort.

That comes on race day and for Winx, her return to the track will be made on August 19 in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick, the same kick-off point from her spring campaign 12 months ago.

"It is like a pre-season game, we wanted to just make sure she got to this morning in good shape, reasonable fitness and she has and the trial itself has gone well also," said Waller.

"The nerves aren't too bad, it is great to see her back in this shape and she looks to have a good preparation ahead.

"She will have another trial in two weeks, August 8, and then off to the races here at Randwick on August 19, the 1400m Warwick Stakes.

"That will be her starting point, there are a lot of options in the spring and that can be determined by which way you go with the weather, just making sure we get not too much rain.

"If we get heavy tracks it makes their runs more taxing and you could look at spreading her races out.

"We have definitely got the first race mapped out and what follows on from there we will see."

Winx's campaign is being geared towards a third Cox Plate and whether she has another run in Melbourne first will be a topic generating significant debate.

As for how Winx has returned, Waller now feels she is physically at her peak.

"I think she has finally developed into a mature race horse, she is as strong as you will ever see her, we purposely don't let her get too heavy so then we are not making it hard to get back to full fitness again," he said.

"It is like a person who has six weeks off, turning up to the gym expecting to have a really hard work out, we like to have her in good shape during her break and her work was excellent."

Bowman said yesterday's trial was as good as what she has ever produced.

"She felt great, she is in a really good frame of mind and her action is exactly how it was when she left off last preparation, she feels to me as though she has strengthened up a little bit, natural development, it is probably as good as she has ever trialled in all honesty," he said.

"She was very relaxed early on in the trial and you will see in the replay, when I got some open space in the final 200m she really went to search for the line.

"She feels great and her manners are exactly how they have always been, perfect."

WINX'S CAMPAIGN

• August 19: Warwick Stakes (1400m), Randwick.

• Sept 2: Chelmsford Stakes (1600m), Randwick.

• Sept 16: George Main Stakes (1600m), Randwick.

• Oct 14: Craven Plate (2000m), Randwick OR Caulfield Stakes (2000m) Caulfield.

• Oct 28: Cox Plate (2040m), Moonee Valley