Winx Returns A Winner

Last year's G1 Cox Plate winner Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) picked up right where she left off in her first start back Saturday, winning Randwick's 1400 metre G2 Apollo S. untroubled and extending her win streak to six. Traveling just off the pace and near the inside, the bay came under only a handride from jockey Hugh Bowman in the lane and, once she put the stubborn Solicit (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) away inside the final furlong, was geared down to win by a length in a time of 1:22.03 (stretch run replay). Trainer Chris Waller admitted after the race he was tense about the return of one of the best he has trained.

“Today was probably the most nervous I have been in recent years,” trainer Chris Waller said. “The early days were pretty nervous when I was getting there my first time, but there is a sense of importance with a horse on the cusp of being a super star, and in our eyes she already is, but I feel it is important for racing to keep her winning,” said Waller. “I just think that it is fantastic for racing and I hope everyone is with us. Every race is important now, the Queen Elizabeth is a bonus because of the prize money, but every race will be taken very seriously as they always are.”

Winx, who won the Cox Plate by nearly five lengths and also took last year's G1 Queensland Oaks and G1 Epsom H., now has the A$4 million G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at The Championships firmly on her radar. Jockey Hugh Bowman expressed confidence the filly would continue to thrive through the season.

“I started to feel that we were here for an occasion when everyone started to line the fence to take a photo of her on the way out,” Bowman said. “She has really drawn the attention of anyone in racing and beyond.”

“It is early on for her,” Bowman added. “She is in the infancy of her career I think. She certainly put the writing on the wall in the spring and she has had a good return and hopefully she will continue on this path. She is a special mare and it is a privilege to be part of her.”