Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), who was unsurprisingly on Thursday named NSW Horse of the Year, has drawn barrier two of eight for her 6-year-old debut in Saturday's G2 Warwick S. at Randwick. Australia's highest-rated horse and the world's highest-rated mare and turf horse bested Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) in last year's Warwick to kick off another unbeaten campaign that encompassed six Group 1 wins, including a Cox Plate title defense and a 5 1/2-length victory in the Queen Elizabeth S. Winx shoots for her 18th consecutive win on Saturday, and trainer Chris Waller told Racenet.com.au after the mare worked 1000 metres on Thursday, “She's exactly where we want her to be. Each preparation has been a little bit different and quite remarkably she seems to be getting a little bit bigger and stronger, and the scales would suggest that as well. We are happy with her, she has done the work required for Saturday and we are looking forward to the race. It's not a matter of asking her to improve, at this stage of her career it's just a matter of maintaining her. To see her in such good health, her body language suggests she's a very happy horse and has still got that enthusiasm to race, so we're really looking forward to the year ahead.”
Winx is the overwhelming $1.08 favourite to continue her parade, and her opposition includes last season's G1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}) and G1 Coolmore Legacy S. winner Foxplay (Aus) (Foxwedge {Aus}).
Across the country at Caulfield, Hartnell will avoid Winx first-up when he lines up in Saturday's G2 PB Lawrence S. Among the opposition of the Group 1-winning gelding are last season's G1 CF Orr S. and G1 Futurity S. winner Black Heart Bart (Aus) (Blackfriars {Aus}) and Japanese import Tosen Stardom (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
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