All eyes on Winx as record beckons

The attention on Winx continues to grow – 22 wins on end does that. But heading into perhaps her most defining preparation, there is an incredible comfortableness about the men around her.

The anticipation of her return in tomorrow’s group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Randwick, and what might be beyond in the form of an international campaign, surrounds Winx’s every move.

It no longer fazes trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman; they embrace and enjoy it.

Missing a preparation run in the Apollo Stakes has added to the theatre, but is not seen as a problem for either trainer or jockey, who have confidence about going to a mile first-up.

The truth is nothing should, or would, worry the pair about Winx, whose legacy is sealed as a three-time Cox Plate winner.

The record books are her friend. If she wins tomorrow, it will be her 16th group 1, equalling the world record for a flat-racing horse held by US galloper John Henry, and surpassing Black Caviar.

‘‘It is quite a remarkable record. Any sporting team would be proud of it and we are certainly proud of it,’’ Waller noted after she rolled down the Rosehill straight in front of the media yesterday.

‘‘It is a good starting point for her on Saturday. There are a few horses there that have had first-up runs and perhaps they have a fitness edge on her. [But] she is ready to go.’’

Bowman noticed signs last preparation that Winx was on edge. She was keener, even agitated. She didn’t want to be in the barriers and bombed the start at her return. But heading into tomorrow, the signs are better.

‘‘The first question Chris asked me when I got off her, ‘How is she compared to last preparation?’ The short answer is she’s more settled, which suggests to me that she’s happier in her own skin,’’ Bowman said. ‘‘Trying to determine if she is better or worse, until we get to the races and see her perform, it’s a question we can’t answer, but mentally and physically she couldn’t be in a better position.

‘‘I think she is more excited about race day than we are.

‘‘She has been going really nicely all preparation and this morning suggested she is ready to go to the races.

‘‘She settled down after her work really nicely whereas, this time last prep, it took her quite a while to relax. To me that’s a really good sign.’’

Waller sees it as well, and marvels at the horse Winx has become as she approaches three years without a race defeat.

‘‘She is a lot easier horse to train now than when she was four. With age she has matured and become a strong horse,’’ he said. ‘‘She copes with her racing and training better and is handling it better mentally.

‘‘There are so many positive signs that she is just as well now as she has ever been.

‘‘There’s certainly no signs of her training off or suggesting she doesn’t want to be a racehorse.’’

The Chipping Norton has been Winx’s playground for the past two years. For Waller and Bowman, it is a race they have dominated for the past seven years.

The winner has come from Waller’s Rosehill yard six times in that period and Bowman has been in the saddle for five of them, the exception being Boban in 2014.

Waller said the hardest thing about the past month had been waiting to see Winx back on race day, even for the trainer.

‘‘The hardest thing is waiting. From the Cox Plate, you are already planning towards this preparation, and that was some four or five months ago,’’ he said.

‘‘You are always steadily building ... and you are just waiting for the day to come around.

‘‘Everything has gone to plan and we wouldn’t change anything in any way.’’

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times