Australia’s best racehorse Winx has continued her march towards a second Cox Plate triumph with a lead-up win against two rivals at Caulfield.
Taking on Black Heart Bart and He Or She in the Group One Caulfield Stakes, Winx made it 12 wins in a row in taking out the weight-for-age race.
In a slowly run Group One contest, Winx sat outside Black Heart Bart before getting on level terms at the top of the straight.
It took Winx another 200m to shake off Black Heart Bart before the Sydney mare drew clear under Hugh Bowman.
Bowman said Winx wasn’t at home at Caulfield, a track which has a history of bringing some of Sydney’s best horses undone.
“She got a little uncomfortable on the corner,” Bowman said.
“Some horses can do that here. It was a vital stage. I wanted to help her through that period. I wanted to wait until she was balanced.”
Trainer Chris Waller said Bowman’s calm manner in the saddle was an asset for Winx.
“Hugh Bowman is sensational. He does not panic,” Waller said.
Bookmakers have kept Winx at $1.90 to win the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 22 while Black Heart Bart has eased from $12 to $15.
