Chris Waller has claimed milestone Group One win as Winx trounced her rivals in the Epsom Handicap at Randwick.
As well as continuing Waller’s domination of premier mile races in Sydney, Winx also gave her trainer his 50th Group One success.
Winx
But it didn’t come without a major scare after Winx ran into trouble as jockey Hugh Bowman was trying to ease her out to make a run.
Winx was twice baulked between horses and Bowman had to wait until the 200m before he was able to fully test the mare.
Once into the clear, Winx had the leaders covered in a matter of strides and she powered away to beat Ecuador with Sons Of John taking the minor placing.
“She’s a superstar in the making,” Bowman said.
“I don’t like to get carried away but she got stood on her head at the 450 (metres).
“She had to get herself regathered, composed (and then) she won with authority.”
Waller has now won the past three Epsoms to match a hat-trick of Doncaster Mile wins that was brought up with Kermadec’s victory in the autumn.
He said he couldn’t watch for most of the straight when Winx was desperate for clear galloping room.
“I deadset closed my eyes hoping she’d come home safely,” he said.
