Trainer Chris Waller will take no chances when it comes to Winx, no matter how intense the interest in the champion mare’s next challenge after her record-equalling third Cox Plate.
Waller says Winx has pulled up remarkably well, with his stable staff reporting she is “fantastic” after enjoying an early morning trip to the beach on Sunday.
“That was music to my ears. It’s more important about that than any other part of the weekend really,” he told RSN927.
“She’s an amazing athlete.”
Winx held off a challenge from the Darren Weir-trained Humidor to equal Kingston Town’s three consecutive Cox Plates, breaking her own track record and notching her 22nd straight win.
Waller’s gut feeling immediately after the race was to send Winx to the spelling paddock, giving her a 40 per cent chance of running in the $2 million Group One Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 9.
He will decide in the next few days if she has another run this preparation.
“She’ll be well looked after either way she goes. The horse comes first,” he said.
“If the Mackinnon was $1000 or $2 million, it wouldn’t make one iota to this horse.”
The same applies to the question of whether Winx races overseas, a decision Waller has already said will be made after the $1 million Group One George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill on March 17.
A one-off appearance at Royal Ascot has been touted as a possible option, as well as a three-race campaign in England, France and Ireland.
“When you’re thinking about the horse and the competition she’s going to be up against, whether it be in two weeks, whether it be in the autumn, whether it be the other side of the world, she’ll only take them on if she’s at her very best,” Waller said.
Winx’s owners wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Chris Waller won’t take any chances with her whatsoever,” part-owner Peter Tighe said.
“So as much as we like to race her and the public likes to see her race, we’ve got to make sure that everything’s 100 per cent before we even consider it.”
Tighe admits he’s curious about how Winx would fare overseas.
“We said we wanted the world to come to us and a lot of them have done and we’ve beaten them,” he said.
“So it leaves a challenge for us to go over there and have a look at what’s going on and see what can come of it, but it’s definitely going to be up to her that she can come back next year fit, healthy well and have a zest for racing.”
