Given credence to the fact that she travels even better the Melbourne way of going and getting to 2000 metres for the first time this prep, Winx was never out of a second gear in a breathtaking six and a half-length romp in Saturday's $500,000 Group I Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Settled back in
When Bowman let the reins out a notch, Winx put the race to bed in a matter of strides as fans rose as one to give the champion daughter of Street Cry (IRE) a rousing reception at her first start on the Flemington track.
Lindsay Park's Irish import Ventura Storm (IRE) defeated Humidor by three-quarters of a length in the battle for second. (photo Grant Courtney)
It was the 21st consecutive win for the great
The 6yo mare is rapidly honing down on the record earnings of $14,526,685 set by the triple Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva.
With her 14th Group I success, Winx will take top spot should she win her third consecutive Cox Plate, which will be next start in three weeks time.
"She certainly enjoyed it (Flemington]," Bowman said.
"I got a clean break from the barriers and it was all pretty much smooth sailing from there.
"She's settled into Melbourne very comfortably. She's just a dream to be a part of, so uncomplicated and a dream to ride in a race.
"There's a lot of nervous energy that surrounds the mare now that she reaches the stage of history.
"Every time she goes onto the track now she is rewriting the history books and to be a part of that is a great honour.
"I've ridden around the world but nothing has quite prepared me for the ride this girl is taking me on.
"I just try and concentrate on my job and she does make it easy for me.
"It's hard to put into words, it's a real feeling thing as it is with every horse, but this mare is taking all of our lives to a new level."
Choked with emotion winning trainer Chris Waller barely managed, "Makes me feel pretty special, what a great horse.
"She's very special."
"She was certainly comfortable with the pace today. She may not have been winning by big margins in Sydney but they were very different circumstances and I think one day she broke 32 seconds for the last 600 metres and over a mile that's pretty special.
"When she gets wound up and
"There's no training manual for horses like Winx.
"She's got heavier every preparation, she keeps changing and keeps delivering.
"Last preparation she was 10 kilos heavier than the first Cox Plate and This preparation she's 10 kilos heavier than last time. Once she starts racing she holds her weight the whole prep.
"She's going as well as ever and we're in for a hell of a race in three weeks' time"
Bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, Winx was a $230,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Coolmore draft for Peter Tighe's Magic Bloodstock.
A half-sister to Group III Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino, Winx is out of the Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl who has an
Vegas Showgirl a yearling Snitzel filly and foaled a filly by Exceed And Excel on September 16.
