Australia's premier racehorse Winx had amazingly never won a barrier trial before Tuesday morning.
But at her 16th career trial, the six-year-old mare shot up the inside to win a 1000m heat on the Randwick course proper under Hugh Bowman.
Finishing three-quarters of a length away second was the Group I-placed juvenile Pariah while the popular Happy Clapper ran on strongly down the outside into third place, beaten another half-head. The time was 59.98 seconds on soft (5) ground.
"I guess winning the trial is unusual for her," trainer Chris Waller said.
"Both Hugh and I thought she might be doing a little bit too well at this stage of her preparation and just needed a stronger hit-out than normal because she's a bit heavier than what she normally is.
"So with today's trial I think she's right on track."
With both practice runs now out of the way, Winx is full steam ahead to the Group II Warwick Stakes (1400m) back at Randwick on August 19. The primary target of the preparation will be winning a third consecutive Group I Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28.
