Hugh Bowman admitted he found himself in a spot where he didn't want to be on Winx in Saturday's $500,000 Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington but once the wonder mare found clear air she charged home for her 28th consecutive win and 21st at Group 1 level.
Settled back near the tail of the field, Winx found a spot on the inside of Grunt and Tally.
When those two horses were going nowhere in the straight, Bowman found a seam between Mighty Boss and Youngstar. Displaying her patented brand of acceleration, Winx lengthened stride to defeat her stablemate Youngstar (High Chaparral) by a length with Kings Will Dream (IRE) (Casamento) three-quarters of a length back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
Recently crowned the Australian Horse Of The Year for the third consecutive time, Winx is on track to win her fourth consecutive Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in three week's time.
"Isn't she just amazing, Usually I ride her so arrogantly and let her move into the race when it pleases me, but I didn't have that option today," Bowman said.
"I was on the inside of Grunt, who I have a healthy respect for, but I really didn't want to be there, but I didn't have much choice.
"When the pressure went on it was good because when we all settled into our positions the pace was quite steady and when the sprint went on those that couldn't quicken left a few options for me. But still, it was her champion qualities that came out in the end.
"That will do her good, she had to dig deep over the final 600 metres and it will bring her on nicely for her fourth Cox Plate."
Trainer Chris Waller said he was concerned when Winx was bottled up with nowhere to go in the early stages.
"She hasn't been there for a long time. I don't know when, but the Doncaster was one of those races," Waller said.
"It's the best way to ride a horse. It was a picture-perfect Bowman ride but you are weighing on a bit of luck and
"She had a bit of ground to make up, but we are at Flemington and it's the home of the racehorse really as they can get on the right leg, get through the gears, which she did today."
A $230,000 purchase by Magic Bloodstock out of the Coolmore draft at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Winx advances her record to 32 wins and 3 seconds from 38 starts with earnings of $19,884,925.
A 7yo daughter of former Darley shuttler Street Cry (IRE), Winx is a half-sister to Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino.
Her dam Vegas Showgirl, a dual Listed stakes-winning daughter of Al Akbar, was a $455,000 purchase by Colm Santry Bloodstock at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Vegas Showgirl has a 2yo Snitzel filly named Courchevel and a yearling filly by Exceed And Excel named Covent Garden.
She was bred back to Exceed and Excel last spring but failed to conceive.
