Champion mare Winx has impressed in her final piece of work in preparation for Saturday's Group II Warwick Stakes at Randwick.
Winx worked solo over 1000m for champion jockey Hugh Bowman under the watchful eye of trainer Chris Waller.
Winx stretching out for the media @rosehillgardenspic.twitter.com/7YSforrPjU
— Australian Turf Club (@atc_races) 16 August 2017
Waller is confident in Winx's preparation ahead of her return even suggesting the mare had improved.
"She's exactly where we want her to be," Waller said. "Each preparation has been a little bit different and quite remarkably she seems to be getting a little bit bigger and stronger, and the scales would suggest that as well.
"We are happy with her, she has done the work required for Saturday and we are looking forward to the race.
"It's not a matter of asking her to improve, at this stage of her career it's just a matter of maintaining her.
"To see her in such good health, her body language suggests she's a very happy horse and has still got that enthusiasm to race, so we're really looking forward to the year ahead."
Waller believes the secret to managing the world's highest rated horse on turf is to keep it simple.
"We've found the more you complicate things the harder it becomes," Waller said.
"She's just a natural athlete and seems to get herself out of problems and whether she is back, forward or wide she seems to cope with all situations.
"I wouldn't say it's an air of confidence but we certainly know what we've got.
"We know that she's a very good horse and it's going to take a very good horse to beat her, and that day will come but until it does we'll just go about our job which is making sure she is in the best possible condition."
Even the usually laid-back Hugh Bowman is getting caught up in the Winx hysteria.
"She's full of nervous energy as am I, looking forward to Saturday," Bowman said.
"She's in really good shape, she's come along really well in this early stage of the preparation."
Both Waller and Bowman are focused on the preparation at hand, although both acknowledge that a trip overseas to take on the world is something being considered.
"We've all got it in the back of our mind, the big races around the world but the fact is Australia is among the best races in the world and travelling a horse isn't as easy as it may appear," Waller said.
"We're in no rush, we've got some great races coming up in Australia and obviously this Spring here in Sydney is a big part of our racing calendar and then it leads into Melbourne as well."
Bowman echoed these thoughts.
"It would be lovely to see her go overseas if it's in her best interest and I think at this stage, for me personally, it's just about getting through this preparation and it would be lovely to see her win a third Cox Plate that'd be making history in itself," he said.
"If she can achieve that goal I'm sure it'd be on the table."
Winx faces just seven rivals in the $250,000 event and is $1.08 to claim her 18th straight victory at Randwick on Saturday.
