All Systems Go for Winx in Colgate Optic White

Australia's superstar mare Winx is in "picture perfect condition," according to her trainer Chris Waller, as she bids to register a record 27th consecutive win in the Colgate Optic White Stakes (registered as the group 1 George Main Stakes) over 1,600 meters at Randwick Sept. 15.

The champion mare has enjoyed a faultless preparation since her scintillating first-up success in the race named in her honor, the Winx Stakes (registered as the group 1 Warwick Stakes) at 1,400 meters last month—a victory that saw her surpass the previous record of 25 straight wins held by the unbeaten champion Black Caviar.

HAYNES: Winx Scores 26th Straight Victory

Following a strong gallop Sept. 10, regular partner Hugh Bowman rode the daughter of Street Cry in a workout at Rosehill over 1,000 meters Sept. 13, after which the mare was the subject of scrupulous attention at her now customary photo shoot.

"Having four weeks between races is pretty straightforward now, but it's four weeks to worry about things," Waller said. "What you are going to do with her, what you need to do, and when you need to do it. You do need to keep them up to their work, because they can easily train off.

"She certainly hasn't gone backwards, and what more can I say? She is pleasing us at home in her general self, and that's so important. She's in picture perfect-condition.

"Two weeks ago we took her to Randwick for a jump-out. That gets the adrenaline pumping, gets her on the horse truck, gets her used to the crowd, so that was an important part. Since then her regular maintenance has gone to plan. She had a very good gallop on Monday morning. Hugh and I and the whole team were very happy with that."

Bowman was quick to echo Waller's sentiments and believes the 7-year-old is in the ideal shape ahead of her second assignment this preparation, which will culminate in a tilt at an unprecedented fourth William Hill Cox Plate (G1).

"She is in great order and has come on well since her last run," the jockey said. "I'm very comfortable with where she is at. A lot more comfortable leading into the second up run, because we have seen her come to the races and perform at the level we know she can, and stepping up to the 1,600 meters on the weekend is a more suitable distance for her.

"She worked with a partner and it's the first time she worked in company this preparation. It was a very strong piece of work, and she is certainly ready to go. We are just trying to keep her as relaxed as we can ahead of the big day."

As is always the case, Bowman will take no chances with Winx from a tactical perspective and confessed he was relieved to have the guarantee of an honest pace in Saturday's group 1 contest.

"I've ridden (Religify) quite a bit, so I know him well, and his style of racing is to go at a nice, even pace, which suits him," he said. "That'll ensure a pretty even gallop. It's not going to be a muddling speed. It's going to be consistent. That gives me confidence.

"I've drawn barrier 3. I always try and get her out of the barriers as smoothly as we can, and from then on let her be comfortable wherever she's happy, and start to work into it as the business end of the race comes."

Officially rated as the world's best racehorse, Winx will face seven rivals in her quest to record a 20th group 1 win, including her stablemate Unforgotten, who was also present at yesterday morning's exercise.

A James Boags Premium Australian Oaks (G1) winner and touted by many as the next star to emerge from the Waller stable, the 4-year-old showed a deft turn of foot when she won the Bisley Workwear Chelmsford Stakes (G2) over course and distance in her last start, and Waller is willing to adopt a patient approach with the daughter of Fastnet Rock.

"She needs to run, and we've just got to try and work out where she's heading," the trainer said. "Whether it's an Epsom here in Sydney, or if she heads to Melbourne for a Caulfield Cup. The weights in the Epsom suggest she's a winning chance.

"What we did with Winx as a 4-year-old, where Unforgotten is now, is the most important part of her career. We did protect her, she only had three runs in the spring—one of them being the Cox Plate. It seemed to set a platform for her to come back as a better horse later as a 4-year-old.

"So it's not just about winning their next start with a horse like Unforgotten, because I doubt she could beat a horse like Winx. In fact, she can't beat Winx unless Winx has an off day, and she hasn't had one in 26 starts."

Despite previously affirming that the Epsom Handicap (G1) was Unforgotten's principal spring target, Waller revealed a tilt at the Caulfield Cup (G1) is back on the agenda after a misunderstanding with the weights.

"I was a little confused when they put the weights out for the Caulfield Cup. It looked as though she was 60th in line to gain a start. We've since learned she's 10th in line, so that's changed my thinking a little bit in the last 24 hours," Waller said. "We need to work it out. It's obviously not ideal going from a mile to 2,400 meters, but some good horses have done it in the past. And she has fortunately won over 2,400 meters, so we'll get towards Saturday and work it out from there.

"That's the beauty of the spring. There's lots of options with these great horses, and we're lucky to have two or three of them in (our) stable. She's a very talented horse, Unforgotten, and hopefully she can continue on through the spring in some big races in her own right."

Waller will also saddle Who Shot Thebarman, Egg Tart, and the aforementioned Religify in the Colgate Optic White Stakes.

Completing the lineup is 2017 Doncaster Mile (G1) winner It's Somewhat and the triple group 1 winner Le Romain.