Winx Rolls to 12th Straight Stakes Win

Brad Rawiller played his part in breathing some life into Saturday's 3-horse Group I Ladbrokes (Caulfield) Stakes (2000m) by controlling the pace on Black Heart Bart but in the end it all came to nought as Horse Of The Year Winx rolled to her 12^th straight win.

Hugh Bowman on Winx was content to track Black Heart Bart for the majority of the race.

When Winx made her challenge, Rawiller allowed Black Heart Bart to drift out to the centre of the track making sure the favoured pair were eyeballing each other.

But the daughter of Street Cry (IRE) is in a class of her own at the moment and with minimum urging by her rider she went on to win by two lengths with four lengths back to He Or She in third. (photos Grant Courtney).

"It was an interesting race. There wasn't much pace early but everyone predicted that," Bowman said.

"It was enough for me to follow Brad and let the tempo build from about the 1200 (metres) which suited me because it allowed my mare to get into a good rhythm.

"I pulled out approaching the 600 (metres) because I knew it would be a sprint home. I've got a healthy respect for the opposition and I thought if I just let him (Black Heart Bart) sprint home maybe I couldn't run him down."

"She got a little uncomfortable on the corner and swapped legs at a vital stage but I've got so much confidence in her I was able to just help her through.

"Bring on the Cox Plate now."

It was the 8^th Group 1 win for Winx advancing her overall record to 16 wins, 3 seconds from 22 starts with earnings of $7,498,175. 

Winning trainer Chris Waller said it was all systems go for the WS Cox Plate.

"The last 200 (metres) was a bit easier than the first 1800 (metres)," Waller said.

"It's a relief and I feel the public expectation. It helps when you've got a superstar horse and she is great for racing.

"We go on to the Cox Plate now and we can build on it - I'm just privileged to be a part of it."

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 a 2yo colt by Snitzel that was purchased for $2,300,000 out of the Segenhoe Stud draft by Gai Waterhouse Racing / J Blaxland at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale.

Vegas Showgirl foaled a Snitzel filly on September 7.