Wonderful Winx strikes 12 with dominant Caulfield Stakes win

HEAD TO HEAD: A TANTALISING “match race” in Australia’s greatest weight-for-age classic awaits after superstar mare Winx stretched her winning sequence to 12 in the Caulfield Stakes.

Hugh Bowman gives his familiar hand gesture has super mare Winx charges to victory in the Caulfield Stakes. Picture: AAP

THIRTEEN days and counting ...

This is not a normal Cox Plate year, as David Hayes reluctantly conceded on Saturday after watching Winx, Australia’s reigning racehorse of the year, turn a three-horse Caulfield Stakes into a stroll in the park.

Across town, the blue blood challenger to her crown, the ever-improving Hartnell, was resting in his box at Flemington, oblivious to what racing enthusiasts figure is a tantalising “match race” in Australia’s greatest weight-for-age classic.

There will be other horses in the race, of course. When you are racing for the grand total of $3 million, few people are ever going to die wondering, even if Hayes has already conceded none of his highly talented stable can hope to compete against Winx and Hartnell.

CAULFIELD GUINEAS: DIVINE PROPHET OF BOOM FOR HAWKES

MICHELLE PAYNE: ROLLERCOASTER YEAR HAS MADE ME BETTER

THOUSAND GUINEAS: GLAMOUR GOES GLOBAL AGAIN

PRINCE OF PENZANCE: CAREER COULD BE OVER

There will be a good support cast in the Cox Plate of some more than handy locals and possibly two internationals, but in the eyes of the public and bookmakers, this looms as a race in two.

“I have got two horses in a normal year ... that you would have a crack at the Cox Plate, but this might be the year to just watch it,” Hayes said on Saturday.

Thirty years on from “the Race of the Century”, when Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star slugged it out all the way up the Moonee Valley straight in 1986, fans are hoping that Winx and Hartnell can do the same.

The pair have met twice since last year’s Cox Plate — when Winx saluted in devastating fashion and Hartnell ran a strong fifth — with the mare having the upper hand on both occasions.

Usual suspects gather to watch Winx: Trainers (left to right): David Hayes, Chris Waller and Darren Weir before the great mare’s race. Picture: Ian Currie

In that time, she has ridden a wave of overwhelming support to what on Saturday became 12 successive wins.

Hartnell has won three in a row since finishing second to Winx in the Warwick Stakes in August.

SPRING CHAMPION: BATTLERS DREAM BIG AFTER ROSE CREATES HISTORY

GUINEAS DAY: RE-PLAY ALL THE ACTION FROM CAULFIELD

But while Hartnell was resting up after his slashing Turnbull Stakes win a week ago, the attention yesterday was on Chris Waller’s Winx — as it has been for 12 months.

The trainer is getting used to it now, but admits to sometimes feeling the weight of public expectation, which seems to grow and grow with each start and each win.

Star of the show: Winx with jockey Hugh Bowman. Picture: Ian Currie

The horse, herself, doesn’t particularly like affection and rarely courts company.

On the first part, she didn’t have much choice yesterday but to prick her ears back (muffs and all) and accept the adulation of the crowd at Caulfield.

On the second part, she would have been far more content. She almost cantered around the track, claiming Black Hart Bart — no slouch as a dual Group 1 winner this campaign — with consummate ease around the corner, leaving He or She in her wake.

Yes, I know, I’m the best: Winx after winning the Caulfield Stakes. Picture: Getty Images

She sailed away as if the breeze was at her back, seemingly with much left in the tank, to win by two lengths.

The ease of the win — and the lack of early tempo — was not lost on Waller, who admitted he was pleased he didn’t have a heart rate monitor on.

Relief too often overpowers the elation for a man in charge of the country’s best horse, and one of the best in the world. He knows the presence of keeping her winning streak rolling on; he understands what she means to the public.

Not a massive fan of the masses: Winx in the parade yard before her race. Picture: Colleen Petch

To Waller, and to one of Winx’s senior owners, Peter Tighe, it must have felt like a long 123 seconds or so from post to post. So you could imagine that the next two weeks will feel like an equine eternity, between now and the Cox Plate.

“We used to dream about having a horse like this,” Tighe said. “Now it is happening, it is a reality, and we are so grateful for the experiences we are having with her.”

Tighe spoke to Peter Moody on Saturday to settle his nerves, and to ask him how he handled the pressure on guiding Black Caviar, who was — in the eyes of many — owned as much by the fans as the syndicate that bought her. Winx has fast become the same.

Asked if he considered Hartnell a serious challenger, Tighe said: “Absolutely ... we are very respectful of the Sheikh (Mohammed) and his team. We just hope that the best horse wins.”

Hartnell’s hoop, James McDonald, didn’t ride in the Caulfield Stakes. In fact, he didn’t even see Winx’s procession live.

Strapper Umut Odem gives Winx a drink after her win. Picture: Colleen Petch

He was, quite literally, sweating ... sitting the sauna in the jockeys’ area, rather than worrying about what was to come.

Hugh Bowman, so connected now to Winx, after riding the mare in 12 of her 21 career starts, said on SEN on Saturday the mare was not dissimilar to him — “she’s a very uncomplicated individual ... a bit like myself”.

COX PLATE CLASH OF TITANS

WINX $1.90 V HARTNELL $3

WINX

Street Cry-Vegas Showgirl

5YO bay mare

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Hugh Bowman

Starts: 22: 16-3-0

Prizemoney: $7,498,175

Greatest win: Among many, the gaping four-length in last year’s Group 1 Cox Plate, trouncing a field of high-class internationals.

HARTNELL

Authorised-Debonnaire

6yo bay gelding

Trainer: John O’Shea

Jockey: James McDonald

Starts: 26: 10-5-1

Prizemoney: $2,233,999

Greatest win: Arrogant win in last Sunday’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes on the back of two thumping Sydney wins

HEAD TO HEAD

WINX 3-0

2016 Warwick Stakes, 1400m - (Hartnell 2nd, 3.5len)

2016 Chipping Norton, 1600m - (Hartnell 5th, 4.7len)

2015 Cox Plate, 2040m - (Hartnell 5th, 10len)

Winx, He Or She and Black Heart Bart take up their positions as the exit the gates at the start of the Caulfield Stakes. Picture: Hamish Blair

“She doesn’t really respond to affection. She doesn’t respond to anything other than business. She doesn’t really like being patted. Everyone does pat her, but she doesn’t really appreciate it.”

Waller described her as “the ultimate professional ... she is not here just to have a good time. She is here to do business and to do whatever it takes to build herself up. Track gallops are serious; walking out on the track is serious; having a sand roll is no problem, she will do that. Have a few pats, (but) that’s enough. Then, it’s back to business.”

Saturday’s business was the easiest $360,000 of her $7.5 million prizemoney.

As Greg Miles said as Winx hit the line on Saturday: “She scared her rivals away and then she blew them away when she got here.”

Hartnell won’t be scared away, and Winx isn’t going anywhere either. All of that points to one of the most anticipated Cox Plates in modern memory.

High Bowman gives Winx a well-deserved pat after she delivers in the Caulfield Stakes. Picture: AAP