Winx-mania comes early at the Valley

Source: Andrew Eddy, Racing.com //

Winx-mania will hit The Valley a few days earlier than anticipated next week with her trainer Chris Waller on Tuesday indicating the mare will return to the track in seven days to headline the Breakfast with the Best gallops.

The world’s best turf horse ventured to The Valley on Tuesday for a private gallop 11 days out from the Cox Plate and after she worked, Waller said Winx was likely to return in a week to complete her preparation in front of what is expected to be a huge and adoring crowd.

“She’ll probably come back for the Breakfast with the Stars on Tuesday,” Waller said after Winx had worked solo.

“She’s the sort of horse that feels the hype and adrenalin of race day so simulating that at a morning like the Breakfast with the Stars is all good for race day.

“They get here race day and it’s just like another track gallop.”

 

Waller said that Winx’s work on Tuesday was little more than a routine stretch of the legs as he said he is satisfied with her fitness levels after four runs already this campaign.

“We just asked her to do a normal maintenance gallop,” he said. “She had a quiet gallop at Flemington on Saturday and slightly stronger work this morning over about 1200m, steadily building to a quicker last 400m. That was pretty typical work for her.

“Bringing her here to Moonee Valley where she’s so comfortably around this track and she enjoys being here, just seemed logical.”

Jockey Hugh Bowman had a similar report about the mare that has changed his life.

“She couldn’t be in better shape and she looks great in the coat and the race just can’t come quick enough,” Bowman said.