Winx easy winner in 2016 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes

Glamour mare Winx continued on her winning way to record her twelfth straight win with an easy victory in the Group 1 $600,000 Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield today.

Winx, above winning the 2015 Cox Plate, continued her winning run by taking out the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winx, above winning the 2015 Cox Plate, continued her winning run by taking out the Ladbrokes Caulfield Stakes at Caulfield. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Winning jockey Hugh Bowman sat behind Black Heart Bart until the home turn and once she was balanced up in the straight showed her superiority with a two lengths win over Black Heart Bart with the other runner in the race He Or She a further four lengths away in third spot.

The Chris Waller trained Winx was sent out as the $1.24 favourite and gave her followers no worries with Bowman seemingly having the race in his keeping at every stage of the 2000m weight for age contest.

Black Heart Bart from the Darren Weir stable was the second pick at $4.80 and ran his usual honest while the $21 outsider of the field He Or She did a good job to make up the numbers.

Winx has now cemented her spot at the top of the Cox Plate market order and will clash again with Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $3m weight for age Championship over 2040m  at Moonee Valley on October 22.

Waller said he was still nervous before the race as the intensity of the expectation of Winx winning again grew.

“The intensity builds with a super star horse,” Waller said.

“The expectations are there for her to win.”

“I think it is great for racing and there will be some good horses coming together over the next few weeks. We are in for hell of a carnival and I and certainly proud to be part of it.”

“It’s a privilege be involved in racing with a horse capable of racing on these days and to race a horse like Winx it takes it to a whole new level.”

Waller wasn’t concerned by how much Winx won by, but just wanted to win as she now heads to defend her title in the Cox Plate in a fortnight.

“I wanted her to win. That was the only thing I was thinking about in terms of hard runs soft runs and how far to win by. I think that is irrelevant.”

“She is the superior horse and she will only do what she has and she will be ready to step up in two weeks time.”

“Bring on the rest of the world. The Cox Plate is great to have Hartnell their but there are going to be some horses there.”

Bowman said he mainly had a trouble free run behind Black Heart Bart but said that Winx did change strides a couple of time on the home turn before balancing up in the straight to claim her eighth Group 1 trophy.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.