By Chris Roots
Trainer Chris Waller may have labelled it a preseason game, but there is no doubt Winx can draw a crowd, even when there is nothing on the line.
And more importantly she can impress jockey Hugh Bowman.
Looking good: Champion racehorse Winx.Credit: Ben Rushton
"It is probably as good as she has trialled in her whole career. She has pulled up well and is moving well," Bowman said.
The two-time Cox Plate victor and winner of her past 13 in row, kept her record of never winning a barrier trial in her career at Rosehill on Tuesday morning. She rolled around a 1030m trial into third, 3-1/2 lengths behind Doomben 10,000 winner Music Magnate.
There was little pressure and she had a little blow pulling up, but everything is in order for the autumn campaign.
"She wasn't out to break any records or keep her winning record intact. It simply a preseason game for fitness this morning and safety," Waller said.
"It was just part of her fitness regiment. She is right on song she is as fit as she needs to be for this stage.
"There will be a little bit of fine tuning over the next 24 days leading into the Apollo Stakes [at Randwick on February 11."
Winx will follow a similar path to last year from the Apollo heading to the Chipping Norton Stakes two weeks later and then is set to defend her title in the George Ryder Stakes on Golden Slipper day another fortnight later.
Her main target is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the second day of The Championships on April 8.
"She has a long campaign in front of her in terms of time but only four runs, so we just want to keep her happy and enjoying things in the stable," Waller said.
Winx wasn't the only royalty at Rosehill with Sheikh Fahad Al-Thani making a flying visit to Sydney after the Magic Millions to watch his two imports Endless Drama and Arod run in the Winx trial.
Endless Drama, which was runner-up to Gleneagles in the Irish 2000 Guineas in 2015, just nosed Winx out for second, while Arod, which has been placed in the two of Europe's biggest miles Lockinge Stakes and Sussex Stakes, was fourth.
"They are two of my better horses and I sent them out here to win group 1s," Fahad Al-Thani said. "They look great and it was good to be here to see them and Winx."
Waller took time to explain the different training techniques in Australia to the Qatari royal.
"It is good for him to see that and understand why and how we use trials," Waller said. "They are both nice horses and are set for good autumns."