By Chris Roots
Jockey Hugh Bowman is just like everyone else when it comes to Winx – enjoying the ride.
There is a winning expectation with Winx. That is what occurs when a mare puts 13 consecutive wins together, including eight group 1s and back-to-back Cox Plates. She steps out to start her autumn campaign in Saturday's Apollo Stakes at Randwick as the focus.
Another level: Hugh Bowman gives Winx a pat after her second Cox Plate victory.Credit: Getty Images
"I'm expecting her to win, as does everyone else, but it is a horse race until it is done. I will be treating it like I do every other time I ride in a race," Bowman said.
"I have a lot confidence in her, but I won't take anything for granted with her, I never have and I won't be starting now.
"I expect her to come to Randwick in good shape and she is forward enough to run very well."
Winx has had the benefit of two barrier trials on her home track of Rosehill, where she has finished third on both occasions to tune up for the first of four autumn runs.
The mere presence of Winx is expected to swell the Randwick crowd and the extra attention from sweeping all before her in racing for the past 18 months is something Bowman has learnt how to manage.
"I'm a little more relaxed than the last two preps. But in saying that I'm getting used to the scrutiny now, it is not foreign to me," Bowman said.
"You dream of winning all the big races but to come across a horse like this, it has really fulfilled me as a jockey. It's another level.
"I'm sort of glad I'm mature enough to appreciate how good she is. If she came in my 20s I probably wouldn't have appreciated her.
"I have ridden lots of good horses now and I'm in the prime of my career and understand different classes of horse from riding around the world.
"Being able to appreciate how good she is, for me personally is the most satisfying part of it."
Bowman will give Winx a final hit-out at Rosehill on Tuesday and expects "to get a pretty good feeling".
She will take on a sizeable field including up to five stablemates from the Chris Waller yard, led by import Endless Drama which has trialled well. Godolphin will have three runners including Melbourne Cup placegetter Hartnell, which was vanquished into second place in the Cox Plate by eight lengths.
Winx will be the highlight of the day for Bowman but he is also likely to ride classy Omei Sword in the Light Fingers Stakes. The filly had to be scratched from last Saturday's Eskimo Prince Stakes with a muscle issue in her back.
"Obviously she has had a slight setback but that's racing," Bowman said. "The focus will be on Winx but [Omei Sword] is another nice one to look forward too if she gets there.
"It is that time of year when the good horses are coming through that is always exciting."
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