Consolation for Martin from Heavens Above

The Tim Martin-trained Heavens Above will take on Winx in the George Main Stakes at Randwick.

Trainer Tim Martin has a mare out of Street Cry running in the George Main Stakes at Randwick, just not the one he intended.

“I’ve got a bit of a sad story about Winx,” Martin said.

“I had an Encosta De Lago filly called Miss Atom Bomb and when you have a horse showing a lot of ability you obviously want to buy the next siblings out of the mare (Vegas Showgirl).

“I went out to buy her half relation by Street Cry but I couldn’t raise the funds, and that was Winx.”

Ultimately Miss Atom Bomb never raced but Martin at least has Heavens Above to provide plenty of solace after he missed out on the world’s greatest horse on turf.

The winner of the Coolmore Classic (1500m) in the autumn, the six-year-old renews her rivalry with Winx in Saturday’s feature mile.

“She’s a nice consolation,” Martin said.

“She’s a Group One winner and she’s getting better as she gets older.

“If she can run second I’ll be pleased. I think she can run a place.”

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Heavens Above’s record suggests that is possible given she has two wins and two second placings second-up.

She backs up from a first-up fifth behind Happy Clapper in the Group Two Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on September 2 and takes on Winx for the third time.

Martin has vivid memories of lining up against Winx, the odds-on favourite to stretch her winning sequence to 20.

Winx began her winning sequence in the Sunshine Coast Guineas and claimed the first of 12 Group One wins in the Queensland Oaks (2200m) at her next start.

Heavens Above tailed the field, 18 lengths behind the superstar.

“I’m in awe of her. It’s a privilege to race against her again,” Martin said.

He watched Winx’s latest run in the Chelmsford Stakes two weeks ago in which Red Excitement broke away before being overhauled as the post loomed a fortnight ago.

He said Tye Angland would not adopt any such tactics on Heavens Above.

“We’ll ride her quiet early and follow Winx,” he said.