Countdown begins for Winx return

Winx will be the star attraction in Sydney’s first G1 race for the season named in her honour.

Group One winners Unforgotten, D’Argento and Comin’ Through are likely to join their illustrious stablemate Winx in the race named in her honour at Randwick.

Trainer Chris Waller will also nominate another couple of stablemates heading to spring staying features but all eyes will be on Winx on Saturday as she attempts to claim Australia’s longest winning streak with her 26th straight victory.

Champion sprinter Black Caviar will always have the distinction of going through her career unbeaten in her 25 starts but Winx has surpassed her in the Group One tally as she shoots for No,19.

Even though Winx has now turned seven, Waller says she looks as good as ever and jockey Hugh Bowman says she feels as good as ever.

“I can’t fault her,” Waller said.

“She is a happy horse, a fit horse and seems like she always does.

“She is not a complicated horse to train.

“It would be a great honour to win the race named after her.”

Winx has had her usual build-up with two barrier trials, the most recent last Tuesday when she finished third behind Alizee and Ace High.

Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento finished fourth in the 1000m-heat while Australian Oaks winner Unforgotten was eighth.

Doomben Cup winner Comin’ Through has spent his time since his Group One win in May in Queensland.

He also ran in a trial last Tuesday, finishing three lengths fifth in a 900m-trial at the Gold Coast won by speedster Whypeeo from his equally fast Toby Edmonds-trained stablemate Houtzen.

In the final few days leading up to Saturday, Winx will have a fast gallop on Tuesday and a final tune-up on Thursday.

Her definite Group One targets in Sydney are the Winx Stakes and George Main Stakes but as always, Waller is cautious.

“With her it is always one race at a time,” he said.

If all goes well, Winx will head to the Cox Plate in October to try to win Australia’s weight-for-age championship for an unprecedented fourth time.