Winx fine tuning ahead of Cox Plate

Trainer Chris Waller is keeping it simple in the lead-up to Winx’s Cox Plate defence.

Preparations are all but done for Winx ahead of the Cox Plate with her trainer keeping it simple in the lead-up to the race.

Chris Waller took the champion mare back to Moonee Valley on Tuesday morning for a last look at the track ahead of her defence of the weight-for-age championship.

Winx wasn’t out to break the clock, strolling over 1000m in 1min 13.48 secs, coming home her last 400m in 25.96s with race jockey Hugh Bowman in the saddle.

Waller made a late decision to take Winx to Moonee Valley after inspecting her condition on Monday afternoon.

“I thought if she was a bit tight I would have kept her at home and just pottered around,” Waller said.

Waller says Winx enjoys the short trip away from Flemington to a different style of track at Moonee Valley that is continually turning and well cambered.

The rest of Winx’s week will consist of easy work-outs to have her in peak physical condition without going over the top.

Waller said Winx would canter up to 3000m at Flemington on Wednesday, work up to three-quarter pace on Thursday and then do enough on Friday to keep her ticking over.

“It’s just like keeping the engine running without turning the turbo on,” Waller said.

“We try not to over-complicate things.”

Even on Saturday morning Winx will go for an early stroll, have her breakfast before being put on the truck to Moonee Valley where Waller said hopefully she thinks she’s going for just another gallop.

Waller said the Cox Plate was like no other race on the Australian calendar and form can sometimes be thrown out the window.

“It’s a high pressure event,” Waller said.

“They need to be able to handle the pressure of a Cox Plate which is so intense.

“Fortunately we saw her handle the pressure last year and now she’s back here again.”