Winx takes out Group One Caulfield Stakes

Winx has landed her eighth Group One win and 12th successive win, taking out the Caulfield Stakes.

Chris Waller admitted he felt the pressure during the Caulfield Stakes despite the easy victory of champion mare Winx.

Winx was expected to win at Caulfield on Saturday but it was only in the last 200m that Waller felt his mare had her two rivals covered.

Sent out the $1.24 favourite under Hugh Bowman, Winx made it look easy in defeating Black Heart Bart by two lengths with He Or She ($21) four lengths away third.

“I was red-lining at certain points and it was right up at the 300 metre mark but when I saw Brad Rawiller go for Black Heart Bart I knew we had control of the race,” Waller said.

“The last 200 metres was easier than the first 1800.

“Like everyone here and watching at home on tevelvision, I’m a racing fanatic.

“It’s good to get the job done and it helps when you’ve got a superstar horse.”

The 2000m race was run at a leisurely early tempo with Brad Rawiller on Black Heart Bart leading from Winx ,with He Or She under Craig Williams sitting last of the three runners.

Rawiller increased the speed from the 800m before applying the pressure from the 500m but Bowman wasn’t going to let the leader out of his sights.

“Hugh Bowman is just senstational,” Waller said.

“He doesn’t panic and remains cool.

“I didn’t have to give him any instructions.”

Winx will now try to extend her winning streak to 13 and claim a ninth Group One win chasing consecutive Cox Plate victories at Moonee Valley on October 22.

Her victory took her past Kingston Town’s streak of 11 wins, equalling the 12 straight wins of another Tommy Smith trained great Tulloch.

Waller said he didn’t think too much about the winning sequences, but was looking forward to the Cox Plate.

Bowman said he rode the race how he wanted it ridden, adding Winx was feeling the effects after the race.

He said he wanted the mare to have a solid race before the Cox Plate and pointed out the mare got on the wrong leg coming around the home turn.

“It was a good race, not a gimme,” Bowman said.

“She got on her wrong leg as I was putting the pressure on. Usually I let her glide up but I wanted to give her a good gallop.

“She got on the on the right leg at the furlong and there was no carrots left in the opposition.

“She went to another gear.”