Superstar galloper Winx impressed rider Hugh Bowman with what he called the best trial of her career at Randwick today.
The Chris Waller trained champion was not fully tested and went to the line under a good hold by Bowman in the 1000m trial.
"I would suggest that is as good as she has ever trialled,'' Bowman said in a press conference after the trial.
"She is in a good spot, I am very excited about her return in a couple of weeks time.'' Winx cruised to the line, without being moved in to clear running, behind the winner Alizee and runner-up Ace High.
The trial was almost a faultless last hitout for Winx before she starts in the race named after her - the Winx Stakes - at Randwick on August 8.
But the champion mare threw in one of her old tricks at the start of the trial with a slow beginning.
"She was a little bit bouncy in the stalls. I put her in a bit early this morning because I just wanted to make sure she was standing there because if she draws in for her first run she is going to be the first one in the gates,'' Bowman said.
"So I put her in and made her stand there for a little while and she did well, but she just bobbed up as they opened.''
"Its not what I wanted to happen raceday, but it doesn't concern me because it is nothing out of character for her.''
Like Bowman, Waller said he was impressed with Winx's yesterday morning.
"Personally I couldn't be any happier with this morning's trial and she is bang on target for two week's time.''
Winx is expected to be aimed at a winning the Cox Plate for a record-breaking fourth time this spring.
Champion sprinter Chautauqua's career hangs in the balance after the grey sprinter refused to jump from the starting stalls in another of today's trials.
It was the sixth time in trials over the past 12 months the former World's best sprinter has refused to jump out of the gates with the field.
