Baffert praises Winx as the 'real deal' as date with destiny approaches

If Winx’s greatness has been questioned in some quarters this week in the run up to her bid for an unprecedented fourth Cox Plate victory on Saturday, then connections can be buoyed after she received a ringing endorsement from US training legend Bob Baffert on Friday.

Baffert knows a thing or two about training champions having handled recent US Triple Crown winners Justify and American Pharoah, plus all-time leading money earner Arrogate, and he was full of praise for Australia's darling.

ITV Racing and At The Races presenter Matt Chapman caused a stir in Australia this week by suggesting Winx had been "beating fairly moderate horses", comments that earned a sharp rebuke from the mare’s trainer Chris Waller. However, Baffert is in no doubt about her quality.