Superstar mare Winx to take to the track in special barrier trial at Randwick

Winx's intended reappearance in next weekend's Apollo Stakes may have been shelved, but racegoers will still get to see her in action thanks to some creative thinking.

Special dispensation has been granted for a barrier trial (essentially a racecourse gallop from stalls) between races on the card, with Winx taking on four of her stablemates over six furlongs.

Hugh Bowman's suspension meant trainer Chris Waller decided to delay Winx's comeback until next month's Chipping Norton Stakes, but Bowman will be aboard the wondermare for the trial, and as an added bonus he will be equipped with a microphone and camera to provide a greater insight into her preparations.

New initiative

Quoted in Australia's Daily Telegraph, Waller said: "It's obvious that people want to know more about her and it's hard to find new ways to be able to convey to people what she's like without repeating ourselves in the media or at the races, so this will certainly give a better understanding into what goes towards preparing a horse for a big race.

"As we see in modern-day sport, especially on the television whether it be the Twenty20 cricket or motor car racing or the Super Bowl, the general public want new initiatives and new ways to connect with the sports they follow, so I'm certainly looking forward to being part of this initiative."

Who Shot Thebarman – who has got a big following himself – Libran, Mackintosh and McCreery will be Winx's opposition in the trial, which will be run after the third race, pushing back the six remaining races.

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