Winx extends unbeaten run with nailbiting win in Warwick Stakes

Star mare Winx extended her unbeaten run to 18 races with a narrow victory in a thrilling renewal of the Group 2 Warwick Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Her unbeaten run was very much in the balance after she missed the break by four lengths and turned into the home straight in last place.

However, coolness-personified jockey Hugh Bowman did not panic, easing Winx to the outside of the field before passing rivals one by one, heading stablemate Foxplay in the final strides to win by a head.

Bowman said: "I was a bit worried at the halfway stage but I just had to have confidence in her engine.

"She's just so much better than them and I had to rely on that. She's just a freak.

"It's been an amazing journey and there are a few more chapters to come yet. To win from the position she was in, she's back better than ever."

The six-year-old was shortened to 2-5 (from 1-2) by bet365 to gain a record-equalling hat-trick in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 28.

In securing back-to-back wins in the Warwick Stakes, Winx joined 1930s sensation Ajax on 18 consecutive victories, leaving her seven victories short of Black Caviar, who holds the record for the country's longest winning streak, and one success behind Gloaming and Desert Gold.

Trainer Chris Waller intends to bring her back to Randwick for the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes on September 2, adding she will benefit from another run.

He said: "Hugh never panicked and it's such a massive help when you've got the right man behind the reins.

"We'll probably bring her back here in two weeks' time. A bit of extra racing will bring her on."

Hartnell was shortened to 16-1 (from 25) for the Cox Plate by bet365 following a dominant display in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield on his first start for James Cummings, Godolphin's new head trainer in Australia.

The six-year-old, formerly trained by Mark Johnston in Britain, went clear of Charmed Harmony under Craig Williams to win by two and a quarter lengths, with connections targeting the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on September 16, before deciding which of the big spring carnival contests to aim for.

Saturday results

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