Watch Winx produce a stunning turn of foot to make it 20 in a row

Report: Australia, Saturday

Randwick: Colgate Optic White Stakes (Group 1) | 1m | 3yo+

She was niggled early on and had plenty of ground to make up in the straight but there was an air of inevitability as wondermare Winx picked up strongly to register a remarkable 20th consecutive victory at Randwick.

After two heart-in-the-mouth successes since returning from her break, Winx was expected to give her adoring public a smoother ride in a race better known as the George Main Stakes.

However, the alarm bells were ringing in the back straight as Hugh Bowman gave the 2-17 favourite a few shakes of the reins at the rear with just two runners in behind.

We had been here before of course, but even the most loyal of Winx supporters would have been sweating approaching the home turn.

Taken wide into the short straight, the Chris Waller-trained star quickly loomed up large and swept past the field in a way only she can to collect her 13th Group 1, leaving onlookers to wonder what all the worry was about.

"She's done it again, she's such a delight to be a part of," Bowman said.

"She's such a magical horse. The pace was strong, at the top of the straight there was a lot of ground to make up. I knew she could do it today, I'm just so proud of her."

The victory in beating Happy Clapper by a length and a quarter moves Winx within five of Black Caviar's record 25-race winning streak in Australia.

Hours after Winx (132) was declared inferior to the highest-rated horse in the world Arrogate (134) - who has suffered back-to-back defeats at Del Mar in July and August - in the latest world rankings, she showed she is bang on course for her hat-trick bid in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 28.

"She's on track for the big races and I'd say we'll have one more run - possibly two - up here [Sydney] if we can and at some stage she'll head to Melbourne," said Waller.

"She's ready for the Cox Plate and it's our job to make sure she's there and the public continue to enjoy her."

Also on Saturday

Flemington: Makybe Diva Stakes (Group 1) 1m | turf | 3yo+

Humidor (Darren Weir/Damian Lane) sprang a 16-1 surprise to get the better of Hartnell in the feature race at Flemington.

Having picked himself off the turf following a crashing fall earlier on the card, Damian Lane rode the second leg of a Group-race double following another big-priced victory on Sword Of Light (17-1) in the Let's Elope Stakes.

Humidor came from last to first with a devastating run to score by three and a quarter lengths as he propelled himself to the top of the betting for next month's Caulfield Cup.

"He lobbed along out the back and he travelled up underneath me turning for home," Lane said. "I thought I was the winner a long way out. He's come such a long way since he came into the stable."

Randwick: The Shorts (Group 2) 5½f | turf | 3yo+

This Group 2 became a trial for the inaugural running of the $10 million Everest on October 14 and was won emphatically by Redzel (Peter & Paul Snowden/Hugh Bowman) as the world's highest-rated sprinter Chautauqua finished seventh on his comeback.

Sent off the 6-4 favourite, Redzel continued his promising preparation for the big-money contest as he beat Ball Of Muscle by a length and a quarter.

"He has come a long way this bloke," said co-trainer Peter Snowden. "He has learned how to race properly, he never makes a mistake. He races on pace, on wet tracks, dry tracks, carries weight well, he's just the real deal now."

Chautauqua still retained favouritism for the Everest after finishing strongly out the back on his first start since winning the T J Smith in April.

Flemington: JRA Trophy (Listed) 1m4½f | turf | 3yo+

Last year's Melbourne Cup hero Almandin (Robert Hickmott/Damien Oliver) made a sensational return to Flemington to enhance his prospects of winning the world famous race again.

Making his first appearance at the track since his memorable triumph last November, Almandin was settled in midfield before bolting up the home straight to win by an eased-down two and three-quarter lengths.

"Wow, that was extraordinary," said winning jockey Damien Oliver, who missed out on the Melbourne Cup win as he could not make the weight. "I think he's come back better than ever, without a doubt."

Williams hit with big ban

Top Australian jockey Craig Williams was issued a 23-meeting careless riding ban at Flemington following an incident that caused the Damian Lane-ridden Limestone to clip heels and fall in the Danehill Stakes.

The stewards sanctioned Williams for shifting out over the final 100m and the jockey accepted the charge.

"Thankfully Damian Lane and Limestone are okay and I won't be appealing the suspension," he said.

Randwick race results

Flemington race results