SEPPELT TURNBULL

STAKES (GROUP 1)

THE presence of Winx at Flemington, her debut at that track, nearly doubled last year’s attendance with 20,282 on-course. Blue was the colour of the day with Winx flags, badges and hats aplenty as the Victoria Racing Club themed the day around her bid for a 21st straight win.

On paper only Humidor provided any real opposition over the 2,000 metres of the Turnbull Stakes but in reality her seven opponents were just spectators to the main event. Winning by a facile six and a half lengths, race caller Mark Hill described it as, “a picnic”.

In her wake, the Irish-bred Ventura Storm, formerly trained by Richard Hannon and bought by a David Hayes-led syndicate, ran up to his best to take second just in front of Humidor whose main priority is next Saturday’s Caulfield Cup.

Seemingly at or near her best, Winx’s race sectionals reveal how the damage is done. She doesn’t just dash from 600 metres out, the pressure is loaded up 1,000 metres from home.

She creamed Saturday’s race with splits of 11.77, 11.37, 11.46, 11.20 and 11.60, running her final 1,000 metres in 57.51 seconds. If you are behind her, as Humidor was, you simply cannot win, and if you are ahead, chances are you will get mown down.

“To win at Flemington in the way that she did is just so very special,” said Chris Waller. “It’s always a bit of pressure coming to the big days but it is great to see Melbourne embracing her and not just the general racing punters but also sporting people. She has an amazing will to win, it is second to none of what I have seen in my stable and I have had some great horses.”

Winx now heads straight to the Cox Plate in two weeks’ time with a stranglehold over the race as she seeks to emulate the legendary Kingston Town as a three-time winner. Current markets have her at $1.25 with daylight next.