SUPERSTAR mare Winx added to her lustre at Moonee Valley on Saturday by completing back-to-back Cox Plate victories with a virtuoso performance that obliterated the contest by eight lengths.

The A$3 million, 2,040 metre Group 1 was billed as an epic battle between her and the John O’Shea-trained Hartnell whose jockey, James McDonald, could only watch as Winx strode past him with 450 metres to run.

“It has been a 365-day plan to be back here, I started thinking about this race the day after she won last year,” said trainer Chris Waller. The Street Cry mare’s winning stretch now extends to 13 having last lowered her colours in the 2015 ATC Oaks.

A winner of nine Group 1’s from 17 wins of 23 starts and A$9.34 million, she is rightly being compared to the great mares of this century, Sunline and Black Caviar. A self-confessed ‘racing tragic’ Chris Waller has given every indication Winx will return next year to attempt the three-peat, and matching the deeds of the legendary Kingston Town (1980-1982).

That’s bad news for Nick Smith and Royal Ascot who made it clear early in the week that she was at the top of the recruitment list.

“This is Australia’s big race. Getting to the other side (of the world) would be good but she’ll be back next year. That’s what we’re in the game for. She was in the zone today and when she’s in the zone she would beat any horse in the world,” added Waller.

Facing a woeful weather forecast, rain, cold and gale-force winds, there was much distraction as to what Winx may do, though as Waller highlighted earlier in the day wind, not rain, was the main issue, as horses were being buffeted about on the track.

Undeterred punters sent her out in-the-red at $1.80, a price bookmakers vow will never be seen again as they lost an estimated $40 million on the Cox Plate around the country, putting the liability of her winning streak at around $100 million.

“They think it is a one-horse race and Winx is the only name they know,” lamented one betting agency representative.

Hugh Bowman went out on the track in the right frame of mind. “I can’t tell you how confident I was before the race. I don’t like to be too confident. That actually started worrying me a little but as I came close to the day,” he said.

From starting stall three, Bowman rode a clever race easing off the pace, he sat mid-field as first Black Heart Bart and then Vadamos took up the running. Significantly as they got to the 1,000 metre mark Bowman maneuvered Winx onto the back of Hartnell.

Sitting on his hindquarters, Winx had cover from the wind as Hartnell moved forward to hit the lead with 600 metres to run. Bowman sat before letting Winx stride. Clear on the bend, she was three in front at the 200, the remainder was a procession.

“I’ve had a bit of an in-and-out afternoon and an in-and-out couple of weeks, but to produce a ride this mare is worthy of today, gives me so much pride,” said Bowman.

Such is Winx’s form-line that second placed, the Authorized gelding Hartnell, is the Emirates Melbourne Cup favourite and third placed, the All American filly Yankee Rose, is the VRC Oaks favourite. Yankee Rose, being a length clear of the Andre Fabre-trained Vadamos with jockey Mark Zahara reporting that he had raced too keen to be a factor.

As with many of his other big-race wins, Chris Waller was brim full of emotion when asked to reflect on the moment.

“To get to this stage last year was something different for me to get back here again with the build-up it was fantastic and for her to win like that is probably pretty fitting for the horse she is.

“I’m very proud and its just fantastic for racing, we have such a good sport that everyone can compete in, It doesn’t matter who you are, everyone is the same on a racetrack.” Bought for $230,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, Winx is out of the Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl, who foaled a Snitzel filly in August and since been tested in-foal to Exceed And Excel.

Not surprisingly, Winx will forego the Melbourne Cup carnival as Chris Waller’s stable announced on Monday. Dashing the hopes of the Victoria Racing Club that Winx would make her Flemington debut in the $2 million MacKinnon Stakes on the 5th November.