Winx Makes Stylish Return

A collective sigh of relief as Horse Of The Year favourite Winx made a winning return to racing in Saturday's $250,000 Group II Optus Business Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

It made it six consecutive wins for Chris Waller's Cox Plate heroine who was making her first start since her all conquering spring campaign.

As expected, Kerrin McEvoy set the early pace on Solicit while Hugh Bowman had Winx travelling comfortably back in fifth on the fence.

Solicit kicked on the turn and Bowman looked keen to get off the fence to give chase.

But his hand was forced and once committed to make a challenge on the inside, Winx did not flinch and quickly reeled in Solicit to win by a length with Godolphin's stayer Hauraki making a pleasing return two and three-quarters of a length back in third. (photos Lisa Grimm)

It was a 1-2-3-4 finish for Darley stallions with the winner and runner-up by the deceased Street Cry, Hauraki by Reset and fourth placed Dibayani (Ire) by former shuttler Shamardal (USA).

"Today is one of the most nervous I have been in recent years," Waller said.

 "But there is a sense of importance about this horse that is almost on the cusp of a superstar, in our eyes she already is.

"I feel it is important for racing to keep them winning and I just think every time about Pete Moody and Black Caviar and what he must have gone through. That's another level again. I'm not saying we are there but I think it's fantastic for racing. I hope everyone is with us. "

"Especially with an elite horse like this, every race is important now.

" The Queen Elizabeth is the bonus because of the big prizemoney there. Every race will be taken very seriously, as they always are.

"I would say it will be a Group 1 next start for her that she will be running in and hopefully she will get that as well."

Winx was a $230,000 Magic Millions purchase for Peter Tighe's Magic Bloodstock from the Coolmore Stud draft.

Her overall record now stands at 10 wins and three seconds from 16 starts with earnings of $3,781,925.

Bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds the daughter of Street Cry (IRE) is out of the stakes-winner Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl who was bought for $455,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Colm Santry Bloodstock on behalf of Fairway Thoroughbreds.

Vegas Showgirl an unraced 2yo colt by Snitzel named El Divino and yearling colt by Snitzel. She missed to the same stallion in in 2014 before being covered by the Arrowfield based son of Redoute's Choice again last spring.