Lack of early pace in Winx Stakes added an extra degree of difficulty for Winx
The champion mare, having her first start since winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) in April, Winx needed to produce her rare brand of acceleration and will-to-win before recording her 26th successive victory.
Winx was resuming in what was previously Warwick Farm’s feature race, the weight-for-age Warwick Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), upgraded and renamed the Winx Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
However, it proved to be a race of contrasting tempos, the leaders clocking only 37.40 (12.46 200m rate) for the first 600 metres then a lightning fast 44.99 (11.24 200m rate) for the final 800 metres.
Winx rose to the occasion yet again though, not only adapting to the abrupt increase in pace but also the severe wind conditions.
After running only 38.26 (12.75 200m rate) for her first 600 metres and still being at least six lengths off the leaders on straightening, Winx produced her brilliant turn of foot to hit the front in the closing stages and score comfortably, clocking 44.13 (11.03 200m rate) for her final 800 metres.
Her 200 metre breakdown (from the 800m) being: 11.80, 11.06, 10.48 and 10.79, which saw her clock 44.13 (last 800m), a very fast 32.33 for her last 600 metres and 21.27 for her last 400 metres.
Winx’s final 400 metres in 21.27 is one of the fastest for that section On The Watch can recall (even if wind assisted).
She now looks like heading to the Optic White Stakes (registered as George Main Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on September 15 before going south for the Melbourne Spring Carnival and her principal target – to record a fourth successive W S Cox Plate (Gr 1 2040m) victory.
There were also a number of others in the Winx Stakes to perform well on the watch:
The runner-up, Invictus Prince (Dansili), who was having his third start after an average UK career of two wins from 13 starts and in a stunning turnaround of form, clocked 44.74 (last 800m), 32.88 (last 600m) and 21.81 for his final 400 metres.
Third-placed D’Argento (So You Think), the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m) winner last season, clocked 44.85 (last 600m), 32.85 (last 600m) with his final 400 metres in 21.87, in a very promising return.
Fourth-placed Kementari (Lonhro), the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner last season, clocked 44.68 (last 600m), 32.82 (last 600m) with his final 400 metres in 21.75.
Sixth-placed Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), the ATC Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner last season, clocked 44.66 (last 600m), 32.85 (last 600m) with her final 400 metres in 21.83 in another very promising return.
In the Show County Quality (Gr 3, 1200m) the three-time Group 1 winner Le Romain (Hard Spun) resumed and scored a really smart first-up win, despite carrying the 61 kilogram top weight.
After being given an ideal trip from barrier one by James McDonald, Le Romain finished too well along the rails to defeat his younger rival Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock), whom he conceded eight kilograms by just over a length in the quick time of 1:08.62.
Le Romain also returned impressive sectional times with his last 1000 metres in a very fast 54.91, last 800 metres in 44.45, last 600 metres in 33.63 with his final 400 metres in 22.54.
He is now a six-year-old but Saturday’s performance suggests that Le Romain could be set for his best preparation so far.
Earlier in the programme, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt Master Ash (Sebring) advanced quickly through the classes to take out the Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m) in very promising fashion.
Having only his fourth start, Master Ash was ridden well by Tim Clark who rode the colt from behind on this occasion and after enjoying a good trip in fourth place, the colt showed a great turn of foot in the straight to overhaul the leader Danawi (Exceed And Excel) and score by a length.
Time for the 1300 metres was 1:16.91 (11.83 200m rate), equivalent to 1400 metres in 1:22.82.
Master Ash impressed with his fast closing speed, the colt sprinting his last 600 metres in 33.40 and last 400 metres in 21.77 (10.78 and 10.99). He looks set for a good future.
The feature race at Saturday’s Caulfield meeting was the weight-for-age P B Lawrence Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) with victory going to the Team Hawkes-trained four-year-old Showtime (Snitzel) in a time of 1:23.67 on the Good 4 track.
Showtime was handy most of the way before fighting gamely to defeat triple Group One winner Hartnell (Authorized) by a long neck.
While first and second past the post impressed – Showtime having his second run this preparation and Hartnell his first – there were three other runners that took the eye of On The Watch.
The third-placed Widgee Turf (Turffontein), stepping up in class, ran on really well from tenth at the 600 metres, clocking 34.46 (last 600m) 22.94 (last 400m) with his final 200 metres in 11.80.
But arguably the run of the race was the Irish-bred five-year-old Kings Will Dream (Casamento), a winner of six of his eight starts before resuming on Saturday, who was subsequently promoted to head early betting for the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) and Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m).
Kings Will Dream was still back in 11th place at the 200 metres, his finishing burst taking him to within three-quarters of a length of the winner, being a late-closing fourth at the post.
His closing sectionals were the quickest of the race, Kings Will Dream clocking 57.77 (last 1000m), 46.20 (last 800m), 34.34 (last 600m), 22.83 (last 400m) with his final 200 metres in 11.72.
His Darren Weir-trained stablemate Humidor (Teofilo), was less spectacular but he did very well, nevertheless, in a promising first-up effort in finishing eighth, beaten just under three lengths after running on from back in 12th place.
Humidor clocked 57.86 (last 1000m), 46.32 (last 800m), 34.60 (last 600m), 23.09 (last 400m) with his final 200 metres in 11.80.
While the last word this week goes to the Lindsay Park-trained/New Zealand-bred mare La Bella Diosa (So You Think) who staged a brilliant first-up performance in taking out the Macdonald Handicap, mares (1100m).
Carrying top weight of 59.5 kilograms, La Bella Diosa came with a fast burst after being last in the nine-horse field at the 600 metres to grab victory by a head, going away.
La Bella Diosa returned very fast closing sectionals of 54.98 (last 1000m), 44.12 (last 800m), 33.30 (last 600m), 22.39 (last 400m) with her final 200 metres in 11.31.
She is a winner of six of 15 starts, including the 2016 One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton – La Bella Diosa is a horse to watch.