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Sydney form guru Gary Crispe says it is conceivable Winx could still be improving after her outstanding return to racing at Royal Randwick.
Champion Winx has been unbeatable for over three years — but maybe the best is yet to come.
Form guru Gary Crispe said it is conceivable Winx could still be improving after her outstanding return to racing at Royal Randwick last Saturday.
Sydney's super mare scored her 26th consecutive win — a national record — when she won the race named in her honour, the Group 1 $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m).
Crispe analysed Winx's win and has revealed the great mare returned a Timeform rating of 126, which is her second highest figure for a 1400m race.
"I think this was one of Winx's best first-up wins, certainly one of her best over the distance,'' Crispe said.
"There was a definite track bias to the inside last Saturday where the likes of (runner-up) Invictus Prince and others came through which only added to the merit of Winx's effort.''
Crispe revealed the highest Timeform rating Winx has returned at 1400m was her 128 rating after winning the Apollo Stakes last year.
"Winx used that win to springboard to her peak Timeform rating of 134 in the George Ryder Stakes last year when she defeated Le Romain and Chautauqua by more than seven lengths,'' Crispe said.
"She also went to a 134 rating winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes earlier this year so the evidence is there that she is still racing at a very high level.''
Trainer Chris Waller said after Winx's win last Saturday that there was still improvement in the great mare fitness-wise, which suggests she is in for another dominant spring campaign.
Crispe said although Winx is now a seven-year-old she is capable of improving her peak Timeform rating of 134 and move closer to legends Kingston Town (137) and Black Caviar (136).
"I think anything is possible with Winx. You can't underestimate her,'' Crispe said.
"Even though she is a seven-year-old mare she could still be improving.''
Waller doesn't want to over-race Winx this spring, suggesting she will be restricted to just four races culminating with the $5 million Cox Plate on October 27.
Winx may not race again for a month with Waller nominating her next run as likely to be the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on September 15.
If Winx wins the George Main, it will be her eighth consecutive Group 1 win, equalling Black Caviar's record or successive major race wins.
Online article taken from The Mercury.
