As per the script, wonder mare Winx had little trouble in winning her third Apollo Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, increasing her incredible win-streak to 30 and surpassing a staggering $23 million in earnings in the process.
First-up from a break in what will almost certainly be her final preparation before being retired, Winx sat midfield before ambling past the leaders to win comfortably in a race record time (1:20.88) under Hugh Bowman.
"It's a massive relief, for not just me but for the fans that support her," trainer Chris Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race.
"It's a sense of relief, we take it so personally.
"She can't tell us when she's had enough and we made the decision to push on a bit further…
"She's pretty good.
"For racing, she's exactly what we need, and it's why the sport's so great."
Age shall not weary the champ.
— TAB (@tabcomau) February 16, 2019
Winx makes more history in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick. #GoWinx Ⓜ️ pic.twitter.com/3ET9KF01X9
Happy Clapper stuck on gamely for second, with Winx's stablemate Egg Tart claiming third.
The last time Winx tasted defeat was in the G1 ATC Oaks at Randwick on April 11, 2015.
Since then, the darling of Australian racing has won 22 G1s, including an unprecedented four Cox Plates.
The star seven-year-old is likely to have three more runs before sailing off into retirement; the G1 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) on March 2, the G1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) on March 23 and the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at The Championships on April 13.
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