Champion mare Winx has stepped up her 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate preparation at Royal Randwick this morning, running a pleasing third in a 900m barrier trial.

Regular rider Hugh Bowman allowed Winx to take a position towards the tail of the classy trial field as the Mark Newnham-trained Diamond Tathagata and fellow Chris Waller-trained Comin’ Through took up the running.

Bowman allowed Winx to go through her gears when the field straightened and while she was not let off the bridle, extended to the line well to finish over the top of Tom Melbourne in third position.

Bowman was thrilled with the feel offered up by the equine superstar in this morning’s trial and is confident that she is more than on track for this year’s Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

“She ran a place today and that was encouraging,” Bowman said.

“She felt great, in a really good frame of mind, her action was exactly how it was as she left off last preparation. She feels to me that she has strengthened up a little bit with natural development.”

“It was probably as good as she has ever trialled in all honesty.”

“She was relaxed early on in the trial and you will see with the replay when I got some open space in the final 200m, she really went to search for the line.”

“I allowed her to use herself a little bit but I just kept a lid on her this morning and she can probably do a bit6 more in her next trial.”

“It was great to see back out and good to have her back.”

Waller echoed Bowman’s sentiments following Winx’s trial and confirmed that the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on August 19^th remains the first-up target.

“Great to see her back in this shape and she looks to have a good preparation ahead,” Waller said.

“I really liked the way that she settled and quickened up the last 200m.That is starting to get to the business end of things

“It is just a pre-season game and we just wanted to make sure she got to this morning in good shape, reasonable fitness and she has and the trial itself has gone well also.”

“She has finally developed into a racehorse. She is as strong as you will ever see her. We purposely don’t let her get too heavy.

“Another trial in two weeks and then off to the races here at Royal Randwick on the nineteenth of August in the 1400m Warwick Stakes, that will be her starting point.”

“We definitely have the first race mapped out and what follows on from there will be pretty traditional.”

Winx will be seeking an eighteenth-consecutive win when she takes her place in the 2017 Warwick Stakes and is currently the early $1.50 favourite in 2017 Cox Plate betting markets with leading online bookie Ladbrokes.com.au.