Winx’s long-time jockey Hugh Bowman has told Sky Racing he “couldn’t have asked for a better return to racing” after the champion mare won the Group One Chipping Norton Stakes over 1600 metres on Saturday afternoon at Randwick racecourse in Sydney.

Beating Prized Icon and Classic Uniform, the win clocks up Winx’s 23rd consecutive race and her 16th consecutive Group one win.

“Today at the 1600 she had a lovely run…she travelled so kindly.”

“She’s a very happy horse,” he said on Saturday shortly after mare blitzed the field in race six at 3.30pm.

An emotional trainer Chris Waller told reporters it was easier to watch the last part of the race as she stormed home and won by seven lengths.

“To see her come back like this is pretty special,” Waller said.

“Her attitude is fantastic. She is better now than when she was a four-year-old. She enjoys her job. She enjoys going home to be just another horse,” he said.

He said Winx had captured the imagination of Australia and had “come back so well”.

She's on another level!!

Winx takes out the TAB Chipping Norton Stakes with an effortless ride from @HugeBowman. She glides past the field and shows us just how good she is. A pleasure to witness this mare in action!!

23 straight wins is the record, with 16 Group 1's. #GoWinx pic.twitter.com/PBcwcfNHc6

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 3, 2018