Winx (Image: Racing Photos)
On face value Winx's first public trial for 2017 at Rosehill on Tuesday morning wasn't spectacular, nor did it need to be.
She finished third behind Group 1 winning sprinter Music Magnate, who is clearly tuned up for his return in the Expressway Stakes, and was pipped on the post for second by Endless Drama.
If Hugh Bowman wasn't wearing the silks Winx has made famous, most would struggle to conclude that she is the horse rated among the top three in the world.
But that is the beauty of Chris Waller and how he has managed the program of his national sporting treasure.
There is no pressure on him to ask Bowman to press the button and watch her idle at the girth of Music Magnate.
It is still 24 days away from her first-up run in the Apollo Stakes and she will have another trial to ensure she is spot on.
Visually her stablemate Endless Drama was more impressive.
He came from a couple of lengths off Winx to shade her in the final strides, suggesting the Irish import may be a horse to follow during the autumn.
But back to Winx and Hugh Bowman, well he was of the opinion the dual Cox Plate winner hasn't felt better during a trial.
"I was very pleased with her, we didn't ask her to do a whole lot this morning but it is probably as good as she has trialled," he said.
"She has pulled up well, moving well and we are looking forward to her having another trial before she gets to the races."
Chris Waller has mapped out a four-run campaign for Winx, with all her efforts to be confined to Sydney.
Her first-up assignment is at Randwick on February 11, a Group 2 event over 1400m before she will tackle the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes a fortnight later.
"She wasn't out there to break any records, or to keep her winning record intact it is simply a pre season game for her this morning," Waller said.
"And safety, making sure just like us, she goes through the early part of her fitness regime the best way possible and making sure she is getting to her big targets through the autumn.
"It is a long autumn for horses. She will be running on the 11th of February all the way through to the middle of April.
"She is right on song, she is as fit as she needs to be for this stage. It is still about 24 days from her first-up run, there will be a little fine tuning that takes place during that period but where she is at. "I'm very happy, she has a good covering over her body, she is not too light, nor too heavy, she is enjoying things, she is exactly where she needs to be.
"Her first-up run will be the Apollo Stakes, it is a 1400m race at Randwick, it is a good starting point for her, over this distance she is sharp enough to sprint well.
"I haven't quite been ambitious enough to try her over shorter than that but she is very adaptable, that is what we have come to see with her from winning over 1200m to 2200m, it doesn't really matter what the distance, 1400m is the starting point.
"Then we will go to the Chipping Norton, again at Randwick, a Group 1 mile race, then the George Ryder here at Rosehill and then the grand final is the Queen Elizabeth Stakes back at Randwick.
"It is not just about racing every week, it is also important that we keep her racing for years to come."