Chris Waller overseeing Winx's preparations (Image: Racing Photos)
Chris Waller has any number of gauges to call upon when assessing the overall health of the world's premier thoroughbred Winx on the eve of an important race, but there is one cue in particular that he looks for.
It doesn't emanate from Winx herself, but rather from her constant track companion Ben Cadden.
"Ben's just been all smiles over the last week and as soon as I see that smile, I know what he's saying," Waller told Racing.com on Friday.
"Normally, she gives Ben a hard time as she gets on with the job. He said today, like each of her workouts on the eve of the race, she's actually quite sedate and very relaxed and almost in the zone.
"She takes her work seriously as she does with everything she's involved in.
"She's eating well, sleeping well and working well and there's one more sleep to go.
"Ben's happy, Hugh's (Bowman) happy, I'm happy."
On Saturday at Flemington, Winx gallops further into new territory when she races for a 28th-consecutive win and a 21st Group 1 victory. If she wins the Turnbull Stakes, it will be her 32nd career victory and her prizemoney total will fall just $150,000 short of $20 million.
Waller was speaking just 24 hours after his stable hosted a media event for Winx and the trainer said that instead of potentially interrupting her preparation, the media call actually stimulates her mind and prepares her for what's ahead.
"If anything it helps her," Waller said of the media morning.
"With three weeks between runs she can get a little bit on edge, hence back in Sydney, we normally have an exhibition gallop and in Melbourne we usually go to Moonee Valley for the Breakfast With The Stars.
"The media morning gets her on her toes a little bit and then on race day, she turns up race days and she's picture perfect."