Cellarmaster ($5.50) secured victory in the Winx Guineas by the narrowest of margins over Platinum Pantheon ($6.50), with Rustemo ($8.50) finishing a respectable third.

The winning dividend for Cellarmaster was $5.50, while the leading fancy, Within The Law ($2.60), was unable to make an impact despite considerable market interest.

Within The Law, the $2.60 favourite and a stablemate of Thebudgiesmugla, was positioned behind the early leaders and gained an opening in the straight, but faded to sixth, beaten by more than three lengths.

Trainer Charlton expressed that Cellarmaster had earned his significant race win.

“He enjoys being ridden a bit quieter, and we have learned that with him. It was a good performance,” Charlton said.

“I think he’ll keep improving, he’s definitely not the finished article. He’s a chance to run a bit further in time as well.”

Charlton explained that after Cellarmaster’s third place in the Phar Lap Stakes in Sydney during the autumn carnival, the intention was to target the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm, but the horse finished fifth behind Skyhook.

“We thought the Gunsynd was his sort of race, which it arguably was, but it was a bit stronger than normal because those horses like Skyhook didn’t get a run in the Stradbroke,” Charlton said.

“But this was a touch weaker.

“We’ll give him a break and think about what we do. He is Magic Millions eligible so whether we think late summer prep into the Magic Millions, or whether we give him a couple of weeks off and come into the spring, we need to figure that out.”

Following his Winx Guineas success, Cellarmaster faces a decision between a late summer preparation for the Magic Millions or a spell leading into the spring racing season.

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