US businessman John Stewart experienced a high-profile bidding war two years ago for a daughter of Winx, but he was ultimately successful in acquiring another blueblood from that year’s Inglis Easter Sale. After finishing as the underbidder on the $10 million Winx filly to the champion’s owner, Debbie Kepitis, Stewart secured another six yearlings. Among these was an I Am Invincible filly out of Group 1 winner Booker, purchased for $3 million.

Named Ernaux, the filly took seven starts to break her maiden in midweek company. It took another ten races for her to achieve success in Saturday metropolitan grade, which she did in spectacular fashion at Randwick.

Settling back in the field under Tyler Schiller, Ernaux ($4.20 fav) had to weave between runners in the straight before powering through a late gap to score by 1-3/4 lengths over the fast-finishing Mareth ($4.60).

“It was hold-your-breath stuff at the top of the straight,” trainer Chris Waller said. “Tyler, he knew what he was doing. He knew what he had under him, and she really exploded late.”

Waller further elaborated on the mare’s performance, stating, “Her form has been terrible on wet tracks. As soon as she had a better track last start, and again today, she’s a different horse. There is certainly something there. She’s very well bred, so we’ll see what’s around the corner.”

Despite Ernaux’s significant price tag, Waller confirmed there had been no pressure from her ownership group, which includes Stewart’s Resolute Racing and Coolmore. Her win in Saturday’s Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) gives the four-year-old a valuable Saturday win and may also keep her in training for another season.

“They’re fantastic to train for, and it’s good to see she’s won a good Saturday race for them,” Waller commented. “It was getting borderline whether we breed from her. That will give us a bit of confidence.”

The Winx filly by Pierro, named Quinceanera, was retired to stud unraced.

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