Chris Waller said he thought Winx was a superstar. Well, that may have been an understatement given the mare’s imperious display to claim Saturday’s WS Cox Plate (2,040m) at Moonee Valley.

It was shades of Sunline as Winx cruised to the front before the turn and soon had the race in her keeping, clearing out to claim the $3 million weight-for-age championship in track record time.

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With High Bowman aboard, she was almost five lengths clear on the line from Criterion, with Irish raider Highland Reel in third.

Bowman was overcome with emotion returning to scale aboard the mare which became the first horse since Noholme in 1959 to win the Epsom-Cox Plate double.

“When I was a little boy, all I wanted to be a jockey. To be here riding on this stage is one thing, but to win a race like this, I can’t tell you how much it means,” he said.

“I’m so thankful, obviously, to Chris Waller and the connections of the horse … I just can’t believe it to be honest.”

Bowman said despite drawing near the fence, which was the place to be on Saturday, his main concern was giving Winx clear room to show her dynamic sprint.

“At the 600m when The Cleaner rolled off and went through I didn’t want to be going that early, but sometimes you’ve got to go that early, sometimes you don’t have choices.

“You have to take the cards you’re dealt and I was on the premium mare that was able to capitalise on the run that I wanted.”

The Cox Plate was race nine of 10 on the Valley’s biggest day of the year.

Earlier, The United States pushed his Melbourne Cup claims with victory in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m).

Meanwhile, Jameka heads to next month’s Victoria Oaks in winning form after defeating Shards and Tarzino in the Dilmah Vase (2,040m).