Chris Waller believes the champion mare Winx will be best served by making her next appearance in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 7.

“It will provide her with three weeks between runs from the George Main to the Turnbull and another three weeks into the Cox Plate for her fifth run of the campaign,” he said.

“While this is her intended path, if she was not to run in the Turnbull it would be my intention to run in the Craven Plate on October 14 at Royal Randwick before heading to Melbourne in preparation for the Cox Plate.

“It is my intention to remove the ear muffs from her race day gear for her next start as Hugh (Bowman) and I don’t feel they are required.”

Waller said a European campaign for Winx remained in the mix for next year.

“Obviously this is a long-term plan and my team and I would much prefer to focus on the current campaign as we head toward such an important time of the Australian racing season.”