Winx, the superstar mare of Australian racing, won her first start since October in Saturday's Group 2 Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse outside of Sydney.

Ridden by Hugh Bowman, Winx had her customary trip in the seven-furlong race - she stalked the pace before rallying wide in the stretch to win by about two lengths over the veteran older horse Happy Clapper.

Bowman did not use his whip. He shook the reins at Winx a few times in the stretch and got an immediate response.

The $177,800 Apollo Stakes was Winx's first start since a record fourth consecutive win in the Group 1 Cox Plate last October. Owned by a partnership, Winx has won the Apollo Stakes three times in her career for trainer Chris Waller. She won the 2016 running for the sixth win of her streak and again in 2017 for the 14th win.

"She showed how good she is and what everyone wants to see," Waller said in a televised interview.

"I'm very proud," Waller said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I can't say much more than that without getting emotional."

Waller said the 8-year-old Winx will be pointed for the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at a mile at Randwick on March 2, a race she has won the last three years.