Champion Winx has finished strongly to run third in a barrier trial at Randwick ahead of her tilt at a third Cox Plate.

After settling her last in Monday’s 900m-heat, Hugh Bowman took her to the outside in the straight and she went up a gear over the final 200 metres.

The trial was won by two-year-old Diamond Tathagata who beat Comin’ Through by a short half head with Winx another 1-1/4 lengths away.

Credit: AAP