Winx has sent a message to her upcoming spring rivals with a surprise win in a barrier trial at Randwick.

The champion, who had never previously won a trial, travelled behind the leader Stampede and got up on his inside to win this morning's 1000-metre heat from three-year-old Pariah.

Winx is on a path to a third Cox Plate, starting with the Gr. 2 Warwick Stakes on Saturday week.