Twenty-Six in a Row for the Amazing Winx

Mark Smith - Saturday August 18

On a track that was playing to frontrunners close to the fence, Winx gave her legion of supporters some concern when she was well back and in the centre of the track coming over the Randwick rise in Saturday's Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) but as she has done now for a record 26th consecutive time, she put the race to bed in the space of 50 metres.

Displaying the rarest brand of acceleration, Winx was eased down to defeat the 150/1 long-shot Invictus Prince (GB) by two lengths with Winx's stablemate D'Argento a length back in third. (photos Steve Hart). 

Advertisement


Hugh Bowman has been aboard Winx for all but two of the 26 winning sequence.

"It's amazing. It's a while since she has run over this distance. It's not as comfortable riding her as it is a bit short of her best distance," Bowman said.

"Glyn (Schofield on Kementari) and I came around the corner together. I thought I was near my top. She was struggling at the pace of this distance. When she balanced up and saw the winning post, what can I say, she is just incredible.

"You see the crowd building from the start. Lots of children here and that's what I love the most. Parents bringing their kids out to see a horse of the calibre we may never see again. They only come along once in a generation. She is such a special athlete. I'm lost for words. I am so proud of her."

In winning her 19th Group 1, Winx advances her overall record to 30 wins and 3 seconds from 36 starts with earnings of $19,290,425.


A typically emotional Chris Waller said he believes that Winx is as good, if not better than she has ever been.

I look for signs that she might be losing her dominance but if anything, I've seen improvement. It is quite staggering," Waller said.

"What she does to horses, she simply breaks their hearts."

A 7yo daughter of Street Cry (IRE), Winx is a half-sister to Group III ATC Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino.

She was a $230,000 purchase by Magic Bloodstock out of the Coolmore draft at the 2013 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Her dam Vegas Showgirl, a dual Listed stakes-winning daughter of Al Akbar, was a $455,000 purchase by Colm Santry Bloodstock at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Vegas Showgirl has a 2yo Snitzel filly named Courchevel and a yearling filly by Exceed And Excel named Covent Garden.

She was bred back to Exceed and Excel last spring but failed to conceive.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Randwick around the track with Clinton Payne on Saturday
Saturday saw the return of Australian racing’s pin-up girl Winx and after giving racegoers a genuine heart flutter, she duly delivered with one of her best ever wins at Randwick.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 19
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
€1.85million Sale-Topping Frankel Filly Now Dual G1 Oaks Winner for Coolmore
Not seen since winning the Group I Epsom Oaks (1m4f) at the start of June, the Aidan O’Brien trained Frankel filly Minnie Hauk started favourite in the Group I Irish Oaks (1m4f) at The Curragh overnight and duly saluted.
Five Consecutive Wins For Spirit Of Boom’s Shining Smile
Ending his Autumn campaign with three consecutive Listed victories, two-year-old Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile resumed from a spell on Saturday, winning the $150,000 VRC Member Sarah Hart Trophy (1000m).
Written By 3YO Claims Second Stakes Victory
Talented three year old Wind And The Lion (Written By) made a welcome return to form when he claimed the second stakes win of his career in the Listed HG Bolton Sprint 1200m at Bunbury yesterday and comes from a famous female family steeped in history .
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
Yes Yes Yes – Useapin Set for a Good Prep
Yes Yes Yes has been relocated to stand at Gooree Park Stud this spring and the Everest hero was in the frame at Rosehill on Saturday when talented filly Useapin posted her first metropolitan victory.
G3 Success For 2YO Maurice Filly Ethereum Girl
Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Melbourne Cup Contender for Wootton Bassett
Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) has been doing a lot of amazing things this year and he might just have a Melbourne Cup contender with the Joseph O’Brien trained Al Riffa putting himself in the picture with a facile five length win in the Group II Curragh Cup (1m6f) overnight.
Smart 2YO for Ferrando
Progressive colt El Vaquero completed the southern juvenile season on a winning note at Oamaru on Sunday, outclassing his rivals to claim the One Smart Coffee (1200m).