In one of the greatest wins ever seen at Melbourne’s historic Flemington racecourse, Winx has extended her unbeaten run to 21 with a smashing of her rivals.
Back in the field for much of the race under a patient Hugh Bowman ride, Winx cruised up to the leaders around the turn before striding to the front and racing away for a six and a half length romp.
The latest win for the champion has her in ideal shape for her next race in three weeks time when aims to win a third consecutive WS Cox Plate – something only achieved by former champion gelding Kingston Town.
Trainer Chris Waller, jockey Hugh Bowman and her owners including Peter Tighe and Debbie Kepitis were not surprisingly thrilled with the dominant performance.
“She’s a brilliant horse and whatever you ask her to do, she does,” Waller said. “It’s as simple as that – she makes us all look great.”
Waller said it was onwards and upwards to the Cox Plate now adding that her racing future was “far from over.”
“Once we got a clear getaway it was pretty much smooth sailing from there,” Bowman said. “I didn’t have to think too much about it – I just got to enjoy it like everybody else.”
Bowman isn’t sure if Winx is better than last year’s Cox Plate, but he can’t wait for three weeks time.
“She’s doing as good as ever. She’s developed physically and mentally as the time has gone on.”
“In the first year (of the Cox Plate) she broke the track record – the next year she won by a record winning margin and judging by what she did this afternoon we’re in for another special performance this year.”
“This mare, she is taking all of us on this amazing ride and long may it live on,” Bowman added.
Winx, a $230,000 purchase for Magic Bloodstock at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, has now earned over $13.77 million with a fourteenth win at racing’s elite level achieved this afternoon.
Bred by the Camilleri family’s Fairway Thoroughbreds operation, Winx was raised on Coolmore Stud and sold through that draft through the famous Gold Coast sale ring.
A daughter of Street Cry, Winx is from the stakes winning Al Akbar mare Vegas Showgirl – herself a $455,000 buy for Fairway Thoroughbreds through Colm Santry Bloodstock at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Winner: Winx
Breeding: Street Cry-Vegas Showgirl (Al Akbar)
Race: VRC Turnbull Stakes G1 (2000m)
Sold for: $230,000
Sale: 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Coolmore Stud (As Agent)
Buyer: Magic Bloodstock
Earnings: $13,777,930
Owner(s): Magic Bloodstock Racing (Mgr: PG Tighe), RG Treweeke & Mrs DN Kepitis
Trainer: Chris Waller (Rosehill)
