Australian super-horse Winx breaks G1 world record in 24th consecutive triumph

Alex Broun 16:19 24/03/2018
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  • Winx (r) cruised past Kementari to win her 24th straight race

    Another day another win for the Australian super horse Winx, who just keeps getting better.

    In the George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill in Sydney the champion mare set a world record of 17 for Group One flat wins – the six-year-old, trained by Chris Waller, moving past the mark of 16 set by American horse John Henry in 1984.

    Jockey Hugh Bowman, as usual, coolly rode Winx to her 24th-straight victory, sitting back early before launching her charge with 300 metres remaining.

    As Winx strode imperiously forward, she still had Invincible Gem, Happy Clapper and Godolphin’s own Kementari in front of her.

    But when Bowman released the floodgates – the mighty mare let the power surge, coasting around the well-credentialed trio at the 200m mark as if they were standing still.

    Happy Clapper, Winx’s perennial brides-maid, battled on bravely and for a while down the straight stayed with the champ – before settling once more for the runners-up cheque.

    At least Happy Clapper is getting closer – the length distance was the narrowest the seven-year-old has come in seven attempts – ¼ length better than the previous best in the George Main Stakes last September.

    Kementari, the James Cummings trained colt who was experiencing Winx’s glory for the first time, held on for third – the much talked-up challenge never really eventuating.

    Although the winning margin was nothing like the commanding seven lengths in her last start at the Chipping Norton Stakes, the ever-calm Bowman said she did what she needed to do.

    “It was a bit of a tactical race,” said Bowman.

    “They are high-class horses and I’ve never treated her opposition with disrespect. I’ve always treated them with the respect they deserve.

    “Happy Clapper is a supreme athlete and this mare is just better than them. I have so much confidence in her.

    “She gave me such a thrilling feeling as she did everyone watching here today.

    “I could feel the crowd erupt as we went to the front at the 200 metres.

    “What a special, special horse she is and I’m just so grateful to be her jockey. Each horse is an individual but this horse has captivated the attention of the world.”

    For trainer Waller, the Kiwi now compares the pressure of preparing Winx to playing for the All Blacks. His only emotion at the end – one of relief.

    “It’s like you’re playing for the All Blacks and you’re about to get dropped,” he said.

    “It’s a sick feeling in your guts every time she goes around.”

    But Waller had no reason to doubt.

    “I can’t explain it. There has been a bit of pressure leading up to today,” he continued.

    “She makes my job a lot easier because she does what she does.

    “I was a little bit concerned when I knew Happy Clapper won so well first up and he’s a horse we have so much respect for and Kementari not just winning the Randwick Guineas, but winning the two lead-ups as well.

    “They are two quality horses and it was good for her today. It made her lift.”

    So what next?

    Royal Ascot beckons and a possible date for the equine queen with the human version.

    But Waller is not getting ahead of himself, stressing the race that bears the monarch’s name – the AUD$4million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 14 – will be the next stop, before any thought of meeting the real thing.

    On that day Winx will vie to equal another Aussie-legend – Black Caviar’s record of 25 consecutive wins – and Waller will steel himself one more time.

    “The intensity is just unexplainable,” Waller said.

    “I don’t know why, or if it is just me? You enjoy the after part of the race, crossing the line.

    “You have that sense of responsibility not to go crazy and make sure you are fully respecting your competition and where she is at in her career.

    “Three weeks between runs is quite good, but the intensity in that last week becomes sickening if you think about it too much.

    “I’m lucky I have got a lot of distractions. [But] she has sort of outgrown the distraction, she is constantly there.

    “That wasn’t the case a year ago. You are just thinking of her all the time.

    “Not for everything else, but to make sure the horse is alright.”

    Waller can relax on that one – Winx is a bit more than just alright.

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