Winx filly attracts global attention at auction before she even puts a hoof on the track

The first foal of Australia’s greatest racehorse, the legendary Winx, is expected to break all records when she steps into the sale ring next Monday. Watch episode one of our three-part documentary here.

Sitting at table 13 with his heart in his mouth for the auction of legendary racehorse Winx’s first foal will be Inglis chief executive Mark Webster.

The owners of Winx have trusted Mr Webster and his bloodstock auction house to secure a price above the $2.6m record for a yearling in Australia when she steps into the sale ring next Monday.

“People are in love with this filly and appreciate just how rare she is,” he said.

“Of course we would love the fairytale.”

The beginning of that fairytale story has been captured in a new documentary, Winx: The Next Generation, episode one of which is on The Daily Telegraph website on Monday.

It tells the story of the first filly born to Australia’s greatest mare and her journey to the sale that will lay the groundwork for the next chapter in the Winx saga.

Winx running out on the track in the final race of her career, the Queens Elizabeth Stakes 2019, at Randwick Racecourse. Picture Rohan Kelly.

More than 5000 people are expected at the Inglis Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm to watch Lot 391 walk into the ring just after lunchtime on Monday. Among them will be potential buyers from all over the world as well as some of the biggest players in Australian racing.

Winx with her first foal.

“There’s no telling where the bidding might end,” Mr Webster said.

“Hopefully north of $2.6m because we’re looking for a new record.”

The excitement is all because of the filly’s famous mother, Winx.

“Look at her record,” Mr Webster said.

Inglis CEO Mark Webster said there is “no telling where the bidding might end”. Picture: Tim Pascoe

“You know, 25 group one wins and unbeaten in the last 33 races.”

The filly’s father, champion stud Pierro, is a legend in his own right but with this filly it is all about the way her mother Winx captured the hearts of the Australian people outside of the world of racing and the attention of people globally.

“She always seemed to do it so easily although sometimes coming from so far behind you know your heart was in your mouth,” Mr Webster said.

“Winx is still a household name and that’s what makes this so different.”

When Winx finished racing she had earned more than $26m in prize money and returned to her home at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley to begin a new life as a broodmare.

The Winx/Pierro filly, who will sell at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in Sydney on Monday. Photo: Adam Taylor

However her first foal was stillborn and an illness straight afterwards took a long time to recover from. All of which makes this filly so special.

Mr Webster said the owners had decided to sell the foal because they wanted to keep the Winx story going. Buyers from the US, Europe, the Middle East, Japan, Asia and across Australia have registered their interest.

He said that no matter who eventually buys her “it makes sense to race a filly like that here in Australia” because the prize money is so great “particularly in NSW.”

Mr Webster said the filly’s bloodline is so strong “really, she doesn’t even have to win a race. When she comes of age to be a breeding horse she will be highly sought after.

“It’s not a losing situation here when you buy a filly of this quality,” he said.

So on Monday he will be sitting on table 13 as lot 391 walks into the ring and sitting with him will be a lot of people who are often too busy to make it on sale day.

“There will be a lot of people who will want to come along and see this piece of history and you might see them on table 13,” he said.

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