Anatomy of a super horse: What makes Winx the best of all time

Doctor John Walker spent two years as Makybe Diva’s lead veterinarian and has worked with Australia’s best trainers. he knows a champion horse when he sees one and he puts Winx’s historic dominance down to one thing.

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Doctor John Walker spent two years as Makybe Diva’s lead veterinarian.

He’s worked with Australia’s best trainers including Gai Waterhouse, Lee Freedman, Tony McEvoy and Peter Snowden.

In short, he knows a champion when he sees one.

So in Walker’s expert opinion, what is it that makes Winx the greatest racehorse we’ve seen?

Is it her quick-fire 170 strides per-minute — a cool 30 more strides than the average racehorse?

Is it the size of her heart or ability to quickly pump oxygen, with what is an otherwise normal sized lung capacity?

Is it her fast and slow twitch muscle fibres, the perfect combination for racehorses who excel both over sprint and middle-distances?

Or is it simply the intangibles, that 23 years as an ‘equine vet’ has no scientific way of being measured, like desire and will to win?

“Temperament,’’ Walker declares.

“For me as a veterinarian, the most amazing thing about her is her temperament and that she never gets hurt and she never gets sick. It’s unheard of.

“Over the entire course of her journey (43 race career) that she’s been on, to have never been scratched from a race because of a high temperature, or a cut leg, or she’s got colic, or she got cast in her box, that has never happened.

“Never ever. I was talking to Peter Snowden (Group 1-winning trainer) about this very thing and we both believe that is the most remarkable thing about her.

“That’s her temperament — and there’s a dash of luck there too.

“But full credit to her trainer Chris (Waller), to keep her in a space that keeps her away from illness or injury.

“I looked after Makybe Diva for the two years and it gets to the point where the trainer has that much faith in his horse, he has the confidence to go and train them with an attitude of pinning the ears back and going for it.

Winx might be a top physical specimen but it is her temperament that sets her apart. Picture: AAP

“The horse gives you the confidence to do what you need to do with them. They just don’t let you down on race day.’’

“She has had to be sound to do what she does.

“There are horses who run through pain, but if she had started to develop injuries over her five-year journey those injuries are going to eventually compound.

“And eventually they’ll affect limitations. That hasn’t happened with her. It’s extraordinary.’’

According to Walker, there’s no denying physically, Winx simply has what other racehorse don’t.

“She would have an enormous lung capacity. Because remember, she isn’t just sprinting. She’s running middle-distance,’’ Walker said.

John Walker during his time working with Makybe Diva back in 2005.

“When you watch her gallop, it’s not an optical illusion. She looks like she’s galloping quick because she is.

“Horses aren’t like humans. Their galloping action predetermines their breathing.

“When they hit the ground, they have to breath out. When all four legs are in the air and they’re suspended — they’re breathing in.

“If she’s able to put more strides in, she’s able to breath more and therefore consume more oxygen.’’

Phar Lap’s heart was remarkable for its size, weighing 6.2kg, compared with a normal horse’s heart at 3.2kg.

The size of Winx’s heart we won’t know, hopefully for many years to come.

But like Phar Lap and the great American champion Secretariat too, Walker said it was fair to state the mighty mare was blessed with a robust heart.

“You’d have to think it’s bigger than average and thicker than average with a larger heart chamber size,’’ Walker said.

“You’re not going to know until she passes, but you are safe to assume her heart is bigger than the average.

“We could be certain of that, given what we know about what other champion hearts of horses weigh. It’s a fair guide.

“I would say too, she must not produce as much lactic acid as other horses, as lactic acid builds up and causes muscle fatigue.

“That’s a big factor in her success.’’