Caulfield Stakes 2016: Wonder mare Winx extends winning run to 12

SYDNEY’S wonder mare Winx kept her long winning streak going as she finetuned her Cox Plate title defence with an easy win in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes. WATCH HER WIN

Winx secured her 12th straight win with an easy victory in the Caulfield Stakes. Picture: Ian Currie

WINX, the reigning champion with 12 successive wins, against Hartnell, the Godolphin giant who beats up on his rivals for practice.

It is a promoter’s dream with the stage set for the most anticipated race of the spring between Winx and Hartnell in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in two weeks.

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Sydney’s wonder mare Winx kept her long winning streak going as she finetuned her Cox Plate title defence with a consummate effort to take out the Group 1 $600,000 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Winx may not be winning her races with the arrogance and dominance Hartnell has in his Chelmsford Stakes-Hill Stakes-Turnbull Stakes romps but the fact is she keeps winning with her customary ruthless efficiency.

“We go onto the Cox Plate now,” Waller said. “Hartnell is there, bring on the world, there will be some great horses in the Cox Plate and it will be great for racing.

Winx cruised past Black Heart Bart in the run to the line. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“Everyone will build on it now and that is what we are here for — the sport. I feel the public expectations more than the pressure. I’m a racing fanatic so I understand what people want.

“It is good to get the job done (Saturday) but it helps when you have a superstar horse — she makes me look good.’’

The Caulfield Stakes created unprecedented interest in the days prior after only two rivals were paid up to take on Winx.

There as a real buzz and sense of anticipation on track as the mighty mare paraded before the race but this Group 1 race was more a track gallop than a race as the reigning Horse of the Year scored with ease, rewriting racing history in the process including:

# Winx’s 12th consecutive win equals Tulloch’s longest winning streak and is she closing in on Phar Lap’s best of 14 straight successes.

# She took her prizemoney to $7.49 million and sixth on the all-time list led by Makybe Diva’s $14.52 million.

# This was her eighth career Group 1 success, equalling More Joyous’s major race win haul. The only mares to win more Group 1 races are the incomparable Black Caviar (15 wins) and Sunline (13 wins).

# Winx’s odds of $1.24 makes her the shortest favourite to win the Caulfield Stakes since Bonecrusher won at $1.25 30 years ago.

Hugh Bowman salutes after Winx added another Group 1 to her record.

Hugh Bowman on Winx followed leader Black Hart Bart ($4.80) throughout before moving up alongside that horse on the turn before the champion mare forged clear to score by two lengths. He Or She ($21) tried hard but was totally outclassed and was four lengths away third.

The three-horse race turned into a fascinating tactical battle between the jockeys with Brad Rawiller on Black Heart Bart turning it into sprint home from the 1000m.

“It was an interesting race as there was no pace early, which we expected,’’ Bowamn said. “But there was enough speed so I could follow Brad and he started to build it up from the 1200m.

“It was always going to be sprint home and I didn’t want to let Black Heart Bart to get too far in front. She was just too good again, it was a pleasure to ride her.’’

Few horses have the ability to sustain a long sprint like Winx as she demonstrated yet again on Saturday with some stunning sectionals — 1000m in 56.83s, 800m in 45.24s, 600m in 33.61 400m in 22.47s and final 200m easing down in 11.48s.

“When I saw Brad Rawiller go for Black Heart Bart I knew we had control of the race,’’ Waller said. “Then Winx continued to respond so the last 200m was easier (to watch) than the first 1800m. Hugh Bowman is sensational, he doesn’t panic, he is ‘Mr Cool’. I didn’t given him any instructions before the race, I have full confidence in him.

“Winx will only do what she has to but she will be ready in two weeks’ time.’’

The ease of Winx’s win was expected and the Caulfield Stakes results did little to early Cox Plate betting. Winx remains a firm $1.90 favourite with Hartnell at $3 but Black Heart Bart did ease from $12 out to $15.