Winx wins 33 races in a row and retires a legend of the turf
For the final time, Winx has unleashed her trademark finishing burst to record her 33rd win in a row and give racing fans a memory they’ll never forget.
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Chris Waller didn’t want to let anyone down, Hugh Bowman used tragedy as inspiration – but Winx was just being Winx.
The fairytale ending everyone had hoped for came true as champion Winx again demonstrated her absolute superiority in the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick yesterday.
As 43,833 race fans on track urged the mighty mare to one final victory, millions more tuned in all over Australia and around the world.
Pat Webster, trainer of fourth placegetter Happy Clapper, summed up the moment: “The Melbourne Cup stops the nation, Winx stops the world.’’
The burden of expectation had settled on the shoulders of Winx’s trainer and jockey in the extraordinary build up to the big race – and it showed after the great mare’s famous farewell win.
“I didn’t want to let anyone down, my owners, the public, the racing world and Winx in particular,’’ an emotional Waller said.
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“I had no choice but to cope with the pressure. It’s not as if today has been any different to the last two years.
“Ever since her second Cox Plate, every race has significant in its own right. But today is the end, it’s job done.’’
Winx, racing’s reigning world champion, scored her 33rd consecutive win with the consummate ease that has been her trademark.
Bowman, his bottom lip split after he was head-butted by Winx as the jockey leant to kiss her, was as ice-cool as ever. He has rarely if ever made a mistake on Winx but after her farewell win he gave an insight into the pressure he has been under as he dealt personal issues off the racetrack.
“Over the last 12 months there has been a few things in our lives that have happened to also keeps things in perspective,’’ Bowman said.
“Our good friend Pat Smullen was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 18 months ago. He is in a good place at the moment.
“I’ve known three or four other friends who have died from the disease since then. (Wife) Christine’s brother took his own life in May last year and that was very hard for us all.’’
Bowman also made mention of jockey Tye Angland who was left a quadriplegic after a horror fall in Hong Kong last December.
“I’m so glad Tye Angland could make it here today,’’ Bowman said.
“He used to sit beside me at Warwick Farm and I think so much about him. For me, that is where I get strength from.
“To be in a position to ride such an amazing horse is a great privilege, I feel the emotion.
“At the end of the day, she is just a horse, she is a good one, but she is just a horse.”
But Winx is not just any horse, she is arguably the greatest of all time and she delivered on the big stage just as Waller and Bowman knew she would.
Winx ($1.06 favourite) seemed to have the race in her control a long way out and Bowman didn’t need to use any vigour as the mighty mare cruised home one-and-a-half lengths clear of Japanese galloper Kluger ($51) with more than two lengths to Hartnell ($26) third.
Bowman said Winx, a rising eight-year-old mare, has maintained her exemplary form right to her very last race.
“She’s shown no signs of going backwards,’’ Bowman said.
“We came here as confident as we’ve ever been and what a journey it’s been. It’s hard to believe it’s the end actually.”
But the end it is. From today, Winx is officially retired. She will begin life as a broodmare during the spring breeding season.
“I will wake up Monday morning and think to myself that wasn’t bad,’’ Waller said of the Winx experience.
“Life after Winx I think will make me a better person. To win a horse race is not the be all or end all.
“But to have a horse like Winx on the global stage, people around the world were watching her today, how often does that happen?
“These are the things that Winx has done for the sport and we will remember Winx for all the right reasons.’’
WHAT THEY SAID
BOWMAN: WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW GOOD SHE REALLY IS
“So proud to be a part of it. It has been very real for me all day, with the amount of people here, it is just amazing. Everyone watching around the world,...America, Europe. Africa. All over Australia. This horse has captured the hearts of a lot of people around the globe. There is really nothing more for me to say,” Bowman said.
“I mean, she just showed you what she is capable of doing. I dare say if she had something else to catch, she had something else to catch, she had more to give. Maybe we will never know how good she really is.
“To have had a horse like her to come it into my life, into our lives, to be able to cope with everything that has come with her, gives me a great sense of satisfaction.
“A great sense of satisfaction. A great sense of pride. I am so proud of her. But I am so proud of everyone around me, and around Winx.
“Chris Waller, the staff, his family, the owners. I mean, everyone has made the story possible. And the amazing horse just... Winx has just continued to deliver.”
WALLER: A SPECIAL MOMENT
“I hadn’t thought about winning a race like today ever in my lifetime. And it is such a special moment to share it with not only my beautiful wife and my beautiful children, but the beautiful people who have been right behind Winx,” Waller said.
“Whether they are here at Randwick today, but all around Australia, New Zealand, the world. Thank you very much. I can’t describe her in words. But thanks for appreciating here for what she is.
“What can you say it is an amazing experience it is great for our sport and great for Australia. It is part of life. It is what racing brings to so many ages of people.
“So many religions, so many countries. It brings the world together as one. It is the best sport in the world.”
P ART OWNER DEBBIE KEPITIS
“We will fly this carpet forever. She never disappointments. She is an amazing, amazing athlete. And it’s so touching that everyone cheers and applauds her the way that they do,” Kepitis said.
“The public realise the amazing history they have witnessed today. She is brilliant. She’s a credit to everybody that works with her. She touches a lot of souls in very much ways. And for that, I’m very grateful.”
HOW THE RACE WAS WON
Start: the field jumped even and Hugh Bowman, as he’d done in the four previous Cox Plate wins, decided Winx wouldn’t go back to last and he settled her midfield. The surprise was He’s Eminent going back to last.
1000m: At this point Bowman has Winx positioned in sixth, but most importantly she was travelling comfortably and he was in front of the second favourite He’s Eminent while Mask Of Time was out in front setting a fair pace.
400m: Bowman wasn’t letting the field get too far in front and after making his move from the 600m he was on terms with Mask Of Time and Hartnell on entering the straight while Kluger was making ground up the rail.
200m: Winx is in front of Kluger now by half a length with the post in sight but the Japanese horse isn’t going away and will ensure the champion can’t fully cruise to the line. Winx’s old rivals Hartnell and Happy Clapper are fighting for third but are well beaten by now.
Finish: Winx gets the job done by 1 ½ lengths with her class winning out in the end in what was a fairly comfortable victory in her final race. Kluger did well to run two lengths in front of Hartnell for third.
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