Wonder Race: Who will win the battle to be crowned Australia’s greatest racehorse?
Racing editor Ray Thomas and legendary racecaller John Tapp compare the records of two more greats of the Australian turf in the build-up to the Wonder Race. WATCH THE VIDEO
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John Tapp, the revered voice of racing, described the two champions as having “matinee idol’’ looks.
Peter Pan, the striking chestnut with the flaxen mane, was such an outstanding racehorse he emerged from the giant shadow of “Bid Red”, Phar Lap, and became a household name himself during the Great Depression years.
And Lonhro was the sleek, near-black racing machine who became a crowd favourite with his electrifying acceleration.
It's the question we haven't been able to answer... until now! Is @Winx_Horse the greatest of all time? We are pitting her against 11 great Aussie thoroughbreds in #TheWonderRace https://t.co/bqkAOH5bBl pic.twitter.com/DzfUc3WlTu
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) April 2, 2019
Peter Pan and Lonhro have earned their place in the elite 12-horse field for “The Wonder Race” to determine the greatest champion of them all.
Form guru Gary Crispe from Racing And Sports joined Tapp and myself to analyse the possible outcome if these great champions were to meet in a hypothetical weight-for-age race over the famous Royal Randwick 2000m course.
It was a fun exercise that generated spirited debate between the three of us as we studied the records of the 12 champion racehorses.
The point of the exercise was to determine where the great mare Winx ranks among the all-time great champions of Australian racing.
Winx, who will be retired after the $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 13, has rewritten racing’s record books during her four-year unbeaten streak that has resulted in 32 consecutive wins, 24 at Group 1 level, and $23.9 million prizemoney.
There is no right or wrong answer because comparing champion racehorses of different eras is a very difficult, some would say an impossible task.
But every sports fan has an opinion which is why “The Wonder Race” concept is generating such interest.
The Daily Telegraph has set up a reader poll on Twitter. By using the #TheWonderRace you can have your say on who might win.
Over the next few days, Tapp and I will discuss the merits of each of the 12 runners at www.dailytelegraph.com.au.
Then, on Wednesday, April 10, just three days before Winx’s farewell race, catch the live broadcast at 12.30pm to introduce the big race before Tapp’s phantom call of “The Wonder Race.’’
