What the jockeys said and how the Queen Elizabeth Stakes was won
CHAMPION mare has again showed why she is rated the world’s best with her 25th consecutive win to equal Black Caviar’s record. Discover how she won and what the jockeys had to say.
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CHAMPION mare has again showed why she is rated the world’s best with her 25th consecutive win to equal Black Caviar’s record in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Jockey Hugh Bowman took her back to rear from her outside gate before she made her customary move approaching the turn for home.
From there it was a procession with Winx registering a world record 18th Group 1 success after she put paid to Gailo Chop ($26) to win by 3¾ lengths with Happy Clapper ($11) running on for third.
The Daily Telegraph’s Matt Jones looks at how the race was won.
HOW THE RACE WAS WON
START
Winx got away cleanly but settled last from the wide gate while Gailo Chop took up the running with Classic Uniform and Consensus.
1600M
Gailo Chop has the lead on his own and is controlling the race to his liking. There isn’t a lot of speed on which would slightly concern Winx fans as she sits in last behind Happy Clappy and Humidor.
1000M
Craig Williams isn’t happy with the speed as soon after lets Japanese runner Ambitious go at the 800m and creates more speed which suits Winx as she is still last with Happy Clapper.
HOME TURN
Winx begins to get into her work and is rounding the field to be the widest runner entering the straight. Gailo Chop is about to kick out in front.
200M
Winx goes straight past Gailo Chop and sprints clear as Happy Clapper makes a run along the rail and Humidor attempts to do what he did in the Cox Plate and follow Winx to the line.
FINISH
It’s all the champion as Winx strolls over the line almost four lengths clear of Gailo Chop, who did well to hold on for second, while Happy Clapper made good ground after getting held up in the straight.
TAB DIVIDENDS
1. WINX Fixed $1.24 $1.06 Tote $1.20 $1.04
2. GAILO CHOP Fixed $3.10 Tote $2.70
3. HAPPY CLAPPER Fixed $1.75 Tote $1.70
QUINELLA
9-2 $6.20
EXACTA
9-2 $6.90
DUETS
9-2 $2.70/9-1 $1.90/2-1 $3.90
TRIFECTA
9-2-1 $20.30
FIRST FOUR
9-2-1-3 $51.90
WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID
1. HUGH BOWMAN (WINX)
“She’s just an exceptional athlete, she creates so much attention, I’m just so elated, I’m so proud of her and I’m just so proud to be a part of it.
“What can I say, I’m lost for words.
“There’s so many cogs to the wheel and I know I get the dream ride here today, god forbid if something went wrong it wouldn’t be a good place to be, but she’s so exceptional, she is able to overcome everything and what a pleasure she is for sport.
“I know I’ve got the engine to round them up, but I can’t do it on my own, Ambitious made a bit of a mid-race move, which fortunately played into my hands.
“The bottom line is she’s got 10-12l on her rivals, it makes it easy for me.”
2. MARK ZAHRA (GAILO CHOP)
“He has run enormous. There aren’t many times you go into a Group 1 happy to run second but I think we can do that today.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Happy Clapper)
“He went great. It was just a modest tempo. He applied himself well though and stayed on nicely.”
3. BLAKE SHINN (HUMIDOR)
“Humidor ran super. There just wasn’t enough tempo there to give him an opportunity to run at his best. I thought he ran a brave race with a creditable fourth.”
4. CRAIG WILLIAMS (AMBITIOUS)
“He got the first 1000m right. Then someone got on him from behind, he got keen and took off from that time. I thought he was a bit plain in his action in the straight but it turns out he has lost three shoes so it is a good excuse.”
5. JOAO MOREIRA (SUCCESS DAYS)
“He didn’t break as well as we were hoping so we ended up behind and he was a little bit too keen and couldn’t finish off. He also found the ground a bit too hard.”
6. ANDREW ADKINS (CLASSIC UNIFORM)
“He’s probably looking for a spell now. He’s done a good job this prep and this was probably a bit hard for him as well.”
7. MICHAEL WALKER (COMIN’ THROUGH)
“I don’t reckon he stays 2000m.”
8. DAMIAN LANE (ODEON)
“He ran a really credible race. The pace came early into the race and I wasn’t quite ready to go so I thought he did well to box on.”
9. JASON COLLETT (CONSENSUS)
“She didn’t relax very well. To run as well as she did, I’m pretty happy with that.”
