Doncaster Mile 2016: Winx giving owners thrill of a lifetime

POLL: RICHARD Treweeke felt he was racing’s ultimate bad luck charm, Peter Tighe had given up on ever owning a Group 1 winner, and Debbie Kepitis keeps wondering if this is all a dream.

Derby Doncaster barrier draw

RICHARD Treweeke felt he was racing’s ultimate bad luck charm, Peter Tighe had given up on ever owning a Group 1 winner, and Debbie Kepitis keeps wondering if this is all a dream.

Contrasting emotions aside, the trio share in the ownership of Sydney’s mighty mare Winx, the nation’s most popular racehorse and hot favourite for the $3 million The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Winx is taking her owners and race fans across the nation on a remarkable ride with an eight-race winning sequence that stretches back 12 months.

“She has won us a lot of money but we don’t worry about that so much,’’ Treweeke said. “For us, it is more about the joy that people get from watching her race. The fans love her.

“It is amazing how many people I haven’t heard from in years who have called and said they feel a part of it because they know me.’’

There is something about a really good mare that resonates with the public. Already this century, Sunline, Makybe Diva, More Joyous and Black Caviar have captured the hearts and imagination of the racing public. Winx’s name can be added to that elite list.

“A good colt is usually sold to stud and retired early but Winx, being a mare, she is racing on and everyone can enjoy her,’’ said Tighe as explanation for the mare’s exploding popularity. “We (owners) are racing people and we are all about having Winx race for as long as we can.’’

Winx’s long winning run is also contributing to her aura of invincibility — and the burden of public expectation.

“When you are racing a great horse like Winx, you do feel the pressure,’’ Kepitis said. “The public want her to keep doing incredible things and she continually amazes us.

“It is a dream to own a horse like Winx and I just feel so privileged to be lucky enough to have this mare take us on such a ride.’’

Co-owner Richard Treweeke at home with the spoils of Winx’s successes.

And the ride shows no signs of ending anytime soon.

Certainly the bookies don’t think Winx’s winning momentum will be stopped in the Doncaster with the Chris Waller-trained mare at $1.85 to win the sixth Group 1 of her career.

The debate on whether Winx should be afforded champion status will be settled once and for all if she wins the Doncaster but for her owners there is no question she has already earned racing’s ultimate honour.

Treweeke maintains Winx had to be a superstar to break his racing jinx that stretches nearly seven decades.

“I’ve been racing horses since 1957 and never saw any of my horses win before Winx came along,’’ Treweeke said. “It just didn’t happen and then it got to the point where I thought if I stay away from the races they might win.’’

Treweeke often jokes: “I got used to having chase horses, not racehorses!”

But something compelled Treweeke to test his luck and go to the track for Winx’s second career start — and she romped home a winner.

Treweeke, 85, admitted he was told Winx had above average ability plus he has a soft spot for the horse he named.

“Peter, Debbie and I were asked to submit two names each and Winx, which was one I put forward, was selected. Everyone seems to love the name, I suppose it’s easy to remember,’’ Treweeke said.

“She’s out of Vegas Showgirl and if you have been to Vegas and watched the showgirls, they might flash some skin and the blokes will give them a wink. Try putting that in print!”

It was a challenge and required some subtle editing but we managed to get the octogenarian’s point across.

Winx races in Tighe’s distinctive blue colours with a big white “M” emblazoned across jockey Hugh Bowman’s chest and back, plus white epaulettes and pompom.

“The colours are my Magic Bloodstock company, we have had them for ages,’’ Tighe said.

More than 20 years in fact and until Winx came along, a Group 1 win had eluded him.

“We watched everyone else win and always wondered what it would be like to have a Group 1 winner,’’ he said. “Make Mine Magic was the best horse we had before Winx. He raced until he was an eight-years-old and took us to the Sydney and Melbourne carnivals.

“We had a lot of fun with him but couldn’t crack it for a Group 1. His best was a fourth in the Stradbroke. You can’t be desperate to get a Group 1 horse but when you do and they start winning these races it is a dream come true. It is surreal.’’

Winx will be chasing her sixth Group 1 win on Saturday. Picture: Colleen Petch

Tighe and Keptitis are really on a roll as both also share in the ownership of Preferment, the winner of last week’s The BMW.

After waiting 20 years for his first Group 1 win, Tighe has celebrated nine majors with Winx (five) and Preferment (four) in the past 18 months.

Kepitis is the daughter of Bob Ingham and her famous racing family has owned many champions including the public idols Octagonal and Lonhro.

But the adoration Winx attracts from the racing public still surprises her.

“This mighty mare is keeping us on this crest of a wave,’’ Kepitis said. “When she races, there is so much pressure but after she wins, the first feeling is of relief. Then the adulation kicks in and you realise what this mighty mare means to so many people. It’s humbling.’’

Kepitis believes Winx is going to the Doncaster Mile in career-best form, citing the mare’s last-start George Ryder Stakes effort as her most outstanding win.

“She seems to be getting better,’’ Kepitis said. “In the Cox Plate, there was that track bias but the George Ryder was her toughest test. It was a fair dinkum, strong race and for her to knuckle down and do what she did — it was beautiful to watch.’’

Treweeke hasn’t been in the best of health in recent months, missing Winx’s Cox Plate win and her George Ryder Stakes triumph.

But Treweeke said his health is on the improve and will be trackside at Randwick on Saturday.

“She is in great form and whoever beats her will need to be something special,’’ he said. “Is she getting better? I think so. This is the same course and distance she won the Epsom, she has to carry plenty of weight but she is as fit as a fiddle.

“I have been unwell and missed her last start but I’m feeling pretty good now and there is no way I am going to miss the Doncaster.

“It is in these big Group 1 races that Winx’s reputation is going to be made.’’

Originally published as Doncaster Mile 2016: Winx giving owners thrill of a lifetime