Legendary mare Winx honoured with a bigger than life-size statue
Racegoers will be able to celebrate the legendary winner of four straight Cox Plates when a bigger than life-size statue of Winx is unveiled. Here’s a first look at the incredible sculpture.
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EXCLUSIVE: Champion jockey Hugh Bowman reckons its fitting mighty Mare Winx will take centre stage again at The Valley for Saturday’s Cox Plate.
The legendary winner of four straight Cox Plates will be honoured with a bigger than life-size statue to be unveiled in a new public park outside the racecourse.
The statue – titled “Winx4’’ – will take pride of place at the entry to the course so generations of racegoers can admire the remarkable career of a turf queen who won 33 consecutive races.
Bowman said the 4.14m long, 2.63 metres high, and 88cm wide cast bronze statue froze
“special memories’’ in time.
“To see the finished product is emotional, to be honest,’’ he said.
“She is just so deserved of it and the fact I have been immortalised with her in this statue is very humbling.’’
The Herald Sun got a sneak peek of the statue which features Winx striding to victory in the 2018 Cox Plate with Bowman aboard.
“What she did, I think it’s fair to say it won’t be repeated,’’ Bowman said.
“Not only the Cox Plates but also to perform at the level she did and it’s only really now that when I reflect on it that I really understand how extraordinary it was.’’
While fans will not be allowed on-course for the 100th Cox Plate, Bowman said the Winx statue would be loved by the masses who would pose for photos with the monument when COVID-19 restrictions ease.
“It’s going to be here forever but just the sheer accuracy of the artist is really quiet special,’’ he said.
Melbourne sculptor Louis Laumen, who previously created the Nicky Winmar ‘Black
and Proud’ statue at Optus Stadium in Perth, started work on the Winx tribute last April.
Moonee Valley Racing Club chief executive Michael Browell said the statue, to be unveiled at a ceremony on Saturday broadcast by Channel 7, was ‘‘breathtaking, spectacular, magnificent’’.
“It brings back some fantastic memories, four years of Cox Plate success, but also the legacy she has delivered and she will live on now for eternity here at the Valley,’’ he said.
The 100th running of the Cox Plate will be one for the digital age, with footage of trophy presentations sent to owners via video conference calls.
It follows a backflip by the Andrews Government which gave the green light for a limited number of owners to attend the Cox Plate Carnival but reversed its decision after community backlash.
Instead of revving up the masses trackside, Daryl Braithwaite will entertain punters by singing his anthem ‘The Horses’ for the TV broadcast in the build up to the main race.
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