First photo: In-foal Winx thriving at secret Hunter Valley location as horse racing’s special day looms
It’s arguably the most anticipated bub this year, and mum-to-be Winx, the former champion racehorse who won 33 consecutive races, is still calling the shots just weeks away from giving birth.
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Winx, the greatest race mare of them all, is only few weeks away from having the most-anticipated thoroughbred foal born anywhere in the world this year.
In this exclusive photo supplied to The Daily Telegraph during the week, a heavily pregnant Winx is enjoying roaming her lush paddock in the winter sunshine at a secret Hunter Valley property.
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Her ownership group of Debbie Kepitis, Peter and Patty Tighe, and the Treweeke family, is expecting Winx to become a first-time “mum” in about six weeks.
“When I last went to visit Winx, she looked amazing and I swear I saw her foal move,’’ Kepitis said.
“As you can see in the photo, she has a beautiful ‘preggers’ belly but she isn’t looking like she is getting ready to foal just yet.’’
Winx was retired after winning her 33rd race in succession — and a world record 25th at Group 1 level — in the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
She contested 43 races in total, won 37 times and earned more than $26.4 million prizemoney.
The mighty mare was then mated with champion sire I Am Invincible during the spring breeding season last year.
Kepitis said Winx was due to give birth to her first foal in late September or early in October.
“All the owners are very excited and can’t wait for the birth,’’ she said. “Winx has taken to motherhood really well and is very relaxed. She has retained her personality, which is lovely, and, like always, she is very committed to everything she does.
“She shares her paddock with four other mares and although she gets on well with them, she does dominate the paddock a bit.’’
Winx’s owners and the mare’s many fans around the racing world have reason to reflect on the champion’s celebrated career when the first Group 1 of the new season, the $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m), is run at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Winx Stakes, formerly known as the Warwick Stakes, was renamed in the mare’s honour in 2018, the same year the Hall of Fame champion completed a hat-trick of wins in the weight-for-age race.
With the Winx Stakes tomorrow, we checked-in to see how our girl Winx is doing and she certainly looks like she’s ready to be a Mum....not long to go. pic.twitter.com/QQUgsa74F9
— Chris Waller Racing (@cwallerracing) August 20, 2020
The Australian Turf Club is also hosting the inaugural Winx Stakes Day charity lunch on Saturday to celebrate the mare’s extraordinary racetrack achievements. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the luncheon was capped at 300 guests.
Kepitis said Winx’s ownership group hoped the charity lunch would become an annual event on Winx Stakes Day.
“Winx was so revered by the public and we want them to be able to reflect on her career,’’ Kepitis said.
“This charity lunch on Winx Stakes Day is a special honour and this way we can keep the public up to date with news about Winx, where she is at and what she is doing.’’
The owners have not yet decided which stallion Winx will visit later this year once she has given birth to her I Am Invincible foal.
Winx’s trainer Chris Waller is hoping to prepare his sixth winner of the Winx Stakes on Saturday when he saddles up Verry Elleegant, Imaging, Star Of The Seas and Kolding in the big race.
Originally published as First photo: In-foal Winx thriving at secret Hunter Valley location as horse racing’s special day looms