Rivals in awe of Winx’s punishing power

CHAMPION jockey James McDonald and Aidan O’Brien’s travelling foreman TJ Comerford have savoured immense success at the elite level, but they have rarely seen a champion like Winx.

JAMES McDonald and TJ Comerford hail from opposite ends of the earth.

Racing is the pair’s primary link.

McDonald is a world-class jockey. Comerford is travelling foreman — and loyal lieutenant — to the planet’s most successful trainer, Aidan O’Brien.

Both have savoured immense success at the elite level.

McDonald, 26, has graduated from New Zealand’s riding ranks to renown as a fully-fledged international.

Comerford is entrusted by O’Brien, the world’s most meticulous horseman, with the cream of the Ballydoyle crop.

Combined, McDonald and Comerford have either sat on or saddled the best.

But they’ve rarely seen a champion of Winx’s ilk.

Comerford first ventured to The Valley in 2014, ambushing unsuspecting locals with Adelaide’s extraordinary victory.

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Hugh Bowman celebrates after Winx wins her fourth Cox Plate. Picture: Alex Coppel

It was an old-fashioned coup and the “lads” revelled long into the night.

When the Irishman returned to The Valley in 2015 with Highland Reel, Winx’s career — and aura — was still relatively embryonic.

Comerford knew how good Highland Reel was. There was a level of confidence based on Adelaide’s success, but there was just one problem.

Winx, then in the early throes of her 29-race winning streak, was in the field.

And she was even better than O’Brien’s flag-bearer. Better than everything else, too.

Comerford, who oversaw seven Group 1 triumphs around the world with Highland Reel, smiled wryly at the memory.

“We’ve took Winx on with Highland Reel and we only came out third best that day,” he said.

“Highland Reel was a good horse as well, but Winx is very good.

“It was great to run against her, she’s a great filly.

“We have nothing but respect for her. Highland Reel was a very good horse, but Winx was too good that day.”

HISTORY. 🙌#Winx wins her 4th consecutive Cox Plate. A privilege to witness. #GoWinx pic.twitter.com/UPVktwmyRR

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 27, 2018

The O’Brien crew might have been the victims of daylight mugging, but Chris Waller had sympathy for them.

Not even he suspected what was to unfold that day.

As talented as Winx was as a four-year-old mare, Waller was surprised at the 4.8-length winning margin.

“That’s the beauty of horses and the way we train them,” he said of Winx’s quantum improvement.

“It’s not about the first two-year-old race of the season, it’s about longevity.”

Winx: the winning streak to greatness

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Those words continue to echo to this day as Winx burnishes reputation and record by the season.

Winx trounced Highland Reel by almost six lengths. Criterion, another globetrotter, was second for Lindsay Park and Michael Walker.

In the hubbub of post-race dissection, there were the usual hard luck stories.

But not from the Irish. They decamped to Asia, searching for more rewarding — and realistic — options as Winx headed to the paddock.

At his next start, Highland Reel won the Longines Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin, downing class opposition.

The proof was in the pudding.

Winx claimed another piece of history with her fourth Cox Plate on Saturday. Picture: AAP

The signs should have obvious to most a year later.

Godolphin’s Hartnell was supposedly the pretender who would become king of The Valley.

Then trained by John O’Shea, Hartnell turned up for the showdown in career-best form.

After chasing home Winx in the Warwick Stakes, he reeled off three successive wins, crowned by a Turnbull Stakes romp.

In any other year, he would have been raging favourite.

But even with Winx, from barrier three this time, standing between the import and Australasia’s greatest weight-for-age prize, Hartnell had plenty in his corner.

McDonald was among them.

“He was going really well at the time,” McDonald said. “And there was a lot of excitement about Winx and Hartnell running in the Cox Plate.

“I remember getting into a really good position in the race and being able to give him a couple of easy furlongs.

“He wasn’t suited by the bends at Moonee Valley, but at the 800m he was travelling really well. Just after that, I had this white bridle sidle up to me and then those blue colours with the big white M.

“I remember thinking how exciting it was that everybody would get the see what they’d come for. It was Hartnell against Winx in a Cox Plate.”

Winx gapped her rivals, including James McDonald on Hartnell, in the 2016 Cox Plate. Picture: George Salpigtidis

McDonald’s mood changed in an instant.

As agile Winx cornered like a greyhound, spacing her rivals with withering power, Hartnell crabbed.

By the winning post, a race-record eight lengths separated the pair.

For Hugh Bowman, it was elation.

McDonald resorted to profanity-laced adulation.

“When I was able to secure Hartnell’s hindquarters, all my worries disappeared and I just enjoyed he ride like everyone else,” Bowman said.

“I knew Hartnell would take me where I needed to go and he couldn’t take me far enough.

“Even James said as I went by him, ‘Oh, Jesus Christ!’.”

McDonald was gobsmacked.

“I don’t know what to say. I was going all right, too,” he said at the time.

“It’s definitely not his track. He was brave in defeat but geez, she (Winx) is unreal.”

In 2017, the markets indicated Winx was invincible.

Ridden arrogantly by Bowman, she duly controlled by the race but, inside the 200m mark, she was under siege from Humidor.

Winx edged out Humidor in a thrilling to finish to the 2017 Cox Plate. Picture: Getty Images

Trainer Darren Weir briefly allowed himself to contemplate the unthinkable before normality was restored.

“I thought halfway down the straight he was going to get her,” Weir said. “She’s just too good, isn’t she?”

In the saddle, Blake Shinn also thought Winx’s reign was about to end.

“For a fleeting moment, I thought we were going to beat her,” he said.

“Look, I was just gritting my teeth, trying to get that little bit extra out of him.

“But I could sense that Hughie had something extra in the locker.

“I never really thought I was going to get Winx, but I kept trying my hardest to get over the top of her.

“I thought we were a chance, but she’s a champion, she just keeps responding under pressure.

“But, wow, what a performance.

“Second is a great achievement on the horse’s behalf, to run a champion that close.”

Over the past three years and 29 races, a string of jockeys, trainers and owners have experienced exactly what Shinn felt.

Now, with the seeming certainty the Cox Plate has seen the last of Winx, a new chapter will begin in 2019.

Whatever unfolds, it won’t be the same without “Winxy” and the way she impacts friend and foe.