Where does Winx rank in top 10 horses of all time?

WINX has won her third-straight Cox Plate, so where does she rank among the greatest horses of all time? Our special panel of SuperRacing experts list their top 10. Do you agree?

artwork for top 10 horses

BEFORE last year’s Cox Plate it was almost unthinkable that Winx could be considered our greatest horse in the past 50 years.

But 12 months and three consecutive Cox Plates in such emphatic fashion the has rocketed to the top of the charts.

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Our special panel of SuperRacing experts rate her above Kingston Town, better than the unbeaten Black Caviar and superior to three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.

“The Queen’s three-year reign has been nothing short of breathtaking,” Herald Sun senior sport writer Glenn McFarlane said.

“Three Cox Plates, a streak of 22 wins and still counting, and an overseas trip on the horizon. Thrashes good horses and seems to be getting better with age.”

While it is impossible to elevate her above Phar Lap because we did not see him run, she must be considered alongside our greatest ever horse.

The SuperRacing panel consisted of Herald Sun chief racing writer Leo Schlink, Daily Telegraph racing editor Ray Thomas, Sunday Herald Sun columnist Jon Anderson, Sunday Herald Sun sport editor Danny Russell, senior Herald Sun sport writer Glenn McFarlane and Herald Sun form expert Michael Manley.

Valley sweetheart: Black Caviar in front of an adoring crowd at Moonee Valley. Picture. Wayne Ludbey

10 DULCIFY (9 VOTES)
21 starts: 10 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds
8 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Colin Hayes

Biggest wins: 1978 VRC Derby, 1979 Australian Derby, 1979 Cox Plate

“Might have been the finest galloper Colin Hayes ever saddled. Jaw-dropping acceleration and courage were his hallmarks. Tragically cut down at the peak of his powers.”

— Leo Schlink

“Maybe he would be up there with Kingston Town but for his career ending as a four year old. Reckon he was the Australian horse who could have won The Arc.”

— Jon Anderson

“The James Dean of Australian racing. A personal favourite when I was a kid, the ill-fated champion narrowly edges out Lonhro, Northerly, Saintly, Better Loosen Up and Let’s Elope, as my No. 10. Devastating Cox Plate win followed by the heartbreak of the 1979 Melbourne Cup.”

— Glenn McFarlane

9 SUNLINE
23 starts: 14 wins, 4 second, 1 third
13 Group 1 winners

Trainer: Trevor McKee

Biggest wins: 1999-2000 Cox Plates, 2000 Hong Kong Mile

“This wonderful mare won 32 races and competed at the top level for five seasons. Her 2000 Cox Plate win was an exceptional and dominant effort.”

— Ray Thomas

“Two Cox Plates wins (including one by seven lengths), a second and a fourth underline how good she was. She did it from the start of her career and held her form through to the end, winning 13 Group 1 races. This Kiwi girl was tough, courageous and classy.”

— Michael Manley

“Before she lost a yard and Northerly burst onto the scene she had the nation’s best covered from 1200m to 2040m. Beaten less than a length in a bid to win her third Cox Plate.”

— Danny Russell

RANK YOUR TOP 10 HERE DRAG AND DROP IN ORDER

8 SO YOU THINK (16 VOTES)

23 starts: 14 wins, 4 seconds, 1 third

10 Group 1 victories

Trainers: Bart Cummings, Aidan O’Brien

Biggest wins: 2009-2010 Cox Plates, 2012 Prince of Wales Stakes

“Five Group 1s on either side of the equator adequately conveys his quality and brilliance. Who knows what he might have achieved if he continued in Australia.”

— Leo Schlink

“Another dual Cox Plate winner. He most likely would have made it three in a row but was sold overseas. Handsome, talented galloper who undoubtedly would be higher on this list if he stayed in Australia.”

— Michael Manley

“A dual Cox Plate winner, he won five Group 1 races for the late Bart Cummings then went to the northern hemisphere and won another five Group 1 races under Aidan O’Brien.”

— Ray Thomas

7 MIGHT AND POWER (18 VOTES)

33 starts: 15 wins, 7 seconds, 1 third
7 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Jack Denham

Biggest wins: 1997 Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup, 1998 Cox Plate

“A galloping machine and his Melbourne Cup win rates with my best, alongside Galilee (1966) Rain Lover (1968) and Makybe Diva’s second and third wins.”

— Jon Anderson

“I still regard his 1997 Caulfield Cup win as one of the most outstanding big-race efforts I’ve seen. He also won the Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate, joining Rising Fast as the only horses to win the big three.”

— Ray Thomas

The earth really did rumble for this superstar who won the big three — a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double and a Cox Plate the following year. A leader who broke the hearts of those chasing him, producing quick splits and possessing the stamina to keep fighting when others threatened.”

— Glenn McFarlane

Powerhouse sprinter Manikato was a crowd favourite for many years.

6 MANIKATO (25 VOTES)
47 starts: 29 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds
11 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Bon and Bob Hoysted

Biggest wins: 1978 Blue Diamond-Golden Slipper double

“For five years he won at the highest level despite battling leg problems. He was super courageous and talented. He was also a clear No. 2 on my charts until recently.”

— Michael Manley

“Most Golden Slipper winners lose a leg by three. Manikato almost gained an extra one, going on to win the William Reid Stakes five years in a row.”

— Danny Russell

“His greatness was best highlighted in running second to Dulcify over the 2000m of the Australian Cup. Not sure any other sprinter/miler could have done that.”

— Jon Anderson

5 VAIN (36 VOTES)
14 starts: 12 wins, two seconds
7 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Jim Moloney

Biggest wins: 1969 Golden Sipper, three races in 1969 Cup Week.

“Maybe it’s a case of events from your distant past growing in stature, or maybe it’s my belief that this colt is the greatest sprinter/miler I’ve seen, one that sadly finished at three due to injury.”

— Jon Anderson

“Almost Phar Lap like stats during the 1969 Flemington Cup Week — won the 1200m Craven A Stakes by 12 lengths on Derby Day, the 1400m Linlithgow Stakes on Oaks Day by seven lengths and then two days later the 1600m George Adams Handicap (Emirates Stakes) by almost two lengths.”

— Danny Russell

“Didn’t see Vain, but have to respect his freakish winning record. Won 12 of his 14 starts as a two-and-three-year-old before injury took him to the breeding barns. Any horse which wins the Golden Slipper by four lengths and a Caulfield Guineas by three has to be respected.”

— Glenn McFarlane

4 MAKYBE DIVA (40 VOTES)

36 starts: 15 wins, 4 seconds, 3 thirds
7 Group 1 victories
Trainers: David Hall, Lee Freedman
Biggest wins: 2003-05 Melbourne Cups

“History became her shadow. An incredible athlete who dominated against northern hemisphere giants and set records which defy comprehension.”

— Leo Schlink

“Lee Freedman was right when he said: “Go and find the smallest child on this course because that will be the only person who lives long enough to see something like this again” after Makybe Diva won her third successive Melbourne Cup. Our greatest stayer of the modern era, who was also good enough to win a Cox Plate.”

— Glenn McFarlane

“Her three Melbourne Cups are the stuff of legend. She got better as she got older and was in career-best form when retired. The greatest stayer I’ve seen.”

— Ray Thomas

Vain wins the 1969 George Adams Handicap, this year known as Kennedy Mile.

3 BLACK CAVIAR (49 VOTES)
25 starts: 25 wins
15 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Peter Moody

Biggest wins: 2011 Newmarket Handicap, 2012 Diamond Jubilee Stakes

“The numbers don’t lie. 15 Group 1s is utterly phenomenal. Managed to win at Royal Ascot when clearly under duress.”

— Leo Schlink

“It’s almost fashionable to deride her career, yet 25 wins from 25 starts is an extraordinary feat. Repeat after me: ‘She was undefeated.’ Only really stretched in Australia by Hay List. At Royal Ascot, although far from being at her best, she still managed to win.”

— Michael Manley

“Ironically, her only near defeat might be her greatest victory. Had she not run and won at Royal Ascot there might have been a chink in her unblemished CV.”

— Danny Russell

2 KINGSTON TOWN (51 VOTES)
41 starts: 30 wins, 5 seconds, 2 thirds
14 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Tommy J. Smith

Biggest wins: 1980-82 Cox Plates

“He is still the most complete racehorse I’ve seen. A three-time Cox Plate winner, he was good enough and versatile enough to win from 1200m to 3200nm — in one preparation.”

— Ray Thomas

“He was super dominant for three years. His three-year-old campaign in Sydney in 1980 was extraordinary, kicking off with a 1200m sprint win in 1.09.7 min and five starts and five wins later he romped in the Sydney Cup. He’s been No. 1 all my life until now.”

— Michael Manley

Winx has saluted in 22 consecutives races in a streak that kicked off in May 2015.

1 WINX
32 starts: 26 wins, 3 seconds, 0 thirds
15 Group 1 victories
Trainer: Chris Waller
Biggest wins: 2015-17 Cox Plates

“The record books speaks for itself. Simply freakish, perfectly managed, the complete package.” — Leo Schlink

“I genuinely believe she could win both The Everest and Melbourne Cup if specifically set for those races, and I don’t think Kingston Town could have won the sprinting part of that equation.”

— Jon Anderson

“Has Black Caviar covered for distance range, trumps Makybe Diva for the unbeatable stretch and surpasses Kingston Town because of her interstate dominance. Watch out, Phar Lap.”

— Danny Russell

“The most versatile galloper over any distance. Almost seems like heresy to have ‘the King’ slip to No. 2, but Winx is still an active racehorse. Brilliant acceleration, a desperate will to win and devastating at his best.”

— Glenn McFarlane

THE SUNDAY HERALD SUN PANEL’S TOP 10 HORSE IN THE PAST 50 YEARS

Our selection panel was limited to horses that spent the majority of their racing careers in Australia from 1968 until 2017.

This excludes greats such as Tobin Bronze, who won his second Cox Plate in 1967, all the way back to Phar Lap and Carbine.

Each of our six selectors — Leo Schlink, Jon Anderson, Ray Thomas, Danny Russell, Glenn McFarlane and Michael Manley — picked their top 10.

Each No. 1 on the list earned 10 points on a sliding scale down to their No. 10, who earned one point. When lists where tallied Winx was a clear No. 1 with 59 out of a possible 100 points, with Kingston Town on 51 points and Black Caviar on 49.