Winx reaches quarter of century in consecutive wins to join Caviar

CHAMPION mare Winx matched Black Caviar’s record of 25 wins in a row after winning her second consecutive win $4 million Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

Jockey Hugh Bowman rides Winx in an exhibition gallop at The Championships Day 1 at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Saturday, April 7, 2018. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

AS Winx made her move, the crowd went with her — as did millions more watching around the nation.

This was the moment. The champion mare was racing for history and she wasn’t about to let anyone down.

Winx fever had gripped race fans all week and the huge Royal Randwick crowd was willing her home in the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.

THE STORY: HOW THE RACE WAS WON AND WHAT THE JOCKEYS SAID

REWIND: WONDER WINX, THEBARMAN AND THEIR GANG

WINX AND CAVIAR: WHAT MAKES THEM SO SPECIAL?

The raucous cheering reached a crescendo as Winx took the lead 200m out. She was racing clear. Victory was hers.

Winx’s owners embraced, overcome with emotion. Trainer Chris Waller could barely speak. Grown men were in tears.

There was a famous Winston Churchill quote when he said: “History will be kind to me because I intend to write it.’’

Jockey Hugh Bowman and Winx make it back-to-back wins in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: AAP

In a sense, this applies to Winx. History will be kind to the great mare because she has written it.

Winx ran right away with the Queen Elizabeth Stakes — the margin was nearly four lengths on the line but who cares. She had won again.

“It’s hard to find the right words but that was very special, there was an arrogance about it,’’ Waller said. “She keeps lifting for the big occasions.’’

Winx settled last in the 10-horse field, jockey Hugh Bowman content to spot the rest of the field a start. At the 600m, he took the great mare to the outside of the field with clear galloping room.

Jockey Hugh Bowman gestures to the crowd as the champion mare equals Black Caviar’s amazing record of 25 consecutive wins. Picture: AAP

Bowman only needed to use his whip once in the straight. Winx did the rest.

Waller said he wasn’t concerned at any stage of the race and got the opportunity to enjoy the moment as Winx sprinted past Gailo Chop half-way down the straight.

“When we were back last I knew we would be OK,’’ Waller said. “I just didn’t want something taking off at the 1000m or if we lost sight of the leader.

“But Hughie knows this mare so well, he knows when to make his run and so does she. Winx is a very dominant horse under pressure. It’s only in those pressure scenarios that we see the best from her.

“You can only get the best out of her when she’s running against the best.”

Winx might be a rising seven-year-old mare but it could be argued she has never gone better.

The bookies took some risks with Winx who eased out to $1.24 favouritism on track but she romped home nearly four lengths clear of Gailo Chop ($21) with Happy Clapper ($11) running another brave race for third.

Winx’s legend grows with every win and the record books continue to be re-written. The highlights of the champion mare’s win included:

And that's history!!

Winx equals Black Caviar's historic 25 unbeaten streak with her second Queen Elizabeth Stakes @royalrandwick!! #GoWinx pic.twitter.com/PsZUqbFC48

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2018

HER 25th consecutive win to equal Black Caviar’s record.

THIS was her 18th Group 1 win — a world record.

SHE took her career earnings to an all-time record of $18,998,439.

BECOMES the first mare to win successive Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Bowman produced another nerveless, tactically perfect ride on Winx but the jockey deflected all the praise to the great mare.

“The bottom line is she’s got 10-12 lengths on her rivals, it makes it easy for me,’’ Bowman said.

“I know I’ve got the engine to round them up. She’s just an exceptional athlete.

“There’s so many cogs to the wheel and I know I get the dream ride here today, god forbid if something went wrong it wouldn’t be a good place to be, but she’s so exceptional, she is able to overcome everything and what a pleasure she is for sport.

“She creates so much attention, I’m just so elated, I’m so proud of her and I’m just so proud to be a part of it.”

Waller was then asked what the future holds for Winx and whether retirement was a consideration to which the trainer replied: “For me or for Winx?”

“I’m good for a few more season and she can follow me for a little bit longer,’’ Waller said.

Winx had done it. There are moments in life that are etched in the memory forever.

The day Winx won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is one of them.

THE BAY vs THE BROWN

WINX AND BLACK CAVIAR

WINX

6YO, bay mare

Street Cry (Ire) — Vegas Showgirl (NZ)

Foaled: 14/09/2011

35 starts 29 wins 3 seconds 0 thirds

25 wins in succession.

17 Group 1 wins, 26 Group or listed wins

Prizemoney: $18,883,925

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockeys: Hugh Bowman (25), Jason Collett (5), Tommy Berry (2), James McDonald (1), Larry Cassidy (1), Joao Moriera (1)

Biggest winning margin: 8 lengths (2016 Cox Plate)

Winning distances: 1100, (1), 1200m (1), 1300m (1), 1400m (5), 1500 (4), 1600m (9), 2000 (4), 2040 (3), 2200m (1)\

First start: WON, 2YO race, Warwick Farm, June 2014

BLACK CAVIAR

11YO, brown mare

Bel Esprit — Helsinge

Foaled: 18/08/2006

25 starts 25 wins

15 Group 1 wins, 24 Group or listed wins

Prizemoney: $7,953,936

Trainer: Peter Moody

Jockeys: Luke Nolen (22), Jarrad Noske (2), Ben Melham (1)

Biggest winning margin: 6 lengths (twice, 2009 Blue Sapphire and 2011 Schweppes Stakes)

Winning distances: 1000m (6), 1200m (18), 1400m (1)

First start: WON, 2YO race at Flemington, April 2009

Last start: WON, TJ Smith Group 1, Randwick, April 2013

Black Caviar. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Winx wins again. Picture: AAP

AUSTRALIA’S ALL-TIME LEADING PRIZEMONEY EARNERS

1 Winx $18,988,430

2 Makybe Diva $14,526,690

3 Sunline $11,351,610

4 Northerly $9,341,850

5 So You Think $8,813,497

6 Chautauqua $8,776,935

7 Redzel $8,221,750

8 Black Caviar $7,953,936

9 Buffering $7,300,190

10 Criterion $7,268,869

Winx breaks her own record with her 18th Group 1 success. Picture: AAP

MOST GROUP 1 WINS

(Australia only)

1 Winx 18

2 Black Caviar 15

3 Kingston Town 14

4 Sunline 13

4 Tie The Knot 13

6 Manikato 11

6 Lonhro 11

6 Rough Habit 11

9 Octagonal 10

10 Northerly 9

"She has to be special to win the way she does"

A truly special moment for @cwallerracing as Winx makes history @royalrandwick. Years of training and success culminating in this memorable performance. Well done to Chris, the team and all connections! pic.twitter.com/4Yi0MJtaUv

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 14, 2018

WORLD GROUP 1 RECORDS

18 Winx

16 John Henry

15 Black Caviar

14 Kingston Town, Affirmed, Goldikova

13 Bayakoa, Spectacular Bid, Sunline, Tie The Knot, Zenyatta

WINNING STREAKS

25 Black Caviar, Winx

19 Gloaming, Desert Gold

18 Ajax

17 Mainbrace

15 Bernborough, Carbine

14 Phar Lap

13 Limerick

12 Tulloch, Firestick

11 Kingston Town, Eurythmic, Beau Livre, Somerset Fair, Barakey

I simply have shivers down my spine! 25 wins in a row!
And I am so lucky to have seen both Winx and Black Caviar race... and I am not into horse racing.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/xpMQLRSu9u

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) April 14, 2018

When they fanned 7-wide twas like watching Makybe at the Valley all those years ago.

— Ben Broad (@Ben_Broad) April 14, 2018

Wow, Wow, Wow🏇Winx, from last to 1st, to win it going away🏇Amazing horse, 25 straight, huge Congrats👍🏇👏👍🏇

— Cecil Barber (@dicemanyo) April 14, 2018

195 more sleeps to go ... until Winx's date with 4th @CoxPlate. That was breathtaking, as always. She made a field multiple Group 1 performers look second rate. As Peter @moodyracingpgm said: "She runs Black Caviar-like sectionals in a 2000m race." Goosebumps stuff. @winx_horse

— Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) April 14, 2018

TAB BETTING

WHILE the champion mare was again the best supported runner in the race in terms of money held, the difference this time was there was some backing against her.

Winx held 80 per cent of the total investment which is in stark contrast to the 90 per cent holds TAB are usually accustomed to seeing whenever she races.

Gailo Chop ($16-$23) got out in the market but battled on for second after leading while Happy Clapper ($17-$12) was one of few firmers and wound up third.

BETS: Winx $10,000 & $7,000 @ $1.24, $58,000 @ $1.20, $40,000 @ $1.20, $135,000 @ $1.03 PLACE

So Champion horse #winx wins world record 25 in a row. $19m prize money. Please retire this awesome beast to enjoy its life before injury

— Bobby Cathcart (@bobby_cathcart) April 14, 2018

“You know this is going to be made into movies?”
“We’re going to have to find someone good looking to play me” - Winx jockey @HugeBowman Hugh Bowman

Such a wonderful guy, such a beautiful horse, goosebumps. So special to see this amazing mare run every time #welcometothe25club

— Lucy Thackray (@LucyThack) April 14, 2018

For mine, there is absolutely zero doubt Winx is the best horse in the world. That was just extraordinary. I'd love to see her in an Arc as she'd destroy them, but not travelling doesn't change her billing as the world's best.

— Matt Welsh (@Themodernpunter) April 14, 2018

At this point any horse finishing 2nd to Winx deserves high praise.

— Amy Nesse (@HorseGirlAmy) April 14, 2018

Originally published as Winx reaches quarter of century in consecutive wins to join Caviar