Ultimate praise for Winx

Champion jockey compares mare to Kingston Town

ON the eve of Winx’s attempt at a 20th consecutive win in the Group 1 $500,000 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, former champion jockey Malcolm Johnston has given the mighty mare the ultimate compliment by rating her as good as the legendary Kingston Town.

Johnston rode Hall of Fame champion Kingston Town to 25 of his 30 wins and never believed he would see that horse’s equal in his lifetime.

But Winx’s incredible winning streak that stretches more than two years has prompted Johnston to admit she would make a race of it with Kingston Town.

“I think Winx is a freak, she is as good as Kingston Town,’’ Johnston said.

“In my mind, over any distance over 1200m up to 3200m, I would think the ‘black horse’ would win every time but at 2000m against Winx, I’m not sure any more. Luck on the day would decide the winner.

“As good as ‘ The King’ was and as tough as he was, I don’t know who would win between Winx and him.

“Winx is up there with the ‘black horse’ — and I’ve never said that about another horse against Kingston Town.’’

Winx can become the first horse since Kingston Town (1981-82) to win successive George Main Stakes tomorrow.

Kingston Town trained on that year to win an unpre- cedented third successive Cox Plate and 35 years later Winx can also achieve that feat this spring.

Winx is rated at $1.08 with TAB Fixed Odds — the shortest price of her celebrated career — to claim a 13th Group 1 win in the George Main Stakes tomorrow. Her odds haven’t stopped one punter from placing a $72,000 bet at $1.08 on Winx to continue her famous winning sequence.

Trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman were relaxed and confident after Winx completed her final piece of fast work at Rosehill Gardens trackwork yesterday.

Bowman expects another genuinely run race with Red Excitement expected to try and repeat his tearaway frontrunning effort in the Chelmsford Stakes which nearly brought about an upset result.