Winx’s trophy haul pulls in Elwick crowd
ONE of Australia’s most prominent thoroughbred racehorse owners, Peter Tighe, rolled into town yesterday to attend the annual Carbine Club of Tasmania Derby Day luncheon at Elwick.
The only thing missing from the event were the horses, with the first meeting on the new $12.5 million StrathAyr track postponed a day because of yesterday’s extreme heat.
The meeting will take place today with the first race at 12.20pm and the last at 4.35pm, with the Tasmanian Racing Club offering free entry.
But despite there being no race meeting yesterday, more than 350 guests rolled up to the venue to hear firsthand what life has been like for Tighe and his fellow owners of champion mare Winx, who ended her racing career last year with a record many say will not be matched.
Winx started 49 times for 37 wins, of which the last 33 were in succession, and she won for her three owners, Tighe, Debbie Kapitis and Richard Treweeke, more than $26 million in stakes.
Included in her world record 25 Group 1 wins were four consecutive W.S. Cox Plates and the trophies were proudly displayed at yesterday’s function.
“Winx took us on an incredible journey and her feats have taken us to functions like this all around the world,” Tighe said.
“The mare changed our lives and while we will always be in search of another Winx, our chances of finding one as good as her are probably very slim, but we can live in hope.”
Winx went to stud this season and was mated with I am Invincible, and Tighe said there were no plans to put the foal through the sale ring.
“At the moment all we care about is that Winx produces a healthy foal.”