SPORT Winx for stable of racing legends

WINX will retire on the same date as Black Caviar’s last race and end her career with the same number of wins as Phar Lap.

These three legendary champions, arguably the greatest of them all, will be forever linked in racing history if Winx’s farewell goes to plan.

The mighty mare is due to have her final start in the Group 1 $4 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Apri1 3.

This is the date – and racetrack – where Black Caviar ran her last race, retiring unbeaten in 25 starts six years ago.

Winx is racing for her 37th win and if successful, as most expect, she will close her career with the same number of race wins as Phar Lap.

Although Winx’s place on the pantheon of the all-time great champions is already secure, there will be a real synergy if she ends her career with the same exclamation points as Black Caviar and Phar Lap.

So, the stage is set for one of the most anticipated moments in Australian sport after Winx went about her business with her usual ruthless efficiency in the Group 1 $1 million The Agency George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens yesterday.

Winx can’t get any better as she has been unbeatable for four years now but speculation that the great mare should continue racing were quashed by trainer Chris Waller.

“She is quite remarkable, she is at her best right now,’’ Waller said. “She will retire at her best which I think is the best way to go.

“If she raced on next season and was beaten, I would never

“She will retire at her best which I think is the best way”

forgive myself. As you know in racing that can happen.’’

But there was never any likelihood of Winx ($1.05 favourite) being beaten yesterday as she careered away to win by three-and-a-half lengths without being fully extended by her rider, Hugh Bowman. Brutal ($26) was a very game second with Dreamforce ($31) nearly three lengths away third.

Winx became the only horse in the history of the sport to win three Group 1 races four years in succession – Cox Plate (2015-16-17-18), Chipping Norton Stakes (2016-17-18-19) and the George Ryder Stakes (2016-17-18-19). But the great mare sets new standards every start including:

* Winx scored her 32nd win in succession

* She has now at won a world record 24 Group 1 wins

* Took her career earnings over the $24 million barrier

* Bowman won his 31st race on Winx, moving past Harold Badger’s 30 wins on Ajax. He needs one more to equal Ted Bartle’s 32 wins on High Caste.

* There were some monster bets on Winx including $345,000 at $1.05 — a TAB record for a single bet on a horse.

* Winx’s odds of $1.05 were the shortest of her career. She was the hottest favourite in a Sydney Group 1 since Valerius won the 1961 Chipping Norton Stakes at $1.03.