Winx within reach of earnings record
will set a world prizemoney record if she wins her farewell race next month.
Sydney’s super mare, who scored her 32nd consecutive win in the George Ryder Stakes, can lift her career earnings to $26,336,675 by taking out the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 13.
Even in this era of inflated prizemoney, it will be yet another extraordinary achievement by one of racing’s alltime greats.
The official world career
The winner of 14 previous races, including 10 firsts on North Queensland tracks, Tyzone ($8.50) came with his customary burst in the straight to beat Malvern Estate ($7) and Freddie Fox Trot ($12) in Saturday’s listed Goldmarket earnings list is converted to pounds for comparison purposes, with the leader recently retired American champ Arrogate, winner of the Pegasus World Cup, Dubai World Cup and US Breeders Cup, amassing £13,671,322 (A$25,500,826).
Arrogate controversially denied Winx the World’s Best Racehorse Award in 2016 and 2017 but the wonder mare can exact her revenge by going to the top of the world’s all-time highest earners rankings.
If Winx wins the Queen Elizabeth Stakes her prizemoney will equate to £14,120,341, making Stakes (1200m). Trainer Toby Edmonds was taken by surprise at the win.
“I didn’t think he could win with that weight,” he said.
“But he’s a very good horse. The blinkers have been a big help.” her the greatest prizemoney earner in world racing.
Winx’s effort to claim the top ranking will be even more deserving as she did not compete in any of the world’s mega-rich races – the Pegasus World Cup, The Everest, Dubai World Cup, US Breeders Cup, Melbourne Cup, Japan Cup or Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Champion Winx, who smashed the $24 million prizemoney barrier when she raced away with the George Ryder Stakes on Saturday, has now won 36 races from 42 starts, including
Edmonds said the Weetwood was the next logical race for him.
“But he might get too much weight there now, so I will just have to wait and see,” he said.
The Goldmarket Stakes was originally meant to be run on a world-record Group 1 wins.
Coincidentally, 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.
Black Caviar retired unbeaten after 25 races, winning the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 13 six years ago.
Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts, culminating with his 1932 Agua Caliente Handicap win in America. Trainer Chris Waller said a part of him was looking forward to Winx’s retirement after the Queen Elizabeth 24 March 16, but was washed out.
It was then transferred to Saturday, which created problems with jockeys, resulting in Plumb picking up the ride.
Tyzone just pipped Malvern Estate by 0.2L in a tight photo finish. Stakes at Randwick.
“I will miss her but it will be a different lifestyle for me, but one I’m looking forward to,” he said.
Waller, jockey Hugh Bowman and the owners have had to cope with crushing pressure as Winx’s winning streak continued, ensuring everything was right with the mare given there was so much expectation every time she raced.
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LLOYD Kennewell is treating it as another race for his star mare Viddora but also admits he’s excited about the prospect of her competing in the $2.82 million Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) at Meydan on Dubai World Cup night on Saturday.
“For me as a trainer I’m preparing her like I would for any race except it’s in another country,” Kennewell said.
“For me personally, I’ve got to be excited about having my first runner in another country on a night where there is $35 million in US dollars being distributed.”
Viddora is one of three Australian representatives in the race, with the others being Brave Smash and Illustrious Lad.
Kennewell said Viddora had travelled well and settled in well after being been there for a week with his father Gary.
“She’s been working well and she’ll have a good gallop on Tuesday morning. If things go well for her in the next seven days I’m expecting a good run,” he said.
Kennewell knows it’s a deep race but pointed out that Viddora was a dual Group 1 winner in Australia and deserved her chance in a race of this nature. Viddora hasn’t started since she finished eighth in the Oakleigh Plate, but Kennewell wasn’t perturbed by that effort.
“She would have to have carried a weight record for a mare if she was to win and she was pushed back to the inside and she didn’t get any clear air. She went past Nature Strip like he was nailed to the ground so that’s good form,” he said.
Kennewell and Viddora’s jockey Joe Bowditch left for Dubai last night. “Most of her races have been at Group 1 level in the past year or so and she’s won a couple and this is another one.”