Winx takes top award for second year in row
WINX joined an elite club when she was crowned Australia’s Horse of the Year for a second time at a function in Brisbane last night off the back of a Turnbull Stakes win that trainer Chris Waller described as “poetry in motion”.
Only four other horses have won the title more than once.
Makybe Diva and Might And Power were dual winners, while Black Caviar and Sunline saluted on three occasions.
Winx can go a long way to being a three-times winner if she’s successful in this month’s Cox Plate, a race in which she is now a $1.25 favourite.
Saturday’s Turnbull Stakes, which she won effortlessly by 6½ lengths at Flemington, was her 21st successive win.
Winx, who also won the Middle Distance title last night, tallied 115 more votes than nearest rival Hartnell, with Chautauqua, Black Heart Bart and Almandin rounding out the nominations.
“It’s just an honour and a privilege to be involved with a horse like this,” Queenslandbased part-owner Peter Tighe said. “Winning these awards means a lot to a lot of people. It’s not just us, as the owners.
“There’s so many people who work at Chris Waller’s stable that make sure she’s at the peak of her powers and awards like this are a great boost for everybody involved.”
Winx ran at Flemington, for the first time on Saturday and Tighe said the day was “like nothing I’ve ever experienced”.
Winx’s trainer Chris Waller and her jockey Hugh Bowman won awards last night for being the leading Group 1 trainer and jockey of last season.
Waller described Saturday’s win as “poetry in motion” and noted she often broke the hearts of her rivals.