RACING Winx getting better
WINX just might be than ever.
Sydney’s champion mare enhanced her standing as the world’s best racehorse on turf with a career- best first- up effort to win the Chipping Norton Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
She was calculated to run to a lofty Timeform rating of 132 – the highest figure she has ever recorded at the start of a race preparation.
Form guru Gary Crispe said better Winx’s win was so outstanding there seems no stopping the wonder horse this autumn.
Winx looks to have races like the $ 1 million George Ryder Stakes ( 1500m) at Rosehill on March 24 and the $ 4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes ( 2000m) at Royal Randwick on April 14 at her mercy barring bad luck in running, injury or a sudden loss of form. Crispe said Winx was close to her absolute best in annihilating her opposition.
“Winx strolled home seven lengths to record by her 23rd consecutive win, now just two wins short of Black Caviar’s 25- race unbeaten winning streak,’’ Crispe said.
“This was Winx’s 16th Group 1 win, equalling US champion John Henry’s longstanding record.’’
Regular jockey Hugh Bowman said after Saturday’s win that the Chris Waller- trained Winx is at her absolute best on tracks that are not too firm and this view is supported by an analysis of the mare’s Timeform ratings profile.
“Winx has rated 130 or bet- ter five times and all have been on softer tracks,’’ Crispe said.
“Her peak figure of 134 came in the George Ryder Stakes last year on a bog track.
“If you look at her five wins last spring, her best effort was her easy win in the Turnbull Stakes when she recorded 133 racing on a track that had some give in the surface.
“Her four other runs were on firm tracks and she ran to 126 in the Cox Plate, 123 in the George Main Stakes, and 118 in both the Chelmsford and Warwick Stakes.’’
Winx was so impressive in the Chipping Norton Stakes, Crispe said she only needs to maintain this rich vein of form to win at Royal Ascot in June.
“The five- year average winning Timeform rating for the Queen Anne is 128,’’ Crispe revealed. “If Winx ran to her peak 134 rating, when you factor in the three pounds allowance for mares, it would mean a male opponent needs to return a 137 figure to beat her.
“There is no male mile galloper in Europe capable of running to that level.’’