Winx finally rated No. 1
SUPER mare Winx has finally reached the top of the world rankings.
Winx’s runaway win in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick during The Championships last month took her global international rating to 130.
This rating places Winx at the top of the rankings, one point clear of Pegasus World Cup winner Gun Runner.
English champion Cracksman is third on the latest rankings on 125 with Kentucky Derby winner Justify on 124.
Winx has been rated the world’s best racehorse on turf the past two years, but has been pipped for the world’s best racehorse title by the now- retired American dirt track champion Arrogate.
But with Gun Runner also being retired to stud after his World Cup win earlier this year, Winx is in the box seat to finally secure the world champion ranking for 2018.
Trainer Chris Waller said it was “an absolute privilege” to have the world’s highest- ranked racehorse in his stable.
“There are so many great horses in the world and to think Winx is rated up there as the best is incredible,’’ Waller said.
“It is another amazing chapter in her career.’’
Winx has been spelling since scoring her 25th consecutive win and her 18th at Group 1 level in the Queen El- izabeth Stakes, taking her career earnings to $ 18.9 million.
“She has been out in the spelling paddock for four weeks Monday,’’ Waller said.
“It is so intense when she is in work, for her, for me, for all the stable staff, so I’m sure she is enjoying just being a horse again and having that break from the stable routine.
“But it is getting closer to the time where we will have to start thinking about her program and when to bring her back into light work.’’
Winx has an opportunity to improve her global rating further in spring when she chases an unprecedented fourth successive Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.
Australian- trained racehorses are well represented in the top 10 global rankings with Doncaster Mile winner Happy Clapper and T. J. Smith Stakes hero Trapeze Artist equal sixth with a 123 rating.
Winx’s rider Hugh Bowman leads the world jockey’s rankings.