Bowman, Winx make history at Rosehill
WONDER mare Winx confirmed her place in racing history by setting a record for group 1 flat wins when she triumphed in the George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Chris Wallertrained mare claimed her 17th group 1 win to pass the previous world record of 16 set by American horse John Henry in 1984.
Winx’s 24th consecutive win came in a tactical sixhorse affair in which she had to pull out all the stops to down runnerup Happy Clapper and Kementari.
‘‘They are highclass horses and I’ve never treated her opposition with disrespect. I’ve always treated them with the respect they deserve,’’ winning jockey Hugh Bowman said.
‘‘Happy Clapper is a supreme athlete and this mare is just better than them. I have so much confidence in her.
‘‘She gave me such a thrilling feeling as she did everyone watching here today. I could feel the crowd erupt as we went to the front at the 200m.
‘‘What a special, special horse she is and I’m just so grateful to be her jockey.
She had ‘‘captivated the attention of the world’’, he said.
Like Bowman, Waller also credited Happy Clapper and Kementari for making his champion show her best to win.
‘‘They are two quality horses and it was good for her today. It made her lift.’’
Waller and Bowman also triumphed in the Rosehill Guineas brilliantly won by D’Argento.
New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance was second across the line but relegated to fourth for causing interference to Furore.
Sydney jockey Brenton Avdulla gave the doubters who had told him he would not make it as a senior rider the ultimate message by winning the Golden Slipper for 2yrolds on Esitjaab.
‘‘You dream of riding Golden Slipper winners. When I was 15 and starting apprentice school I was the biggest in the class and they said I had 12 months in the saddle and then I was going back to school.’’
Avdulla produced a tactically brilliant ride on the John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes trained filly who crossed the field from barrier 14 and steadied the pace in front.
‘‘My first reaction when she drew 14 was ‘I’ve got no hope’, but then the more I looked at everything wanting to take a sit, I knew I could back her gate speed and ride her positive early and she could get across and control. That’s what she did,’’ Former Otago stayer Patrick Erin produced the run of a horse looking for the 3200m of the Sydney Cup in running fifth in the N. E. Manion Cup. Patrick Erin hit the line strongly in the 2400m race behind winner Master Of Arts. — JONNY TURNER/ AAP