Studs set to woo Winx
Snitzel the tip to sire first foal
IT is the racing equivalent of The Bachelorette as the young studs line up for a chance be the first to woo the world’s finest filly.
When Winx sashays off the track at Randwick on Saturday there will be no shortage of suitors keen to equine and dine her before tumbling her into the hay.
But who will be the one to receive the coveted rose from the best mare on the planet?
It is believed Winx’s owners are considering a list of five stallions to father Winx’s first foal.
“It would certainly be a badge of honour,” said Arrowfield stud boss John Messara, whose champion sire Snitzel is hotly tipped for the coveted cover.
“We would be thrilled to have her on the place and have her served by Snitzel, who is the leading stud in Australia and has been for the last three years,” he said.
Snitzel, sire of stars Redzel and Trapeze Artist, has a $220,000 service fee with his yearlings fetching an average of $427,000 each at auction.
“I think he would suit her but at the end of the day it’s their decision,” Messara said.
He added a note of caution to future buyers hoping Winx’s first foal will replicate her 32 consecutive wins and $24 million in prizemoney.
“You hope she does at stud what she did as a racehorse but that is often not the case,” Messara said
Winx, the daughter of Vegas Showgirl and named after the cheeky winks reallife showgirls gave co-owner Richard Treweeke, is receiving plenty of interest.
She was bought at the Magic Millions yearling sale on the Gold Coast in 2013 for $230,000. “She could go to any stallion in the world and be the best they will ever see,” Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch said.
“She is the greatest, most glamorous star of the equine world – her going out to stud is like Beyonce Knowles going on The Bachelorette.”
Other potential Winx suitors include Lonhro, I Am Invincible, Deep Impact, who stands in Japan and costs $500,000 for a cover, and Frankel, who stands in England and costs $320,000.
Deep Impact and Frankel are considered long shots because Winx would have to travel overseas to them.
Mark Webster, managing director of bloodstock company Inglis, said a colt from Winx would most likely sell for more than $4 million as a yearling and a filly for $3 million-plus.