How Gust of Wind blew Winx away
REMEMBER Gust Of Wind? Few outside of racing would ever have heard of the mare but her claim to fame is she’s the last horse to beat Winx.
It’s four years today since Winx was beaten, finishing second to Gust Of Wind in the Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks at Randwick.
Who could ever have imagined what was to follow – 1460 days have passed since the Oaks and Winx has won 32 successive races, 24 at Group 1 level, and earned world champion status.
But on that day, April 11, 2015, Winx was humbled by Gust Of Wind, beaten by 2½ lengths.
Peter Tighe, a part-owner of Winx, admitted they went to Randwick that day believing their filly would win her first Group 1 in the Oaks.
“I thought she had a very big chance of winning and we brought all our kids down to Sydney for the weekend,’’ the Queenslander said.
“Everyone was talking her up as over the line, she would be winning.
“It is the last time we got a bit ahead of ourselves. It was disappointing ... but as always we tried to be graceful losers as we are graceful winners.
“In horse racing, you have to accept the losses and we didn’t go home with a broken heart or anything.
“I don’t look back on that Oaks as a bad memory.’’
Many around the nation will stop at 3.05pm on Saturday to watch Winx’s farewell race, the Group 1 $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick.
The Australian Turf Club is expected to announce Day Two of The Championships at Randwick will be a sellout with a crowd of more than 40,000 expected on track for the most anticipated Australian horse race in memory.
But it has been all business this week for Winx with trainer Chris Waller putting the finishing touches on her preparation for the race.
Winx, chasing her 33rd consecutive win, will have her final trackwork gallop this morning before a large media contingent at Rosehill.