Winx gets busy as records near
WINX, the world’s best racehorse on turf, is closing in on the revered records of Black Caviar and Makybe Diva.
At Royal Randwick today, Winx is a $1.09 favourite to score her 19th successive win in the Group 2 $250,000 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).
If Winx wins as easily as expected, it will move her to equal second on the list for most consecutive wins behind only Black Caviar, the unbeaten winner of 25 races.
Winx should collect $142,500 first prizemoney for KELLY Schweida admits he’s still at a loss to explain why Cellargirl failed to keep up in the early stages last start and that’s his biggest worry ahead of her Doomben tilt today.
Cellargirl staged one of the more remarkable winning efforts on Brisbane tracks in recent times after being given no about 95 seconds work today and this will take her career earnings to an extraordinary $13,181,425, leaving her trailing only Makybe Diva on $14,527,110.
It seems only a matter of time before Winx wrests the records from Black Caviar and Makybe Diva.
Trainer Chris Waller has decided to use ear muffs on the great mare today as he doesn’t want a repeat of the barrier mishap that saw her come out four lengths behind the field in the Warwick Stakes two weeks ago.
Winx is so superior that hope by most observers when she dropped out early on Mekka Wednesday.
But under apprentice Jag Guthmann-Chester, Cellargirl was able to reel off a final split of 33 seconds flat (according to Vince Accardi’s Daily Sectionals) to win the midweek event.
“I’ve still got no idea why she can give away a big start and still run down good horses, but Waller is confident the ear muffs will ensure the mare will break cleanly today.
Waller downplayed the significance of the gear change during the week, pointing out Winx wears ear muffs in all her trackwork and barrier trials.
“In her career, including races and trials, she has probably been to the barriers about 40 times,’’ Waller said.
Gai Waterhouse doesn’t have a runner in the Chelmsford Stakes but will watch Winx in action. that happened,” Schweida said.
“It’s a bit of a worry, because it makes it impossible for me to do a speed map for this race.
“We’ve drawn a bit awkward and with that last start in the back of my mind, I don’t know whether we should risk pushing forward or just drop back.”
“Winx is great for racing, she is doing wonderful things for the sport,’’ Waterhouse said.
“She is a joy to behold. It was so exciting to watch her in the Warwick Stakes. I had Ecuador who ran third and I was cheering for my horse but what Winx did was breathtaking.
“I love to watch great horses and at weight-for-age.
“Winx is a champion and we need these horses to bring people to the races.’’
The Australian Turf Club is expecting a 15,000-plus crowd to watch Winx.