Winx ‘transcends generations’ with yet another win
– Hugh Bowman, the jockey synonymous with Winx, says the champion mare transcends generations and Australia is unlikely to see another horse like her in his lifetime.
The star Chris Waller-trained mare made it 27 wins in succession and 20 Group 1 victories when winning the Colgate Optic White Stakes (or the George Main Stakes) at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx, the 1-10 favourite, exerted her supreme authority in the last 200m to defeat Le Romain by four lengths, with Egg Tart another short-head away in third.
Bowman admitted to a few anxious moments turning into the home straight.
The jockey said the strong tempo, which was set by stablemate Religify, had contributed to her needing to chase earlier than he had planned.
“It’s the first time I have niggled her around the corner in a 1600m race but I guess that’s due to a couple of things.
Sydney
“The pace we were going and the class of horses she races against, they are the best in the country,” Bowman said.
Winx surpassed unbeaten mare Black Caviar’s record of 25 wins last month but Bowman was reluctant to compare the pair – or those from past generations, such as three-time Melbourne Cup heroine Makybe Diva.
“She gives so many people so much to look forward to.
“People that might not have much to look forward to in life, this mare gives them something to look forward to watching,” he said.
“We’ll be lucky to see another one like her, while I’m alive anyway, I think that is a given.
“How lucky I am to be involved with such a horse.”
Waller said Winx’s ability to sustain a long run and quicken when required again came to fruition late in the race.
“Le Romain is a very good horse and had every right to take us all the way to the 200m and she had every right to get on top of them over the last 200m and that is how it panned out,” Waller said.
“If you expect to win races at the 300m every time you will probably come off second best. But it was a well-judged ride by Hughie.”
Waller said the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on 6 October is likely to be Winx’s next start and final lead-up to her attempt at a historic fourth Cox Plate win.
Winx has now won 31 of her 37 starts with three seconds for prize money of A$1.95 million. –