The newly renamed Winx S. (G1) at Randwick fittingly turned into a coronation for its honoree, Winx. Imperious in her first start as a seven-year-old, the world’s top-rated horse won her 26th consecutive race, breaking Black Caviar’s record of 25 in a row. Ironically, Winx’s milestone came on Black Caviar’s 12th birthday.
Winx’s streak was perilously close to ending in this very event last August. The defending champion in the feature then known as the Warwick (G2), she had to overcome a sluggish start to scramble home by a head. That marked her last attempt at about seven furlongs. Would the great daughter of Street Cry be vulnerable resuming at this distance, a stepping stone on the way to her ultimate goal of a fourth Cox Plate (G1) on October 27?
Trainer Chris Waller was confident in her condition going into this comeback, and Winx performed accordingly. Regular rider Hugh Bowman let her settle well off the pace, then crept up to join her biggest danger on paper, Godolphin’s Kementari. They moved in tandem turning for home, both needing to kick into high gear to catch the leading Cabeza de Vaca. Winx soared inside the final furlong, Kementari stalled, and the contest was over.
Blowing the field away by a handy two lengths, Winx clocked 1:22.50. She ripped her final 600 meters (about three furlongs) in :32.33 according to Racing New South Wales.
There was a shocker behind her with 150-1 longshot Invictus Prince finishing second. Winx’s stablemate D’Argento snatched third from Kementari. Cabeza de Vaca was swamped late in fifth, followed by the rest of the Waller quintet – Unforgotten, Religify, and Libran. Next came Oriental Runner, Classic Uniform, and Ace High.
And that’s history!
In the race named in her honour, Winx does what only she can and makes it a record 26 consecutive wins @royalrandwick, eclipsing Black Caviar’s 25. None better pic.twitter.com/a2frNIc4nX— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 18, 2018
Simply amazing…
The emotion overcame @cwallerracing as Winx makes it 26. Listen in, his words say it all. This is what racing is all about. pic.twitter.com/DZ21wKwVvl— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 18, 2018
“Just incredible”
He’s been with her every step of the way and the dream of 26 is realised for @HugeBowman and the magnificent Winx. @bernadetecooper was there to capture the moment with Hughie! pic.twitter.com/VyLITKegXp
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 18, 2018
“She heard the crowd, I heard it and I’m sure she heard it because when the crowd erupted at the 250m mark she just dropped and went” @HugeBowman pic.twitter.com/KSHcsIvpqG
— Australian Turf Club (@atc_races) August 18, 2018
Winx will go for number 27, and a three-peat, in the September 15 George Main (G1) back at Randwick over a metric mile.
