The record book will show that Winx (by Street Cry) racked up yet another victory by claiming the $250,000, Group 2, ATC Bob Ingham Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon, but in no way can it ever reflect the exceptional circumstances of her 18th consecutive win in yet another sensational performance by the mighty racemare.
Winx and Hugh Bowman at full bore, picture Sportpix.com.au
Sent to post the $1.10 favourite in her first outing of the new racing season, Winx left the barrier stalls a conspicuous last, spotting her opposition a sizeable head-start in what immediately appeared to be a calamitous beginning to the contest.
Subsequently allowed to find her feet by regular pilot Hugh Bowman, the six-year-old daughter of Street Cry soon tagged on to the tail of the field but still appeared to be in a relatively hopeless position by the half-way point of the event.
But in a scene which has virtually become commonplace in Australian racing, Winx was then to be seen charging down the centre of the Randwick track soon after negotiating the famous rise. In a startling climax to what was truly a remarkable horse race, the Queen of Australian racing reeled in her opposition with 50 metres to go before going on to score by a long neck.
Seldom in her remarkable career has Winx appeared so close to losing her winning sequence. Besides the fact that she had spotted her rivals such a substantial start and had every other element of the contest in the opposite corner, Group 1 winning stablemate Foxplay (by Foxwedge) had received the run of the race and appeared certain to go on and win half-way down the run-in.
However, the final stages of the contest witnessed Winx somehow claim her stable companion to score by 0.2L, with the early leader Ecuador (by High Chaparral) staying on for third, 0.4L further in arrears.
Foxplay and Kerrin McEvoy left with Winx and Hugh Bowman right, picture Sportpix.com.au
The sectional times of the contest best illustrate the extent of Winx’s winning performance. Runner-up Foxplay was timed to have run the final 600m in 32.42s, and the final 200m in 10.98s, Yet Winx managed to come from a position well back in the field before overhauling her talented stable companion within the shadows of the post.
The official time for the 1400m contest was a blistering 1m21.87s, with Winx privately timed to have run 31.88s for the final 600m, 20.96s for the final 400m, and 10.72s for the final 200m.
Interviewed after their extraordinary success, winning jockey Hugh Bowman explained: “I was a bit worried going past the 700 because of the way the track conditions are. They are running really slick times. I was thinking it could be mathematically impossible to catch them.
“But there was nothing I could do about that. I just had to rely on the engine that I know is in her. I couldn’t take off at the 700 to get closer. I would have run out of gas. So I just had to have confidence in her and ride her to run a race
“For me, I want to win as much as everyone else, but after what happened out of the barrier I had to reassess and it was a concern halfway through. But it was a good feeling the last 200.”
Bowman continued: “She is just so much better than them. And I had to rely on that to win the race. Like I said, I couldn’t take off but I was stuck back there and thinking this isn't good. It was an amazing feeling the last 200 and what can I say; she’s just a freak.
“I am proud of her and I’m proud of everyone involved with her. It’s been such an amazing journey for all of us and judging on what we saw this afternoon, we might be in for a few good runs yet.”
Winx has won better races, but rarely before with such theatre. Co-owner Debbie Kepitas best summed up the circumstances after the race by declaring: “This is a phenomenal day. For her to fight back the way she did, to miss the start, you would not have been upset if she hadn’t got there.
“But she knows where the winning post is. She wants to win. Winks wants to do it for everyone. Go Winxy!”
Winx and Bowman storm past stablemate Foxplay, picture Stevehart.com.au
What the beaten jockeys said:
A Hyeronimus (Ecuador): “He’s come back well, very good run again at weight for age, just would have been good if she [Winx] missed it by 6L and Foxplay missed it by 1L.”
Josh Parr (Red Excitement): “It was the performance of his life, he went really well first up and is in for a good preparation.”
Tim Clark (Allergic): “He’s a stayer resuming so you couldn’t have asked him to do much more.”
Tye Angland (Antonio Giuseppe): “He went well, needed the run, up to a mile will suit him.”
Tommy Berry (Inference): “Raced a bit fresh early, pulled up and had a massive blow. He’ll take great improvement, it was tough facing the breathe all the way.”
Glyn Schofield (Harper's Choice): “He raced on-speed and was a bit fresh, he got out-sprinted late but he certainly felt quite nice.”
Kerrin McEvoy (Foxplay): “Great run, she’s obviously shown that she has come back in good order and she is in for a great preparation.”
