Winx posts First X1

Champion mare Winx will head to Melbourne after winning her 11th race in a row, and her 7th at Group 1 level, in the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Only asked to extend late in Saturday’s race, the superstar performer raced to Hauraki and then drew clear to win by other a length.  “She’s a fantastic horse – it’s a huge privilege.” trainer Chris Waller said.  “The dream continues.

“I wasn’t a gap job, it wasn’t intended to be either, she has had four weeks between runs and I just need to know where she is, plus we needed to win heading to the bigger targets.”

The Street Cry mare is Australia’s best racehorse and she will defend her crown in the G1 Cox Plate (2040m), but before that she will step out in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).

“That has always been the original plan and nothing has changed there,” Waller noted.  “You always look at other races.  It looks to fit in nicely, gives you the run over 2000m on the left leg.

“Caulfield is probably not perfect for a Sydney horse first time, but she just has got that ability to put herself around and finish off.”

Winning rider Hugh Bowman again expressed how it was an honour to be associated with a horse of Winx’s calibre.  “I am just enjoying the ride,” he said.  “She’s going to meet better horses now but has come through it well today and has had a good blow.”

A $230,000 purchase from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2013 Gold Coast Magic Millions, she has raced 21 times for 15 wins with earnings over $7.13 million.  Bred by Fairway Thoroughbred, she is owned by Peter Tighe’s Magic Bloodstock in partnership with Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis.

Winx is one of two stakes winners for LR Soliloquy Stakes winner Vegas Showgirl.  The NZ bred daughter of Al Akbar has quickly established herself as a most valuable broodmare – her only other runner is Group winning juvenile El Divino.

Vegas Showgirl has a 2yo colt and a filly foal by Snitzel.