Winx has recorded her twentieth-consecutive race win with another incredible performance in the Group 1 George Main Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Winx posted her twentieth-consecutive win in this afternoon’s Group 1 George Main Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart
The champion mare jumped only fairly this afternoon and jockey Hugh Bowman again elected to take a position off the pace of Red Excitement, Ecuador and Mackintosh.
Winx did not appear to be travelling well at the bend and Bowman was forced to go for the whip before the field straightened; something which the leading hoop does not generally need to do when he is aboard the mare.
Happy Clapper kicked to the lead in the George Main Stakes and appeared as though he would be an extremely hard task for Winx to run down, but there was nothing that he or jockey Blake Shinn could do as the now thirteen-time Group 1 winner flew home on the outside to comfortably win the race.
Bowman delivered another exceptional performance aboard the mare this afternoon and was virtually speechless after the George Main Stakes.
“She’s done it again, she’s just such a delight to be a part of,” Bowman said after the race.
“I’ve really run out of things to say. She’s just a magical horse and she never fails to get the job done.
“Today I expected to be closer, but the pace was strong and at the top of the straight I had a lot of ground to make up, but on her two last performances I knew that she could do it today and I’m just so proud of her.
“She was a bit slow into stride, but I just let her be where she was happy and like I said, I’m just so honoured to be her jockey.”
Chris Waller was pleased with Winx’s performance and revealed that she is likely to have one more run in Sydney before heading to Melbourne for the 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).
“I think we should respect Happy Clapper, he’s a Doncaster placegetter and a very good horse in his own right and we had to fight to get past him,”
“It was good to see her top that rise and get a bit closer, because that was the only stage that she looked like winning it.
“I’m not too worried about how she was travelling mid-race. Don’t over-analyse it, enjoy Winx for who she is. True champions come out and win, but they get beaten too.
“She’s on track for some big races this preparation. I’d say she’ll have one more run up here if we can and then she’ll head to Melbourne.
“She’s spot on and she’s ready for it (Ladbrokes Cox Plate).”
Winx remains a clear $1.50 favourite in early 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate betting markets.
