Horse of the Week: Winx

Published: 06 Oct 2015

A dominant winner - Winx was ultra impressive taking out the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Royal Randwick on Saturday

WINX stamped herself as one of the most talented mares in the country with a dominant display in winning the Group 1 Epsom Handicap, setting a new weight carrying record for a mare in the race under 57kg. She had the most scope in the race, a mare so impressive in recent wins that we still don't know how good she is.

It was not all smooth sailing in running in the Epsom, with the mare striking bad interference rounding the home turn. However, jockey Hugh Bowman managed to balance up the mare and show her amazing turn-of- foot to burst through and win comfortably in the end.

Where to next? Does trainer Chris Waller put her away till the autumn after a busy three-year-old season, or does he head to the Cox Plate around the tight turns of The Valley?

For asserting her dominance and showing her freakish abilities time and time again, WINX is our Horse of the Week.

Breeding

Sired by Street Cry, from Vegas Showgirl (Sire of Dam: Al Akbar)

Type

Four-year-old Bay Mare, born 14/09/2011. Nice frame, power in shoulder & lighter back half. An athletic & adaptable type.

Features

Reliable, Finishing Strength, Ok Inside Horses & Ok Fresh

Weaknesses

None

Record

14 starts for 8 wins and 3 seconds. Total prize-money of $1,779,925

Career Wins

03/10/15 The Star 150th Epsom Hcp (G1) at Randwick over 1,600 metres -Jockey J Bowman
12/9/15 Theo Marks Stakes (G2) at Rosehill over 1,300 metres - Jockey J B Mc Donald
30/5/15 Treasury Casino/Hotel Qld Oaks (G1) at Doomben over 2,200 metres -Jockey J Bowman
16/5/15 XXXX Sunshine Coast Guineas (G3) at Sunshine Coast over 1,600 metres - Jockey L V Cassidy
14/3/15 Cellarbrations Phar Lap Stakes (G2) at Rosehill over 1,500 metres -Jockey Tommy Berry
06/9/14 Coolmore Furious Stakes (G2) at Randwick over 1,200 metres -Jockey J Bowman
28/6/14 Tab Early Quaddie Hcp at Rosehill over 1,400 metres -Jockey J R Collett
04/6/14 Ibis Milano Restaurant (Rs0mw) at Warwick Farm over 1,100 metres - Jockey J R Collett

Quick Facts

Winx became first mare to start favourite and win the Epsom in half a century.
Under 57kg, Winx set a weight-carrying record for a mare in the Epsom, breaking the previous standard set by Djin Djin of 55.5kg (8st 9lbs) that has stood since 1899.
The win was trainer Chris Waller's third Epsom in as many years and racked up Group One number 50 since his first with Triple Honour's Doncaster in 2008.
Winx is likely to join George Main Stakes winner Kermadec in the Cox Plate if she pulls up well.
For jockey Hugh Bowman, it was his first Group One win over the famous Randwick mile.
Winx has been ridden to victory by five different jockey's in her career