Winx makes it twenty five unbeaten with victory in Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick

The Chris Waller-trained horse showed why she is rated the world’s best with her 18th victory in Group 1 company with back to back wins in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes also equalling Black Caviar’s undefeated winning streak of twenty-five starts.

Winx was again in imperious form as jockey Hugh Bowman brought her from last at the 600 metre mark to overpower a high quality field of middle distance horses that included runner up Gailo Chop and third placed Happy Clapper.

Heading into the race, Bowman predicted Winx was to face her toughest test of her career in the 2000 metre contest. In particular the Darren Weir trained Gailo Chop had a recent Group 1 win in the $700,000 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill over the same distance while Happy Clapper was coming off a win last Saturday at Randwick in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile.

However any thoughts of vulnerability were soon laid to rest as Winx was ridden steadily by Bowman from the outside barrier as Mark Zahra tried to put the pressure on with the front running Gailo Chop. However the latter’s efforts were soon to be all in vain as Bowman and Winx made her customary move approaching the home turn to stunning effect.

From here Bowman took her to the outside and let her loose down the straight, where she accelerated and simply cruised past the French import Gailo Chop, going onto win by three and three-quarter lengths with Happy Clapper running on for third a further half a lengths.

Speaking afterwards, Waller said, “For the first time in a long time I sat down and went through the opposition. I have every respect for the other horses in the race like Humidor, Gailo Chop and of course Happy Clapper, but she has been going as well as ever.

“I knew I had done my job but it is always a relief when she wins. It’s hard to describe what she can do.”

Waller added, “It’s been a learning curve. We’re at a stage now we are used to this constant pressure which is pretty intense.

“As you see the great sporting coaches, I love watching them, seeing how they cope with losses, you don’t stop learning.”

Bowman said, “There’s so many cogs to the wheel and I know I get the dream ride here today.
“God forbid if something went wrong it wouldn’t be a good place to be, but she’s so exceptional, she is able to overcome everything and what a pleasure she is for sport.

“I know I’ve got the engine to round them up, but I can’t do it on my own. The bottom line is she’s got lengths on her rivals. It makes it easy for me.”

The win capped a huge day for trainer Chris Waller’s stable at Royal Randwick, as Waller and Bowman also combined to win James Boag’s Premium Australian Oaks with Unforgotten, while Blake Shinn rode outsider Who Shot The Barman to victory in the Schweppes Sydney Cup.

Winx will now have a break before returning in October in her quest to land a record-breaking fourth Group 1 $3m Ladbrokes Cox Plate at Moonee Valley during the 2018 Melbourne Spring Carnival.