‘She was glorious’: Champion mare Winx wins her 21st straight race at Flemington

Champion mare Winx has won her 21st straight race, winning by six lengths in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Calling the race for the Seven Network, veteran sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney couldn’t hold back on his admiration for the six-year-old bay mare as she broke from the pack at the top of the straight: “Its all Winx…look at her go…she was devastating”.
“This was just so, so, so good. Have a look at Hughey (Bowman),” he said, referring to winning jockey Hugh Bowman celebrating afterwards.
“Marvellous win, she hasn’t looked better than this. She was glorious, wasn’t she?,” McAvaney said.
Oh my goodness
There's nothing left to say – what a CHAMPION!#Winx blows them away @flemingtonvrc#7racing pic.twitter.com/9HngmGTcI7
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 7, 2017
Winx’s win in the $500,000 Group 1 Seppelt Turnbull Stakes (2000m) sets her up to claim a third Cox Plate (Australia’s second richest weight-for-age race with prize money of $3 million) later this month.
Winx defeated Ventura Storm by six-and-a-half lengths with Humidor taking the minor placing in the field of seven.
“Bring on the Cox Plate – three beautiful weeks to look forward to,” McAvaney said.
“I love seeing champions like that,” says former Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne sitting alongside McAvaney.
#Winx and Hugh Bowman return to scale after win number 21 in a row ⓂⓂⓂ #gowinx pic.twitter.com/Lc3R3e6LC6
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 7, 2017
Jockey Hugh Bowman told the Seven Network it was “no surprise” she performed the way she did.
“I am running out of words. She’s a special athlete, it’s a great honour, (and) carries a lot of expectation and responsibility.
“The race sorted itself out. I sat there and enjoyed the ride just like everybody else. It was no surprise to me she performed like she did. I am relying on her to deliver every time.
“She is as good as ever. She has developed physically and mentally so she’s not the same horse as she was 12 months ago.
“She is certainly in good shape,” he said.
An emotional trainer Chris Waller told the Seven Network: “She’s a brilliant horse, whatever you ask her to do, she does. She makes us all look great.”
Winning owner Debbie Kipitis was standing by in the mounting yard where she shared a ‘special moment’ with the winning jockey.
Hugh Bowman and winning owner Debbie Kipitis enjoy a special moment after the win #gowinx pic.twitter.com/atDx6xVms9
— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 7, 2017