‘Truly amazing’: Champion mare Winx makes history and wins her 26th consecutive race
Winx beats Black Caviar's record to win 26 races in a row. Photo: Getty
The world’s best racehorse, champion mare Winx, has won her 26th consecutive race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
In posting her 19th Group One win, Winx defeated Invictus Prince and D’Argento in a race named in her honour – the Winx Stakes – as trainer Chris Waller sets his sights on winning a fourth Cox Plate with the champion mare.
Sky Racing’s race caller Darren Flindell’s call of the final stages of Race 6 over 1400 metres gave spectators goosebumps, as she came from near the back of the field at the last turn.
“… 200 metres to run … here she comes.”
“Winx! Right down the outside … powering away. That’s 26 in a row for the champ,” he called.
And that's history!
In the race named in her honour, Winx does what only she can and makes it a record 26 consecutive wins @royalrandwick, eclipsing Black Caviar's 25. None better 👌 pic.twitter.com/a2frNIc4nX— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 18, 2018
In windy conditions riding her back to the mounting yard towards wild scenes in the Royal Randwick crowd, her long-time jockey Hugh Bowman was almost lost for words.
It was put to him: “That’s 26. That’s history. That’s beautiful”.
“It’s a while since she’s run over this distance and it wasn’t as comfortable riding her. Its just a bit short of her best distance,” an emotional Bowman said.
“I must admit I felt I was near my top. She was just struggling at the pace of this distance.”
“When she balanced up and saw the winning post, oh, what can I say? She is just incredible.”
In response to the so-called “Winx-mania”, he said: “You could see the crowd building from the start, lots of children here and that’s what I love the most. Parents are bringing their kids out to see a horse of a calibre that we may never see again.”
“They only come along once in a generation.”
“She is such a special athlete. I am lost for words. I am so proud of her.”