After missing the jump at the start barriers by four lengths Winx was forced to do it all in the final straight of the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx – unstoppable
What wasn’t supposed to be a close finish turned into real contest from the time Winx missed the start by five lengths.
At that point she smashed the Longines timing system and by the straight she looked ready to break the hearts of the big crowd.
Hugh Bowman – was aboard Winx again
But as jockey Hugh Bowman put it, “she just defies logic”, and went on to make it 18 consecutive wins.
“There wasn’t much I could do once she missed the start but she just wants to win,” Bowman said
Like in her Epsom and Doncaster victories, Winx overcome difficulties, this time self-inflicted, to reel in stablemate Foxplay and win – but only just.
Precisely how quick she went was revealed by Daily Sectionals’ Vince Accardi. He clocked Winx running her last 1000 in 55.18 seconds, but it was her ability to hold her top speed that was remarkable. She ran her last three 200m sections in 10.92s, 10.36s and 10.70s.
“I don’t think I have ever had a horse go that quick,” trainer Chris Waller said. “Hugh came back and said, ‘Well, she had a good gallop.’
Chris Waller – relieved man after the race
“Looking at the times just tells you how good she is, but you just have to look at the replay to know that was very special.
“When she missed the jump I wasn’t that worried but she had to chase a group 1 horse in Foxplay, which is very good fresh and had actually the same preparation.
“We know she is going to get beaten one day but you just don’t want to have excuses and they were none there today. She is amazing.”
There was a moment when Winx was on the canvas and the crowd was silent in the straight. lt was the moment when they thought win no.18 was improbable if not impossible.
Even Bowman admitted to having his doubts.
“I was a bit worried going past the 700m because of the way the track conditions are, they are running really slick times,” Bowman said.
“I was thinking it could be mathematically impossible to catch them but there was nothing I could do about that – I just had to rely on the engine that I know is in her.
“I couldn’t take off at the 700m to get closer or I would have run out of gas, so I just had to have confidence in her and ride her to run a race.
“I want her to win as much as anyone else but after what happened coming out of the barriers I had to renegotiate where I was obviously, and it was a concern halfway through but it was a good feeling the last 200m.”
Winx was still giving Foxplay a couple of lengths at that point but on the line she motored her down to win by a half neck with Ecuador a long neck back in third.
Ecuador trainer Gai Waterhouse was left in awe.
“She is an incredible horse to do that,” Waterhouse said. “She shouldn’t have won – those horses in front didn’t stop.”
Owner Peter Tighe said he was readying himself for defeat.
“My heart was missing a few beats up the straight. These are good horses. The opposition are not slow coaches. To do what she did was phenomenal. We love her to bits,” he said.
Fellow owner Debbie Kepitis added: “If she didn’t win, you would have been so proud for what she did.
“The fact she did win is incredible. The race being named after dad just makes it better.”
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