They came closer than most thought in the George Ryder on Saturday. That grand old campaigner Happy Clapper pushing and shunting all the way down the Rosehill straight to finish within three-quarters-of-a-length of Winx. But they’ve come close before and still can’t get past her.
Winx – Australian champion
Winx stands alone as the most winning Gr1 flat racehorse in the world after she stretched her group race streak to 24 in Saturday’s 1500m George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.
History was made across all levels, the mare becoming the first horse to win three straight George Ryder Stakes and surpassing American champion John Henry as the most successful flat galloper of all time with 17 Gr1 victories.
Hugh Bowman – was aboard Winx again
The record breaking win saw Winx’s earnings soar past $16.5 million and confirmed her status as the world’s highest ranked galloper.
“It’s like you’re playing for the All Blacks and you’re about to get dropped,” trainer Chris Waller said, adding: “It’s a sick feeling in your guts every time she goes around.”
As to the dream to race her at Royal Ascot, Waller stresses that the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick, where she will vie to equal Black Caviar’s record of 25 consecutive wins, will come before any potential date with the Queen herself.
Winx is raced by Peter Tighe’s Magic Bloodstock Racing along with friends Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis. She was purchased by Magic Bloodstock for $230,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud, as agent for Fairway Thoroughbreds.
