RACING fans across the globe will be tuned into the farewell run of mighty mare WINX in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney tomorrow.
Officially the best racehorse in the world, WINX will be shooting for her 33rd consecutive win, her 25th Group 1 win and an almost unbelievable $26.5 million in prize-money.
It is almost four years to the day (April 11, 2015) when she was beaten in a race.
That was in the Group 1 Australian Oaks when she finished second to Kiwi raider Gust Of Wind.
Since that day she has not been beaten in any race over any distance and she has amassed more than $24 million in stakes.
Whether she is the greatest horse Australia has produced is debatable, but she is truly one of the greatest at the very least and her record can never be dulled nor denied.
The latest TABCORP market on the Queen Elizabeth has the great mare a virtually ‘unbackable’ $1.07 favourite, suggesting she will just win for fun yet again.
This will be her last race – the final bow to the racing world which has grown to adore her deeds on the racetrack.
She will retire to have babies which in their own right will be worth a fortune long before they take a step onto a racetrack.
Trainer Chris Waller deserves a huge pat on the back for having managed her career so incredibly well.
Known for his attention to detail, Waller has been meticulous in his approach to WINX’S career, carefully selecting every race from season to season.
The fact she has built such an extra-ordinary record is testament to both her rare ability and Waller’s planning and management of her career.
Tomorrow she will again tackle two of her arch-rivals in outstanding gallopers HARTNELL for Godolphin, and HAPPY CLAPPER for veteran trainer Pat Webster.
Again it will be Hugh Bowman, one of the world’s best jockeys, to guide her around on her last adventure on a racetrack.
Royal Randwick is officially a sell-out, but not only will the racing world be watching her in Sydney and across Australia.
She is a legend throughout the world and there will be TV sets across the sporting globe turned on and tuned-in at all different parts of the day or night.
It most certainly will be a day when sporting history will be made in this country.
Bruce McAvaney, arguably Australia’s greatest sports-caster of the past 50 years, has described WINX’S farewell race as akin to Cathy Freeman’s gold medal win over 400-mettres at the Sydney Olympics.
Not only is Bruce well qualified to make such a comparison, he is also one of the mighty-mares greatest fans.
To think over the last 15 years Australian racing has ‘hosted’, for want of a better word, three-time Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva, the unbeaten Black Caviar – winner of all of her 25 starts, and now Winx – three complete superstars – and all mares!
There will be some emotional scenes on course at Randwick tomorrow and for us watching it will be heart-warming stuff.
Just enjoy watching a true sporting legend!
Good luck!
