By Alan Carasso
Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}), whose seven consecutive victories in the 2015-2016 season included five straight at Group 1 level, was crowned the Australian Horse of the Year at ceremonies held Thursday in Sydney, with 59 of the 60 votes from national media. She was also named champion middle-distance horse.
Bred in New South Wales by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds, Winx was an A$230,000 purchase out of the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has readily assumed the mantra of racing royalty from the unbeaten Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus}).
Building on a pair of victories at the tail end of her 3-year-old season for trainer Chris Waller, Winx was the convincing 2 1/2-length winner of the G1 Epsom H., setting her up for a slashing, rail-skimming five-length success in the G1 Cox Plate (2040m). Her autumn preparation included imperious tallies in the G1 Chipping Norton S. (1600m), G1 George Ryder S. (1500m) and the G1 Doncaster H. (1600m), in which she carried top weight of 125 pounds to a two-length score. Winx has since run her winning skein to 11, including the G1 Colgate Optic White S. Sept. 17 and is on track to defend her title in the Cox Plate Oct. 22.
“She's an amazing horse,” part-owner Debbie Kepitis explained. “We are on the ride of a lifetime–we are at the peak of a wave. We want this wave to travel forever and on this wave we have the whole of the Australian public with us. She has done it. There's a lot of people to thank but ultimately without Winx we wouldn't be here,” Kepitis added.
Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), accorded 'TDN Rising Star' status off his smashing debut victory in the Listed Breeders' Plate almost exactly one year ago, atoned for a shock defeat in the G2 Todman S. with a 7-1 win in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and was named champion 2-year-old. The A$165,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate is trained by Peter Snowden for a partnership including James Harron Bloodstock and Newgate Stud Farm, among others. The handsome chestnut goes round in Saturday's G2 Roman Consul S. at Randwick.
Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) thrilled his fans with late-running wins in the G1 T. J. Smith S. at The Championships and again in the G1 Chairman's Sprint Prize in Hong Kong and took down top honors as Inglis Champion Sprinter of the Year. A graduate of the latter auction house's Easter Yearling Sale, Chautauqua returns to action in Friday's G1 Moir S. at Moonee Valley.
AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONS – 2015-2016
HORSE OF THE YEAR/CH. MIDDLE-DISTANCE HORSE
Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire})
INGLIS CHAMPION SPRINTER
Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus})
CHAMPION STAYER
Preferment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ})
NEW ZEALAND BLOODSTOCK CHAMPION 3YO FILLY
English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus})
CHAMPION 3-YEAR-OLD COLT/GELDING
Tarzino (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ})
CHAMPION 2-YEAR-OLD
Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus})
SIRE OF THE YEAR (CHAMPION AUSTRALIAN SIRE)
Street Cry (Ire)
Bart Cummings Award (trainer w/most G1 wins): Chris Waller (15)
Group 1 Jockey of the Year: Hugh Bowman (12)
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