It seems that records tumble each time Winx (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) sets foot on a racecourse anymore, and on Saturday the world's co-highest rated horse set a new worldwide mark for Group 1 wins when she hit 17 in Rosehill's G1 George Ryder S. With her first-up win in the G1 Chipping Norton S. three weeks ago Winx had broken Black Caviar (Aus) (Bel Esprit {Aus})'s Australian Group 1 record, and next up in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in three weeks' time the 6-year-old will look to equal that great sprinter's Australian record of 25-straight wins.
Winx has frightened off enough of her opposition at this stage that she had to face just five over the 1500 metres, but plenty of punters were intrigued by Godolphin's 3-year-colt Kementari (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}), who is unbeaten this prep including a last-out win in the G1 Randwick Guineas. Kementari, at $8.50, was made the first single-digit horse in the odds to face Winx since last October's G1 Turnbull S., but in the end the great mare relegated him to the position she has each of her rivals her last 24 times to the post.
Racing a joint last under Hugh Bowman while Invincible Gem (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) set the tempo with Happy Clapper (Aus) (Teofilo {Ire}) on his heels, Winx kept Kementari in her sights two lengths ahead. Winx shortened that margin to a length passing the 1000 metres, and by the time she passed the 600 she was drawing even with her rival. Winx shrugged off Kementari with ease when they straightened and it was Happy Clapper who proved most valiant, forcing Bowman to go to the whip on Winx at the 150. She drew clear when asked, however, and found the line three-quarters of a length the best without being put under much pressure. Kementari made encouraging late headway and, like Happy Clapper, likely set himself up well for the G1 Doncaster H. at The Championships in two weeks.
“It was a bit of a tactical race, there was no pressure early,” Bowman told Racing NSW. “I actually never went in behind [Kementari] because I could just feel I was getting away from them a bit. They are high-class horses and I've never treated her opposition with disrespect; I've always treated them with the respect they deserve. Happy Clapper is a supreme athlete and look, this mare is just better than them. I have so much confidence in her, she gave me such a thrilling feeling as she did everyone watching here today. I could feel the crowd erupt as we went to the front at the 200m and a world record, what a special, special horse she is and I'm just so grateful to be her jockey.”
Waller echoed Bowman's sentiments in terms of respect for Winx's rivals.
“I was a little bit concerned when I knew Happy Clapper won so well first up and he's a horse we have so much respect for, and Kementari not just winning the Randwick Guineas but winning the two lead ups as well,” the trainer said. “They are two quality horses and it was good for her today, it did make her stretch, it made her lift and I think that was perfect for where we are heading, the Queen Elizabeth S. in three weeks' time.”
As Winx prepares for a title defense of the Queen Elizabeth, the world waits with bated breath for the decision on her Royal Ascot bid, which connections had promised would come after the Ryder.
Pedigree Notes…
Winx is the second foal out of Vegas Showgirl, who was crowned champion broodmare of 2016 after her exploits were also boosted by El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who became a 'TDN Rising Star' with a debut win before dead-heating for the victory in the G3 Kindergarten S. at The Championships on the same day that Winx won the Doncaster three years ago. That week was an especially fruitful one for John Camilleri's Vegas Showgirl; a few days later her then yearling Snitzel colt, now named Boulder City (Aus) and in training with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, topped the Inglis Easter yearling sale at A$2.3-million. Vegas Showgirl has a yearling filly by Snitzel (Aus) and a filly foal by Exceed and Excel (Aus). Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Rosehill, Australia
GEORGE RYDER S.-G1, A$951,000, ATC, 3-24, 3yo/up, Open Weight For Age, 1500mT, 1:31.48, Soft.
1–WINX, 57.0, m, 6, by Street Cry (IRE)
1st Dam: Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (MSW-NZ, NZ$172,062), by Al Akbar
2nd Dam: Vegas Magic, by Voodoo Rhythm (USA)
3rd Dam: Vegas Street (NZ), by Sovereign Edition (IRE)
(A$230,000 Ylg 2013 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale) O-Magic
Bloodstock Racing (Mgr: P G Tighe), R G Treweeke & Mrs D N
Kepitis; B-Fairway Thoroughbreds NSW; T-C J Waller; J-J
Bowman; A$587,000. Lifetime Record: 2x Horse of the Year &
Ch. Middle Distance Horse-Aus, Ch. Older Horse-Aus,
34-28-3-0, A$16,563,925. *1/2 to El Divino (Aus) (Snitzel
{Aus}), GSW-Aus, A$192,260. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Happy Clapper, 59.0, g, 7, Teofilo (Ire)–Busking, by Encosta
de Lago. O/B-M W Thomas; T-P J Webster; J-B Shinn;
A$190,000.
3–Kementari, 56.0, c, 3, Lonhro–Yavanna, by Redoute's Choice.
O-Godolphin; B-Darley NSW; T-James Cummings; J-B Avdulla;
A$98,000.
Margins: 0.8 len, 1.8 len, 4.5 len. Odds: 0.07, 20.00, 7.50.
Also Ran: Crack Me Up (NZ), Invincible Gem, Clearly Innocent.
Click for the Racing Post result. VIDEO.
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