WINX CLAIMS 30TH CONSECUTIVE WIN WITH APOLLO STAKES VICTORY AT RANDWICK

Any thoughts Winx might not be as good as she once was have been scotched in just under 81 seconds with the great mare notching her 30th consecutive win in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick. This was her third Apollo Stakes victory. She drew clear of the field with 200 metres remaining in the race. The victory marked Winx’s first race appearance since winning her fourth Cox Plate last October. In her first run since a history-making fourth Cox Plate triumph, Winx drew clear from the 200-metre mark to beat Happy Clapper and stablemate Egg Tart. Winx, with Hugh Bowman again on board, started overwhelming favourite to extend her winning streak in the Group Two race over 1400m.
And that is how it panned out, with Bowman easing the mare up to Happy Clapper before strolling to a comfortable win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. Winx posted a time of 1:20.88 seconds slicing 0.55 off Trapeze Artist’s track record. “The pace of the race was very even which suited us,” Bowman said. “I had to niggle her to hold her position closer than I normally would over a bit further, especially when I could see the path that Sam was plotting on Happy Clapper out of pure respect for that horse’s ability. We needed to be within striking distance. But as the race unfolded, we settled into a lovely rhythm as we always do. She was in pure control.”
For Winx’s trainer, Chris Waller, the overriding emotion after the race was relief. “What she does for racing makes me proud,” Waller said. “It’s a great sport and she’s a true headline act and puts racing in a positive light.” Waller said the victory was vindication for the decision made to continue Winx’s career following her record fourth Cox Plate win. “Relief is what I’m feeling,” Waller said. “We take it so personally. She can’t tell us when she’s had enough. We made the decision to push on a bit further.”

While she holds a stunning record, it appears there are a few records that are out of reach for her. Puerto Rico’s Camarero holds the world record of 56 wins in a row before he lost, followed by Hungarian mare Kincsem with an undefeated record in 54 starts, before Puerto Rican horses Cofresi (49 wins), Condado (44) and Galgo Jnr (39) ahead of Winx. Jockey Hugh Bowman said she has “nothing to prove”. Speaking on SEN, he said she may still be around in spring and could even chase a fifth Cox Plate, which could get her closer to the top five consecutive wins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OV-Nwran9s