Winx Shakes The Grandstand In Queen Elizabeth
By Brad Gray
What is there left to say about Winx having decimated her rivals yet again? This time in the $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m). A crowd of 26,801 piled into the Randwick grandstand and they weren’t left disappointed by the best horse in the world.
Winx in full flight (Steve Hart)
“She makes me look like a genius,” said her emotional trainer Chris Waller.
“It should all be about Winx. Everywhere she goes people follow her and it’s very heart-warming.
“It’s just a big relief for the day to be finally here and to have the job done. It’s indescribable really. We take it as it comes. She’s doing great things.
“She’s a champion.”
Winx was at her brilliant best in the QE
Waller was also effusive is his praise for the role Hugh Bowman has played in the Winx story and the star jockey was again a picture of calm amidst the fanfare, taking Winx through her gears to win by 5.25 lengths.
“What a supreme athlete she is and what an honour it is to just be a part of her career. She is just so dominant,” Bowman said.
“I don’t whip her too often but I wanted that supreme effort today, the grand final, and when I gave her one she extended again. I could really feel the crowd’s love for her.
“Just look at her she’s a supreme athlete, she’s the ultimate professional. I love her.”
It was 17 straight for the five-year-old mare and although the margin was decisive, Bowman suggested that the margin would have been even greater if the tempo was quicker up front.
“There wasn’t a lot of pace on paper, I wouldn’t say it was a high pressure race today. Everyone found their spot and even slowed it up mid-race and it was a bit of a sprint home.”
“I don’t think you see the best of her when it is that sort of race, I mean she is obviously still good, she wheeled passed them at the top of the straight and she still let down.”
Results and replays for Day 2 of The Championships