WINX.
A quirky little word, a quirky little name, and it was being heard more and more as the spring of 2015 arrived.
She was in the news as a nominee for ‘champion three-year-old filly’ at the Australian Horse of the Year awards, though she’d be beaten out by Perth-based Delicacy, winner of the South Australian Oaks–Derby double.
There may have been some confusion around this time too, perhaps from young children of racing fans, as there was a kids’ TV show with a coincidental title also gaining momentum. Their dads and mums might have tuned in to watch Winx Club, only to be disappointed to find it had nothing to do with horses, and everything to do with magical fairies.
As Winx the horse set out on a new adventure to enchant us all, her return from her winter break led Waller into his own bit of wordplay: ‘We might have to change her name to Wings.’
The master trainer had been blown away — again — by his emerging star, as was anyone who witnessed the start of her fourth campaign.
Now a four-year-old mare, Winx came back not much bigger but stronger, and more filled out. The once wiry late-developer had blossomed and, with more revealed about the training and racing workload she could handle, the Myer Classic plans were under review.
Immediately — following one typically casual barrier trial — would come the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes over 1300 metres at Rosehill in mid-September. A quality handicap — the type which typically attracts better fields than standard handicaps due to a maximum weight, which means even the best horses will lug no more than around 60 kilograms — the Theo Marks is usually a strong early spring highlight.
Next up would be the time-honoured Epsom Handicap, one of Randwick’s two big ‘mile’ handicaps, along with the Doncaster. Waller was keeping an open mind about his ambitions beyond that. Some spoke of Winx as a likely type for Australia’s top-quality race, the W.S. Cox Plate, especially as she was shaping as a middle-distance performer suited to its 2040-metre journey. But would a race of that class be too much too soon?
The Theo Marks was significant for a few reasons. Winx, whose benchmark rating had hit three figures, had raced among her own sex for the last time. And while Bowman might by now have tied himself onto the mare to ensure no one else rode her, stewards untied him with a brief careless riding suspension. It would be the last time Bowman was parted from Winx in her rise to superstardom. With yet another riding change needed, the accomplished James McDonald would climb aboard. The 23-year-old, who had moved from New Zealand to Queensland to ride while still a teenager, had swept all before him in a few years since moving to Sydney, winning the premiership in 2014. Gaining the Winx ride at Bowman’s expense was perhaps some compensation for Bowman having beaten him to the 2014–15 premiership just six weeks earlier, by a mere two and a half wins (two wins plus a dead-heat).
Despite dropping back to a sprint from her most recent staying tests, and stepping up in class, Winx was a favourite on a good track, though it was no odds-on affair.
The main opposition looked set to come from a previous rider, Joao Moreira, on Godolphin’s $5 chance Vashka, who’d won five city races straight a year earlier before striking injury troubles. There was support at $7.50 for Messene, a dual black-type winner from the powerful Hawkes training team — father John and sons Wayne and Michael — with another ex-Winx rider Tommy Berry on board. Winx was the main target again, though, firming strongly from $4.60 to $3.40.
Though emerging, Winx didn’t quite have the pulling power she would later possess, and only a middling crowd was at Rosehill on a fine spring day for her comeback. Most racegoers who did attend were in fact there to see the day’s highlight in the race before Winx’s, the Group 1 Golden Rose.
Unusually, two people who weren’t there were Peter and Patty Tighe. ‘We were down in Melbourne as we had a prior engagement,’ Peter later recalled. ‘I remember watching the race wishing I was there.’ He would make sure nothing would stop him being present for Winx’s races again.1
At least the signs leading up to the Theo Marks, race seven of eight, were strong for the Winx camp. McDonald had ridden the previous three winners, two of them for Waller in Good Project and Catkins, before taking the Golden Rose on the Godolphin camp’s Exosphere. McDonald’s confidence was booming as he climbed aboard for what was possibly his most exciting mount of the day. Yet a good degree of angst lay ahead.
When the gates opened, McDonald eased back from barrier eleven of fourteen — at least backmarkers negate the disadvantage of wide barriers — and Winx settled second-last between horses as a cluster fought for the lead. But while the opening furlongs (or 200-metre sections) went largely to type, the plans went seriously awry nearing the turn.
As McDonald began to summon his mount from the rear at the 500, he was faced with the frightening sight of Amanpour, a relative long shot, already running out of steam and drifting back through the field before him. With Winx revving up, McDonald was forced to slam on the brakes rounding the bend. He reefed his mare’s head up, and her momentum was rudely halted in what was as severe a check as any punter would want, or not want, to see.
With most jockeys hitting the ‘go’ button, Winx was left stranded at the tail inside the 400. She looked a lost cause, ten lengths off the pace held by unfancied stablemate Strawberry Boy, who’d been rated well in front by Jim Cassidy. At the 300, Winx was still last and had barely gained ground. Moreover, she was still behind horses, with McDonald only now hooking to the outside. Surely this time the game was up.
At the 200, she’d passed two runners but was still eight lengths back. She was now, at last, in top gear, but they just don’t win from there.
At the 150, caller Darren Flindell thought he should look for the favourite. He gave Winx a quick mention, but she was five lengths away with eight rivals still ahead. He switched back to the business end. Strawberry Boy had been collared by Ninth Legion, but Sons Of John was looming to their outside with what looked like the winning run.
Those focusing on that trio near the rail would have dismissed Winx long ago. But under urgent whip riding, she was scorching down the centre of the track, and with metres remaining made a breathtaking swoop. If good horses know where the line is, as they say, Winx showed it with uncanny awareness. To Flindell, hailing Sons Of John as the winner, it must have seemed she was dropped from above. He had time only to scream, ‘Winx flying!’ as the race ended, adding in shock past the post, ‘Oh — did she get there?!’
She did, snatching the race by a half-head. It would go down as one of the most scintillating wins she would record.
The clock confirmed what the eye had seen. Winx had easily run the fastest last 200 metres of the day, at 11.14 seconds, more than half a second faster — or around four lengths — than that run by her speedster stablemate Catkins in taking the 1200-metre Sheraco Stakes two races earlier.
Winx had had two impressive wins in Queensland, but the last time she’d raced in Sydney she’d created no impression at all with her defeat in the Australian Oaks. This time she’d stunned everyone on course, widening the eyes of Waller and racegoers alike with her blistering finish.
For McDonald, like Larry Cassidy, the win was a fleeting date with ability scarcely believable.
‘I can take no credit for this horse,’ McDonald said. ‘She is a serious racehorse and serious racehorses can overcome problems, which is what she has done today.’
Waller, while admitting he was ‘still learning about her’, was now prepared to release his own reins on this serious racehorse who had just drawn gasps across the country.
‘She is very special,’ he said. ‘I think she’s in for a big year.’2
For now, his sights were merely set on a second Group 1, the Epsom Handicap.