Winx Breaks More Records in 2018 George Ryder Stakes
Winx will win one more race when she contests the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Winx Breaks More Records in 2018 George Ryder Stakes

Equine superstar Winx has extended her incredible record with a twenty-fourth consecutive win and seventeenth at the highest level in this afternoon’s Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) in Sydney.

Winx was settled at the tail of the George Ryder Stakes field by jockey Hugh Bowman as Invincible Gem took up the running at set a fair tempo in transit.

As he’s done so many times before, Bowman worked the daughter of Street Cry to the outside of the field on the bend and was offered clear running down the middle of the course at the bottom of the straight.

Allowing the super mare to go through her gears, Winx strode past Kementari and Happy Clapper with ease; producing her big turn of foot to beat the classy pair, who were both gallant to the line and completed ideal lead-in runs respectively for the Doncaster Mile.

In claiming her seventeenth career Group 1 win, Winx is now the world record holder for most victories at the highest level.

“It’s just incredible,” Bowman said after the race.

“It was a bit of a tactical race – there was no pressure early and I never actually went in behind because I could just feel I was getting away.

“They’re all high-class horses and one thing I’ve never done is treat my opposition with disrespect, I’ve always treated them with the respect they deserve. Happy Clapper is a supreme athlete, but this mare is just better than them.

“If I set her the impossible task, she wouldn’t be able to do it and I have so much confidence in her. She gave me such a thrilling feel, as she did everyone watching and I could feel the crowd erupt as we went to the lead at the 200m.

“A world record, what a special, special horse she is and I’m so grateful to be her jockey.”

Trainer Chris Waller said that the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Championships remains the major campaign target for Winx this time, but he’ll make a final call on a potential trip to Royal Ascot imminently.

“Two weeks ago I was a little bit concerned when I knew that Happy Clapper won so well and obviously he’s a horse we’ve got so much respect for,” Waller said.

“Kementari too, not just winning the Randwick Guineas but also the two lead-ups as well. They’re quality horses and it was good for her today, it did make her stretch and lift, and I think that’s perfect for where we’re heading, which is obviously the Queen Elizabeth in three weeks’ time.

“We’ll be fair to the owners, we haven’t even discussed it (a trip abroad), so obviously we know when it is and what other races there are in Europe.

“Today was very important to see her come back and be fairly dominant, then obviously in three weeks’ time the Queen Elizabeth is the signature Sydney race, which we’re never really going to miss unless she was going to campaign in Europe.

“We have to talk about coming back IF she went to Europe and raced in a fourth Cox Plate. She can really only go for one run, possibly two.”

Winx remains the $1.20 favourite in early 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting.