Nothing is sure in this world, except for Winx.
Time will be called on the career of the world’s best racehorse at Royal Randwick on Saturday and one final time, we’re offered the opportunity to go through all of the emotions that come with witnessing something truly extraordinary.
I think we all know who the winner of this race will be and given the eight other horses in Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting are all capable of fighting their way into the minors, I’ve decided to rank them in order of Winx’s greatest career rivals (second and third, at least).
You’ve heard it all before, probably several times this week, but to go through all of the motions for myself and ensure I play no part in a curse, here it is. Since May 2015, Winx has won thirty-two consecutive races, twenty-four of which at Group 1 level which have included an incredible four Cox Plates. This is the best racehorse we’ve seen, perhaps the best we’ll ever see and its been an honour and a privilege to witness. Go happy into retirement, champion.
There isn’t a tougher horse in the country than Happy Clapper and he is probably the only runner that has consistently stepped out alongside Winx and not looked out of place. Trainer Pat Webster has never shied away from running against the great mare but has also been more than happy to target the second-place cheque. The Teofilo gelding is a multiple Group 1 winner in his own right and has enjoyed a lengthy career fighting out the finish of some of the country’s vest races. His record in this race is also excellent – third, fifth and second in the three most-recent editions and it would be fitting to see him finish second again on Saturday.
For a while there, it did look like Hartnell could be the horse to dethrone Winx even just on one occasion, but the Godolphin warhorse was simply unable to. There is clearly no denying Hartnell’s class – yet another runner that has consistent found outstanding form season after season, and the evergreen eight-year-old has recorded some pleasing results again this time in, including another solid third in last week’s Donny. He’s rock-hard fit and with appropriate luck, will be thereabouts again.
There isn’t a lot that I have to say about this horse, other than he looks a pretty bloody good show at 2000m. He hasn’t raced against Winx, but his run for second behind Avilius in the Group 1 Ranvet three weeks ago was outstanding and he’ll take plenty of benefit into this. J-Mac is in the saddle again and he could enjoy the run of the race from barrier 3.