Hugh Bowman will be able to give Winx a trouble free run in her farewell appearance after the mighty mare drew the outside barrier in the nine horse field for the 2019 Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx, above, drew barrier 9 in the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Winx is set to run her final race as she chases her third consecutive win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as her thirty-third straight victory and her twenty-fifth Group 1 trophy.
Bowman and Winx have been inseparable since they combined to win the 2015 Group 1 $500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben and the top jockey said that that long term relationship is a huge part of the Chris Waller trained mare’s record winning streak.
Bowman has a unique knack of keeping Winx out of trouble during her races which has played a huge part in her unbelievable winning streak.
Part owner Peter Tighe drew barrier nine for Winx for the last time before she is retired from the race track and admitted that it was a strange feeling, but added that Winx is in superb order to farewell her huge legion of fans worldwide.
“It is just a great feeling,” Tighe said.
“A little bit numb I suppose knowing that we are not going to be drawing a barrier for her. For her everything we do now is a last and it is very special whenever we do something associated with her.”
“She is fine. She is happy and everything has gone to plan so far. The team out at the stables are more than happy with her. There is not a lot more she can do, She just has to get past Thursday’s media morning and it will be just bunker down and all systems go for Saturday.”
Waller and Bowman will put the final touches on Winx for her swansong in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Rosehill on Thursday morning followed by her usual pre-race media appearance.
As usual Winx is the very short priced favourite at $1.06 for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au with the English visitor He’s Eminent the closest to her in the betting at $16.
Betting for the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.06 Winx, $16 He’s Eminent, $19 Happy Clapper, $26 Hartnell, Shillelagh, $31 Danzdanzdance, $41 Harlem, $51 Kluger, $151 Mask Of Time.
Final Field for 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m)
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 213x75x228 | HAPPY CLAPPER | Patrick Webster | Blake Shinn | 6 | 59kg | 118 |
| 2 | 24120×5323 | HARTNELL (GB) | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 59kg | 116 |
| 3 | 7x0069x471 | HARLEM (GB) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jamie Kah | 8 | 59kg | 112 |
| 4 | 513x5565x2 | HE’S EMINENT (IRE) | Sir Mark Todd | James McDonald | 3 | 59kg | 110 |
| 5 | 3728x984x4 | KLUGER (JPN) | Tomokazu Takano | Tommy Berry | 1 | 59kg | 106 |
| 6 | 741240×324 | MASK OF TIME (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Sam Clipperton | 7 | 59kg | 99 |
| 7 | 1x1111x111 | WINX | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 9 | 57kg | 132 |
| 8 | 6x13x11523 | DANZDANZDANCE | Chris Gibbs & Michelle Bradley | Opie Bosson | 5 | 57kg | 112 |
| 9 | 4415×06205 | SHILLELAGH (NZ) | Chris Waller | Brenton Avdulla | 2 | 57kg | 110 |
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