The world’s best racehorse, Winx, has been celebrated by the Australian Turf Club (ATC) getting the Warwick Stakes renamed in her honour.
Winx has had the Warwick Stakes renamed in her honour for the 2018 edition of the August event at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Formerly a Group 2 race, the Warwick Stakes takes place at Royal Randwick on August 18 and for the 2018 edition has been upgraded to a Group 1 event to be known as the Winx Stakes and worth $500,000 in total prize money.
Winx won the 2016 and 2017 editions of the early Sydney Spring Racing Carnival lead-up during her incredible winning streak that extended to 25 on the trot in last Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).
Chris Waller’s brilliant daughter of Street Cry has now amassed over $18.88 million in prize money and has celebrated an incredible 18 Group 1 victories.
“The ATC believes it is fitting for this race to be run as a Group One for the first time to be named in honour of Winx,” ATC Chairman Laurie Marci said.
“She has captivated the world with her career, earning recognition as Longines World’s Best Racehorse and the ATC is proud to have her stabled at our great racecourse Rosehill Gardens.
“We thank and congratulate all of her owners, Debbie Kepitis, Peter Tighe and Richard Treweeke for allowing us to use this new name for one of our Group 1 races.”
Racing NSW approved the ATC’s application for the renaming of the Warwick Stakes and their Chairman, Russell Balding, was thrilled the now Winx Stakes will help see the champion’s legacy live on.
“Winx transcends racing into the mainstream of Australian sport and the Winx Stakes will be recognised everywhere, well into the future,” he said.
Winx matched former champion sprinter Black Caviar on 25 consecutive turf triumphs in the Queen Elizabeth.
Black Caviar also has a race named in her honour, the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) run at Flemington each February during the Melbourne Festival of Racing.
Black Caviar won the race named in her honour when saluting in the former Lighting Stakes for the third time on the trot in 2013.
The upgrade to elite level sees the Winx Stakes kick off Group 1 racing for the spring and connections could still elect to try and emulate Black Caviar again but running Winx in the Winx Stakes.
Winx’s main spring aim is shaping-up as the Group 1 $3.5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 27.
She joined Kingston Town (1980-82) on a hat-trick of Cox Plate victories last year and is currently odds-on at $1.55 through Ladbrokes.com.au to make history with a fourth win in Australasia’s weight-for-age championship.
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