Star mare Winx recorded her 20th win in a row with a fast-finishing victory in the 2017 George Main Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.
Winx recorded her 20th win in a row with a typically impressive effort in the George Main Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Winx was slightly slow out of the gates once again and jockey Hugh Bowman elected to settle her in the second half of the field, while Red Excitement once again took up the running.
Bowman niggled at Winx a long way from home and she didn’t look like she was travelling particularly well before Happy Clapper sprinted with her when she was asked for an extra effort.
Winx looked in for a serious race with Happy Clapper, but class prevailed in the final 200 metres and she found the line extremely nicely to ran away from her rivals late.
Bowman admitted after the George Main Stakes that he expected to settle closer to the speed in the Group 1 event, but he was always confident that Winx would claim yet another feature race win.
“She’s done it again, she’s just such a delight to be a part of,” Bowman said.
“I’ve really run out of things to say.
“She’s just a magical horse and she never fails to get the job done.
“Today I expected to be closer, but the pace was strong and at the top of the straight I had a lot of ground to make up, but on her two last performances I knew that she could do it today and I’m just so proud of her.
“She was a bit slow into stride, but I just let her be where she was happy.
“I’m just so honoured to be her jockey.”
Trainer Chris Waller was quick to pay credit to the performance of Winx and he confirmed that she will have one more race start before she chases history in the 2017 Ladbrokes Cox Plate at The Valley on October 28.
“We should respect Happy Clapper – he is a Doncaster placegetter and he is a very good horse in his own right.
“We had to fight to get past him.
“It was good to see her top that rise and be a little bit closer as that was the only stage she looked like winning.
“I am not too worried about how she was travelling mid-race – don’t overanalyse things, enjoy Winx for who she is.
“I would say she will have one more run up here if we can and at some stage she will head to Melbourne.
“We will lock it in next week.”
Happy Clapper produced another stellar performance to finish in second, while Foxplay rounded out the George Main Stakes placings for third.
