Sunday, April 14, 2019 Credit: Getty Images FAREWELL TO A LEGEND Elleegant brings up What's On Race meetings: Armidale (NSW), Wagga hat-trick with (NSW), Pakenham (VIC), Terang (VIC), stunning Sunshine Coast (QLD), Port Augusta (SA), Oaks success Geraldton (WA), Devonport (TAS), Te Rapa (NZ) International meetings: Kranji (SGP), Racing News | Page 10 Sha Tin (HK) Sunday, April 14, 2019 ‘What a journey it has been’ Emotions run high as Winx signs off in style with 33rd straight victory and third Queen Elizabeth Stakes By Lewis Lesbirel and Chris Humpleby eldom do farewells of this magnitude adhere to the script, particularly where racehorses are concerned, but Winx (Street Cry) Sis about as sub-equine as they come. The apple of Australia’s eye bowed out in the most fitting of styles at her beloved Randwick yesterday, winning her third Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and etching her name further into the record books she has so frequently re-written. Continued on page 2>> Credit: Getty Images | 1 | Brought to you by ‘What a journey it has been’ | 2 | Sunday, April 14, 2019 << Continued from page 1 It was to be the perfect send off - her 33rd consecutive victory and 37th overall to equal the great Phar Lap (Night Raid); her coronation as the highest prize-money earner of all time; and, perhaps most fittingly of all, Winx provided her trainer Chris Waller with his 100th Group 1 victory - a staggering quarter of which have come courtesy of the great mare herself. While the number 13 may be unlucky for some, April 13 has been fortuitous for two greats of the Australian Turf, with Winx’s swansong coming exactly six years to the day since the great Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) signed off with her 25th and final career victory in the T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at the same venue. Quite simply, yesterday was a piece of theatre that even the most gifted of playwrights would be happy to lay claim to. As a sea of blue engulfed every confine of Randwick’s Winx AMANDA WOOD grounds, Winx remained as quiet as a churchmouse in where those for whom tickets proved elusive were seen lining the streets the preliminaries, completely that surround the course, noses pressed up to the gate that separated unfazed by the grandeur of the them from racing immortality. occasion. Then it was all down to Winx and Hugh Bowman. The pair left the Down at the start, Sky barriers for the final time and the customary hold-up tactics were Racing cameras unearthed a employed, Winx settling just worse than midfield as Mask Of Time (Holy Chris Waller GETTY IMAGES truly special racing moment, Roman Emperor) set the early fractions. Continued on page 4>> | 2 | Brought to you by ANZ – export as HiRes PDF, no crops/bleeds 2014 ATC Early Quaddie 2YO H 2017 ATC Gr1 George Ryder S 2014 ATC Ibis Milano Restaurant 2YO H 2017 ATC Gr1 Queen Elizabeth S 2014 ATC Gr2 Furious S 2017 ATC Gr2 Warwick S 2014 ATC Gr2 Phar Lap S 2017 ATC Gr2 Chelmsford S 2015 SCTC Gr3 Sunshine Coast Gns 2017 ATC Gr1 George Main S 2015 BRC Gr1 Queensland Oaks 2017 VRC Gr1 Turnbull S 2015 ATC Gr2 Theo Marks S 2017 MVRC Gr1 WS Cox Plate 2015 ATC Gr1 Epsom H 2018 ATC Gr1 Chipping Norton S 2015 MVRC Gr1 WS Cox Plate 2018 ATC Gr1 George Ryder S 2016 ATC Gr2 Apollo S 2018 ATC Gr1 Queen Elizabeth S 2016 ATC Gr1 Chipping Norton S 2018 ATC Gr1 Winx S 2016 ATC Gr1 George Ryder S 2018 ATC Gr1 George Main S 2016 ATC Gr1 Doncaster H 2016 ATC Gr2 Warwick S 2018 VRC Gr1 Turnbull S 2016 ATC Gr1 George Main S 2018 MVRC Gr1 WS Cox Plate 2016 MRC Gr1 Caulfield S 2019 ATC Gr1 Apollo S 2016 MVRC Gr1 WS Cox Plate 2019 ATC Gr1 Chipping Norton S 2017 ATC Gr2 Apollo S 2019 ATC Gr1 George Ryder S 2017 ATC Gr1 Chipping Norton S 2019 ATC Gr1 Queen Elizabeth S Goodbye to the Greatest The highest prizemoney earner in global racing history | 83 Individual Group One winners beaten World record 25 Group One victories | 33 Consecutive Group wins Proudly sold by Magic Millions $230,000 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale; Earnings: $26,451,174 Owners: Magic Bloodstock Racing, Mr R G Treweeke, Mrs D N Kepitis; Trainer: Mr Chris Waller; Vendor: Coolmore Stud; Breeder: Fairway Thoroughbreds www.magicmillions.com.au MAGICMILLIONS @MMSNIPPETS MAGICMILLIONS THEMAGICMILLIONS ‘What a journey it has been’ | 4 | Sunday, April 14, 2019 << Continued from page 2 In a carbon copy of her other 19 Randwick victories, Winx swept around the outside of the field approaching the turn for home, Bowman leaving nothing to chance as the seven-year-old began to move through the gears. Having conceded significant ground to Kluger (King Kamehameha), who scraped the paint up the inner, the champion briefly afforded first run to the Japanese raider before surging down the outside, her adoring fans in full voice as she powered to the line with seemingly any amount in hand. With Kluger sticking on well for second, it was Winx’s old adversary Hartnell (Authorized) who Queen Elizabeth Stakes presentation GETTY IMAGES fared best of the rest in third, four lengths adrift of the great mare as she crossed the line for the final time in a glittering don’t have many words. It’s just very exciting to have this come to fruition. 43-start career at typically-prohibitive odds of $1.06. “Congratulations to everybody that has ever been involved with this Race caller Darren Flindell was tasked with the immediate reaction, wonderful horse. Credit to all of the staff - the farriers, the dentist, the urging viewers to “remember forever how you feel right now” before chiro, the physio, every person - they deserve the accolade as well.” crossing over to an emotional Debbie Kepitis. Waller, trying hard to keep his emotions in check, cut his usual self- “This is a fairytale ending, we weren’t sure if we’d get that,” co-owner deprecating figure. Kepitis told Sky Racing, lumps aplenty in her throat. “It’s hard to explain without getting too emotional. She’s just an “How wonderful was that girl? She’s the most amazing, supreme amazing horse for everybody to be part of and I’m a small cog in the athlete that I think I’ve ever seen, handled by the most supreme coach. I wheel,” he said. Continued on page 6>> Gr. 1 Winner SHRAAOH SYDNEY CUP, Group 1 sold Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale by Freemason Lodge Stables to Stephen Hillen Bloodstock for 30,000 gns also sold Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Book 1 by Mount Coote Stud to Peter & Ross Doyle Bloodstock for 175,000 gns Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale April 15 - 17 Europe’s Leading Breeze Up Sale featuring the £15,000 Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Bonus Jenny McAlpine Tel:+61 411 504803 [email protected] www.tattersalls.com | 4 | Brought to you by Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed) Winner of the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) New Zealand breds have won 5 of the last 6 Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) Visit. Invest. Win. www.nztm.co.nz ‘What a journey it has been’ | 6 | Sunday, April 14, 2019 << Continued from page 4 “My team just do an amazing job and to everybody in the crowd here, right round the world, in every lad’s room, it’s rare they get the accolades they deserve. I’m sure people will see club, pub, wherever you’re watching today, it has been a great journey and it through a horse like this, racing for four years at the very best, it’s I’m glad everybody has enjoyed it as much as we have.” indescribable. But in truth, the most poignant of messages was delivered by Hugh “I just did the best I could. I thought about everything except winning Bowman, whose ice-cool demeanour will forever be associated with today. You don’t set yourself up for these big wins, you just do your job.” Winx’s incredible career. When asked if there could have been a better way to bring up his “It’s going to be nice to have my life back,” he joked, before exuding 100th Group 1 win as a trainer, Waller could barely muster the vocal his customary class in an emotionally-charged post-race interview strength to respond with a simple ‘no’. alongside his wife Christine. Fellow co-owner Peter Tighe, so often the calm and level-headed “Having a young family, and such a supportive family at that, has kept member of the team, was another who understandably succumbed to everything very real for me. Having children certainly keeps everything in the emotion of the occasion. perspective, especially young children. “Chris came and led her in with us which was a super touch as he’s “The last 12 months there’s been a few things in our lives that the captain of the team. She’d probably love to go round again,” he said. have also kept things in perspective. Our good friend Pat Smullen was “She’s just amazing. What she has done for people, for diagnosed with pancreatic cancer about 18 months ago. He’s in a good racing, everything. We love her to bits. place at the moment but I have known three of four other friends who “A big thank you have died from the disease since then.