LONGINES QUEEN

ELIZABETH STAKES

(GROUP 1)

WINX, as per the past four years, stuck to the script, with a record modern-day Randwick crowd roaring the seven-year-old daughter of Street Cry into retirement. Saluting in her 43rd and final start, Winx won her third straight A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes, completing 33 consecutive wins.

“It’s over,” said Hugh Bowman immediately on easing down, the emotional fatigue in his voice evident. “I’m so proud to be a part of it. It has been very real for me all day, with the amount of people here, it is just amazing.”

From the gates it was standard Winx, she did it herself, settling just off mid-field of the nine starters. In trademark fashion she was kept off the rail, improving her position with 600 metres to run. Five-wide on straightening she was right with the leaders as Hartnell tried to go with her. Like most before him he faded, as Bowman took no chances having her well into gear halfway down the straight, giving the crowd plenty of time to get into voice. The Japanese raider Kluger hung on well for second with Hartell a distant four-length third.

ICON

“Inside the final 100 metres, today we salute an Australian icon,” called course broadcaster Darren Flindell summing up what much of Australia had tuned in for. Her retirement will create a vacuum at the top of Australain racing. She alone has almost doubled the crowd at Randwick. Just two years ago a then record 26,801 witnessed her 17th straight win in her first Queen Elizabeth Stakes, last Saturday over 42,000 were there for her finale.

As ever, trainer Chris Waller was as humble as he was emotional. “Whether they are here at Randwick today, but all around Australia, New Zealand and the world. Thank you very much. I can’t describe her in words. But thanks for appreciating her for what she is.” With a sense of synchronicity the win was also Chris Waller’s 100th Group 1 victory as a trainer.