QUEEN ELIZABETH

STAKES (GROUP 1)

WINX completed her clean sweep of Sydney’s autumn carnival with an imperious win in the A$4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2,000 metres last Saturday to stretch her winning streak to 17 in a row.

The win was her 12th Group 1 and her 10th victory at Randwick from 14 starts there. Jumping from barrier three in the nine-horse field, Hugh Bowman let her find her own rhythm in the 2,000 metre Group 1 before she swept into the race on the bend to stride away for a five-length win from Hartnell and Sense Of Occasion.

Such is the peak of her powers at present that competition is getting thin, especially when you see three-year-old colts the calibre of Flying Artie, Extreme Choice, Astern, Capitalist and Star Turn all retired to stud. She simply made Saturday’s field of quality gallopers look second rate.

In the aftermath of her 17th straight win, Chris Waller looked a man with a weight lifted from his shoulders. “She’s had a perfect preparation, pretty much, she makes everything look perfect really though. She makes me look like a genius,” said Waller.

“It’s just a big relief. To be finally here and to have the job done. It’s indescribable really.

“I’m a racing fan and I am as much a fan of Winx as anybody but I’ve been pretty nervous for about a year now and I was nervous today. I know we’ve all done what we can do to have her fit and well, but you can’t actually ask her how she’s feeling.”

Waller also quick to acknowledge Hugh Bowman. “I think the story should be about Winx, but Hugh, and what he has done, is very special.”

With over $12 million in earnings now banked from her 21 wins from 27 starts the daughter of Street Cry, (her $6.215,000 season earnings have catapulted her sire to the top of the Australian General Sires’ table) focus now switches to the spring.

“She will go for a break now and we will map out her campaign towards a third Cox Plate,” Waller said. “It will be similar to last year and we will look at other options after the spring.”