At Moonee Valley in Melbourne, Darley's deceased shuttler & Gr1 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry (Machiavellian-Helen Street, by Troy) celebrated an elite race success when 7YO Australian-bred mare Winx (Street Cry-Vegas Showgirl, by Al Akbar) graduated from a champion to a legend when powering to an unprecedented fourth victory in the $5 million weight-for-age Gr1 Cox Plate (2040m) for 3YO+, defeating Benbatl & Humidor. Winx, who recorded her 29th consecutive win and her 22nd at Gr1 level, rewrote the record books by becoming the first horse in Australian racing history to win four Cox Plates.
She had previously shared the record of three with fellow legendary racehorse Kingston Town. Like Makybe Diva's three Melbourne Cups, it is a record that is likely never to be matched. Not only did Winx etch her name yet again into Australian racing folklore, but she also shattered a world record by becoming the first racehorse ever to amass $22,934,925 in prize money. Trainer Chris Waller fought back tears as he spoke about Winx's history-making feat. "The race unfolded quite well. She was a bit wide but she got cover and the speed wasn't too strong. To see her unleash her sprint like she does...she had them covered a long way from home," Waller told racing.com. "It's pretty special." Jockey Hugh Bowman commented: "I can't believe it," he told the Herald Sun. "I am feeling emotional but the electricity that came through my body when I turned into the home straight just then was something that I guess I only get to feel but everyone watching oh I don't know. I'm lost for words." Bowman added: "Everyone watching gets so much joy and pleasure out of the super-ability of this wonderful horse." Winx advanced her amazing record to 33 wins (including the Gr1 Cox Plate – three times, Gr1 George Ryder Stakes - three times, Gr1 Turnbull Stakes - twice, Gr1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes - twice, Group 1 Winx Stakes, Gr1 Caulfield Stakes, Gr1 George Main Stakes - thrice, Gr1 Doncaster Mile, Gr1 Chipping Norton Stakes – three times, Gr1 Epsom Handicap, Gr1 Queensland Oaks, Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes, Gr2 Warwick Stakes – twice, Gr2 Apollo Stakes - twice, Gr2 Theo Marks Stakes, Gr2 Phar Lap Stakes & Gr2 Furious Stakes) and 3 placings (including the Gr1 Australian Oaks & Gr1 Flight Stakes) from 39 starts for record Australian earnings of $22,934,925 in earnings.
Winx was a $230,000 Magic Bloodstock purchase at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
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Story courtesy of Breeding & Racing
