Hugh Bowman has plenty of confidence that the special relationship he has built up with Winx will see the super star mare go out a winner in the 2019 Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day Two of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Winx, above, is set run her final race in the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Winx is set to run her final race as she chases her third consecutive win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes as well as her thirty-third straight victory and her twenty-fifth Group 1 trophy.
Bowman and Winx have been inseparable since they combined to win the 2015 Group 1 $500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Doomben and the top jockey said that that long term relationship is a huge part of the Chris Waller trained mare’s record winning streak.
“Anyone is capable of winning on Winx, but I think there have been some races where other riders may not have been able,’’ Bowman told The Daily Telegraph.
“It’s difficult for me to say, but (other jockeys) may not have had the confidence to just let her be happy and know what she’s going to do.
“But it’s not just the racing, it’s all the work I’ve done with her at home and it’s that relationship.
“It’s my understanding of her that other people don’t have and the confidence I have in her.”
“Winx has never been better and with that comes a lot of confidence (in her).’
“She is bigger and stronger, more enthusiastic, her will-to-win is still there. You only have to watch her trackwork (last Saturday) and she ran a quicker last 600m than any other horse racing that day.
“I wasn’t even out there to run fast times but she does it with consummate ease.’’
Winx has come through her final preparation without a hitch and looked in outstanding order as she went through her paces with Bowman in the saddle in an exhibition gallop on the course proper before the first race on Day One Of The Championships last Saturday.
Winx kicked off her 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign with a win in the Group 2 $250,000 The Star Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on February 16 followed by a win in the Group 1 $600,000 Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) at Randwick again two weeks later.
Winx then claimed her fourth win in the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 23 as her final lead up run into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Early betting for the 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.10 Winx, $15 Happy Clapper, He’s Eminent, $17 Hartnell, $26 Danzdanzdance, $41 Shillelagh, $51 or better the rest.
