Hugh Bowman aboard Winx
© racing photos
By Kate Watts
Winx has cemented herself as one of racing’s all-time greats after winning her third-straight Australian Racehorse of the Year award, joining fellow champions Black Caviar and Sunline as the only horses to receive the accolade three times.
Connections of the world’s highest-rated horse were all on hand as she was presented with the top honour at a gala event in Melbourne on Thursday night.
The superstar mare was a dominant victor, polling 150 votes on a 3-2-1 basis to finish well ahead of Redzel on 42.
Trainer Chris Waller said this year’s award had been extra special for the mighty mare, equaling a record held by elite company.
“It’s very special, each and every one of them, I think the first one was so special to have an Australian Horse of the Year, that’ a pretty amazing feat and to do it again and again has been fantastic,” he said.
“Every time she goes around she’s breaking records, she’s setting new goals and being part of Australian racing history which is so important.”
The seven year-old’s 2017/2018 season of eight-straight victories, including six Group 1s, saw her also take out the Victorian Racehorse of the Year and Champion Middle Distance awards.
“She’s an amazing athlete, to be a part of her career makes me very proud, I’m very lucky to be in the position I’m in and I don’t take that for granted,” said jockey Hugh Bowman.
Team Winx had already been recognised earlier in the night, with Waller receiving the Bart Cummings Award for the most Group 1 winners (13) trained in the season, with Bowman also presented with the equivalent award for jockeys, having registered nine wins at the elite level.
But the occasion wasn’t all about the superstar mare and her fortunate connections, with the six remaining awards hotly contested.
The Hawkes-trained Estijaab was declared as the season’s Champion Two-Year-Old after the Emirates Park-owned filly’s dominant victory in the Golden Slipper.
“We were over the moon the way she came and won that race, it was just a wonderful feeling,” said Emirates Park director Shalabh Sahu.
“Any award gives you a great thrill and this is one of them,” he added.
Group 1 wins in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne saw Shoals defeat stellar competition to be awarded Champion Three-Year-Old Filly.
GSA Bloodstock’s Dean Hawthorne was on hand to accept the award for the daughter of Fastnet Rock and said she was a tough and deserved winner.
“She won at three different distances and she gives it her all you know, she had to be tough to do what she’s done,” he said.
The Champion Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding award went the way of the Gerald Ryan-trained Trapeze Artist, a winner of three Group 1s including the T.J. Smith Stakes.
Gerald’s daughter Tai accepted the award on behalf of the stable and said it was a special acknowledgement for the family.
“It means so much, there’s so much effort and long hours and hard work put into racing, so to not only see the results on the racetrack but be rewarded through an award like this it’s definitely amazing,” she said.
Trapeze Artist was also a finalist in the Champion Sprinter category but was beaten out by last year’s Everest winner, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel.
Redzel’s connections, Triple Crown Syndications, said it was exhilarating to have him recognised as Australia’s Champion Sprinter.
“It’s a great honour, it really is a cherry on top of what’s been an amazing ride with Redzel, and sharing the experience with all our owners as well,” said Triple Crown Director Chris Ward.
With Snitzel progeny – Redzel, Trapeze Artist and Estijaab scooping some of the night’s top awards, it was no surprise that he was recognised as the Champion Sire of the Year, with his offspring amassing more than $29.1 million in prizemoney during the 2017/18 racing season.
The Lloyd Williams-owned Rekindling landed the Champion Stayer award after delivering Melbourne Cup glory for Irishman Joseph O’Brien.
While Gold Medals defeated Self Sense to win the Champion Jumper award, having registered back-to-back victories in the Brierly Steeplechase and the Grand Annual Steeplechase during Warrnambool’s May Racing Carnival.
The top-five votegetters in each category were as follows:
Australian Racehorse of the Year
150 Winx
42 Redzel
40 Happy Clapper
35 Trapeze Artist
8 Humidor
Australian Champion Middle Distance
150 Winx
72 Happy Clapper
37 Humidor
21 Gailo Chop
12 Tosen Stardom
Australian Champion Two-Year-Old
130 Estijaab
86 Written By
45 Sunlight
14 Seabrook
10 Oohood
Australian Champion Three-Year-Old Filly
122 Shoals
80 Alizee
50 Unforgotten
18 She Will Reign
9 Youngstar
Australian Three-Year-Old Colt or Gelding
134 Trapeze Artist
56 Kementari
48 Ace High
33 Merchant Navy
12 Levendi
Australian Champion Sprinter
114 Redzel
77 Trapeze Artist
57 Redkirk Warrior
28 Santa Ana Lane
8 Vega Magic
Australian Champion Stayer
127 Rekindling
51 Who Shot Thebarman
40 Johannes Vermeer
33 Ace High
22 Almandin
Australian Champion Jumper
30 Gold Medals
20 Self Sense
17 Wells
11 Zed Em
3 Cougar Express
Victorian Racehorse of the Year
111 Winx
50 Redkirk Warrior
26 Rekindling
13 Written By
11 Humidor
Source: This article first appeared on the Racing.com website and is reproduced here with their kind permission. For more on Off the Track visit https://www.racing.com/news
READ THE LATEST NEWS ARTICLES HERE
