Winx returns brilliant closing sectional times in last-to-first Queen Elizabeth victory
Not beaten in a race since 28 March, 2015, Saturday’s triumph was her 25th successive win so Winx’s turn of foot will come as no surprise, but her second Queen Elizabeth Stakes-winning performance on the watch was so good it deserves highlighting.
Ridden patiently by Hugh Bowman, Winx was conceding the leaders about ten lengths as she commenced her move as the tempo increased nearing the 1000 metre point.
The task confronting Winx would have been daunting to many others as the first 1000 metres of the 2000 metre race had been covered in a steady pace that saw that section covered in only 1:03.62 (12.72 200m rate).
The resulting fast lead time for the final 1000 metres of the race was subsequently 57.96 (11.59 200m rate), so to come from last and score would certainly require some extraordinary acceleration.
Needless to say, Winx moved up quickly wide out at the 600 metres before racing away halfway down the straight when Bowman ‘hit the button’ with the wonder mare beating multiple Group One winners Gailo Chop (Deportivo) and Happy Clapper (Teofilo) effortlessly by almost four lengths in a time of 2:01.65.
Winx was clocked to run her final 1000 metres in 56.84 – fast but she got faster from that point with her last 800 metres in a brilliant 44.56, last 600 metres in 33.48 with her final 400 metres in 22.33.
Her 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m) being: 12.28, 11.08, 11.15, 10.54 and 11.39.
It was Winx’s 18th win at Group One level and it took her prize money to $18,998,425 earned from 29 wins and three placings from 35 starts to date.
She is now a rising seven-year-old mare, who showed on Saturday that she is still racing in peak form, a demonstration of the management her astute trainer Chris Waller has shown – that plus the skilful riding of Hugh Bowman has seen the trio become a lethal combination which has proven unbeatable in the past three years – and there is no signs of it ending just yet.
An hour or so after Winx’s magnificent victory, the Godolphin-raced filly Alizee (Sepoy) also produced a dazzling turn of foot in coming from near last in a field of 17 to win the Coolmore Legacy Stakes (registered as Queen Of The Turf Stakes) (Gr 1, 1600m).
Well ridden by Glyn Schofield, he switched Alizee into clear running with a timely move at the 300 metres and the filly produced a very fast sprint to hit the front at the 100m before drawing away to win by two lengths in a time of 1:34.94 for the 1600 metre journey.
Alizee’s turn of foot from the 600 metres was impressive – her 200 metre breakdown being 11.60, 10.83 and 11.71 – that saw her clock 33.60 (last 600m) and a fast final 200 metres in 22.00.
It was Alizee’s second Group One victory, and ridden in a similar fashion in future, she could prove hard to hold out, especially against her own sex, the huge filly belying her bulky build by showing that she is really a fleet-footed filly.
Earlier in the day, the 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock) also returned fast closing times in winning the Arrowfield Three-Year-Old Sprint (registered as Royal Sovereign Stakes) (Gr 2, 1200m).
Having her fifth run this preparation, Catchy settled in last place in the nine-horse field before rider Joao Moreira moved her up behind runners nearing the home turn. She went widest of all at the home turn and then went on to score comfortably by a length and a half in a time of 1:10.22.
Catchy recorded fast closing sectionals with her last 1000 metres in 55.69, last 800 metres in 44.41, last 600 metres in 33.17 with her final 200 metres in 22.00.
In another of the Group One features on day two of The Championships, the Winx combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman saw talented filly Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock) take out the ATC Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) impressively and in race record time of 2:27.21.
She was settled in a good spot by Bowman, racing seventh on the rails before improving from the 600 metres. Unforgotten then finished too well over the closing stages to overhaul the game leader Hiyaam (High Chaparral) and score by a length.
It reversed the result of a fortnight ago where Hiyaam, when again in a front-running role, fought back to defeat the late-closing Unforgotten in the Vinery Stud Stakes (registered as Storm Queen Stakes) (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill.
Unforgotten produced very good final sectionals to complement her win in race record time, with her final 1400 metres in 1.22.87, last 1200 metres in 1:10.70, last 1000 metres in 58.46, last 800 metres in 46.54, last 600 metres in 35.21 with her final 400 metres in 23.62.
She is clearly a quality filly who appears well up to the standard required to prove effective in spring Group One features as a four-year-old.
This week’s column has highlighted the performances of the fairer sex at Randwick and the final race on the ten-race card, the Sapphire Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) saw the Darren Weir-trained mare Quilista (Scandal Keeper) demonstrate her blistering pace in scoring and remain unbeaten in three starts this preparation.
After a brilliant beginning from a wide barrier (13), rider Damian Lane let Quilista run along at a fast tempo, soon establishing a large lead. She turned for home still holding a big advantage and was not threatened in the straight to score impressively by almost two lengths in a time of 1:09.38.
Quilisita’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m point) being quite outstanding: 10.37, 10.65 (200m in 21.01), 11.26 (600m in 32.28) 11.40 (800m in 43.68) with her final 200 metres in 11.99 to give her a final 1000 metres in 55.67.
She is a talented, free-running, fast mare with Group One potential.