Winx to Continue Racing in 2019

Australian wondermare Winx will race in 2019, connections have confirmed, but an overseas trip is not part of their plans.

A winner of her past 29 starts—22 at group 1 level—Winx was last seen securing another slice of history in October when she captured a record-breaking fourth Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) at Moonee Valley.

Trainer Chris Waller announced the welcome news Dec. 21 when he revealed a schedule that could see the daughter of Street Cry return to action in the Feb. 16 Star Apollo Stakes (G1) at Randwick.

The Tab Chipping Norton (G1) and The Agency George Ryder (G1) stakes—contests Winx has won three times each—could also be on the agenda before she signs off in April's Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1), which she has won for the last two years.

"She has nothing left to prove to us or her many followers, and we are under no illusion that she is getting a little older. However, she is in excellent condition both physically and mentally, and had she not pleased us in any area of her well-being or mental state, she would have been retired immediately," Waller said.

"We will not commit to any races as yet, but it would be logical to follow the path we have previously, commencing in the Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick in February, and if she did manage to get through a four-race preparation, it would most likely culminate in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.

"I must stress to everyone that it shouldn't be assumed she will be there. It will be a race-by-race assessment as it has always been, especially over the past two seasons when deciding whether to go towards a third Cox Plate, a second Queen Elizabeth, or even a fourth Cox Plate as it was in her last start."

Confirmation the horse rated alongside Cracksman as the best in the world would stay in training may have raised hopes she would travel overseas, but Waller rejected that notion.

"There will be many questions from different sectors relating to racing in other jurisdictions, which, in itself, could include numerous options," he said. "However, we have and will continue to keep things simple with Winx, and I believe that has been a big part of her longevity as well as something we are very proud of."