Winx Owners Plan to Research Before Stallion Choice

The owners of Winx will consult with a range of bloodstock agents from around the world before determining which stallion the champion mare will visit when she retires later this year.

The racing career of the 8-year-old Street Cry mare, who will attempt to win her 32nd race in succession in the 1,500-meter (about 1 1/8-mile) George Ryder Stakes (G1) March 23 at Rosehill, is expected to come to a close after the about 1 1/4-mile Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) April 13 at Randwick.

Co-owner Debbie Kepitis revealed March 21 that she, along with syndicate partners Peter Tighe and Richard Treweeke, would use a range of respected consultants to help compile a short list of potential stallions for the star mare.

"It is to give us scope in seeking people's opinions so we can then sit down as a group and we have got something to say yes, no, or whatever. It just gives us options," Kepitis said. "None of us are big breeders. I breed, but I have a guy who works through my breeding for me.

"I don't have a set opinion myself, so I feel that it is the fair thing for such an amazing horse to have more than one opinion, and that is what we want to do." 

A proposal to send Winx overseas to be covered to Northern Hemisphere time by champion stallions such as Japan's Deep Impact (Sunday Silence), Ireland's Galileo (Sadler's Wells), or his sire-son and potential heir apparent Frankel could all be on a short-list of sires.

"That would have to be a point that would have to be brought up, but just because she is a maiden mare doesn't mean it will be the only time she can (go overseas)," Kepitis said. "You only have to look at what John Camilleri has done with (Winx's dam) Vegas Showgirl, who has now gone to Deep Impact (in 2018).

"All that will be considered. We will have a pros and cons list and that will definitely be on the list."

It is expected leading Australian stallions Snitzel, I Am Invincible, Fastnet Rock, and Zoustar will come in for strong consideration this year if an overseas mating is dismissed. But Kepitis said unproven stallions, such as potential first-season sire and Winx's stablemate The Autumn Sun, would not be immediately ruled out.

"That would be the first discussion you would have," she said. "Are you prepared to take her overseas and are you prepared to go to an unproven stallion? What criteria are we going to give to the (bloodstock) consultants? They just can't pull it out of thin air."

Guy Mulcaster, the New Zealand bloodstock agent so closely aligned with Waller and the man who purchased Winx for US$241,569 at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, will play a key role in the decision-making process. And Kepitis also said a firm decision on whether the syndicate would be prepared to offer Winx's offspring at public auction, or retain them to race, was yet to be made.

A resolution will not be made until Winx is retired and enjoys a rest before heading to the breeding barn.

"We are going to take a very measured approach. It will be the whole team with (trainer) Chris (Waller), Peter, and Richard," she said. "Chris has been such a big part of her career and we want his input as well, and ultimately he would be the one who would probably train them (if we retained them to race)."

Winx was given her customary pre-race gallop at Rosehill March 21 under regular jockey Hugh Bowman, with Waller watching on closely. Bowman said Winx felt "amazing" in the course-proper gallop. 

"She feels as good as she looks," Bowman said. "She wasn't out there to do a whole lot this morning, and she galloped very well here with Unforgotten on Tuesday morning. She's ready for Saturday."

Waller said there was no reason to think Winx would not continue her unprecedented winning streak.

"I don't want to sound arrogant, but Winx only has to hold her position where she has been the last 10 or 20 starts, let alone 30 starts," he said. "And as Hugh said, we've just got to make sure she's trouble free and comes home safely. There's always challengers coming through and we always respect them but, ultimately, we've got to worry about Winx and she's picture perfect and ready to go."