Winx's 2025 stallion revealed by owner Peter Tighe
Mighty mare Winx will visit Darley's champion sire Too Darn Hot in the coming spring breeding season.
Winx's ownership group of Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Elizabeth Treweeke made the much-anticipated announcement on Monday night, ending weeks of speculation about their legendary mare's next mating.
'We are thrilled to announce Too Darn Hot as the stallion of choice for Winx this season,'' said Peter Tighe on behalf of Winx's owners.
'His pedigree, performance and the early success of his progeny align with our long-term vision for Winx's breeding legacy.
'We believe this pairing has the potential to produce something very special.''
• PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Hall of Fame champion Winx, winner of 37 of her 43 starts including her final 33 races in succession highlighted by a world record 25 Group 1 winners, has produced two foals to date – a filly by Pierro that is now a two-year-old named Quinceanera and a colt by Snitzel that will be a yearling next season.
Too Darn Hot, a dual hemisphere shuttle stallion, is already the sire of four-time Group 1 winner Broadsiding and multiple stakes winners in his first two Australian crops to race.
Winx's ownership group also noted in their press release that Too Darn Hot, a multiple Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi, has 'quickly established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young stallions.''
'His progeny has demonstrated early precocity, exceptional athleticism and outstanding temperament – qualities that strongly complement Winx's remarkable racing attributes and pedigree,'' the owners wrote.
• 'A bit of a freak': Wootton Bassett's incredible run continues
Too Darn Hot's service fee of $275,000 this spring breeding season reflects the demand for the stallion who stands at Darley Kelvinside in the Hunter Valley.
Quinceanera, the first foal out of all-time great Winx, created headlines around the racing world when Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, went to $10 million – a world record for a yearling filly – to buy back the filly at the Inglis Easter Sale last year.
Trainer Chris Waller has Quinceanera in light work at his Rosehill stables but the trainer said the two-year-old would not be rushed to the races over the winter months.
'She's progressing well but she won't be racing as a two-year-old,'' Waller said last week. 'It's unlikely she will even get to a barrier trial this season. Maybe by early August she could get to a trial.''
Tighe said no decision has been made whether Winx's colt by Snitzel will be sold as a yearling next season.
Originally published as Champion mare Winx to visit Darley sire Too Darn Hot in spring breeding season
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
20 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Confirmed: Zeekr 7X coming to Australia
Tesla's hold on Australia's electric vehicle market is set to face a fresh challenge with the arrival of Zeekr's medium-sized electric SUV. The Chinese manufacturer will launch its new Zeekr 7X model in coming weeks, positioning the car as a direct rival to the Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7, and other popular mid-size electric SUVs already available in the country. Zeekr launched in Australia with the smaller X, a compact SUV that doesn't match the space of Tesla's best-selling Model Y. But the new model is ready to take on the top EVs in the market today. Building on the momentum from its recent launch in Hong Kong, the Zeekr 7X has strong potential in Australia. The company believes the 7X will carve out its niche with its focus on spaciousness and premium features. There will be three distinct models heading to Australia's shores: the Rear-Wheel Drive (standard range), the Rear-Wheel Drive Long Range, and the Performance All-Wheel Drive variants. The standard RWD model has a 71 kWh battery paired with a powerful 310kW/440 Nm rear motor, delivering a claimed range of 480km. If you're looking for more than that, the RWD Long Range model retains the robust 310kW motor while introducing a 94kWh battery, which boosts the WLTP range to 615km – a substantial 28 per cent increase. Finally, the Performance AWD trim keeps the 94 kWh battery while adding an additional front electric motor, which increases the total output to 475kW and 710 Nm of torque. This allows for impressive acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 3.8 seconds. However, this performance is accompanied by a slight reduction in driving range, now 543 km, based on WLTP standards. The 7X promises a higher level of luxury compared to the Tesla, featuring amenities such as 'polar bear' air suspension with variable height adjustment (only available in the All-Wheel-Drive variant), Nappa leather interiors, and advanced cabin technology. We tested the model in a sneak preview earlier this year, when Matt Campbell found that the car has 'all the ingredients to get it right' – as long as Zeekr can price the car competitively. Though pricing has not been officially announced, speculation suggests the 7X Rear-Wheel Drive model could start at approximately $65,000 to $70,000 before on-road costs. The Rear-Wheel Drive Long Range version is expected to be priced around $75,000, while the All-Wheel Drive variant is likely to fall between $80,000 and $85,000. If these figures are accurate, it would place the 7X $6,000 to $10,000 higher than that of a comparable Tesla Model Y. The Zeekr brand aims to express its innovative discoveries through groundbreaking technology, and the 7X exemplifies this with its impressive charging capabilities. The vehicle features an 800V architecture that enables it to charge from 10 per cent to 80 per cent in just 10 minutes. It supports both 22kW AC charging and 450kW DC fast charging, allowing for an addition of 241 km of range in only 5 minutes. Luggage capacity is a generous 616 litres, and all models include a 'frunk' – a front trunk – offering 62L of space in rear-wheel drive models and 44L in dual-motor versions. Inside, the 7X features a large 16-inch 3.5K MiniLED screen, a head-up display with augmented reality capabilities, and power-adjustable front seats packed with advanced features. The most interesting element is a featured deemed off-limits to Australia – an innovative cable-operated device that can smash the driver's window in case of emergency. Pitched as an extreme measure to help people survive cars submerged underwater, the escape mechanism is triggered by a lever under the steering wheel that uses a spring-loaded metal punch to shatter the driver's window. The feature is only available in left-hand-drive models for now. RANGE: 615km MOTOR: 475kW/710Nm SPARE: Repair kit
ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
The best ways to clean your home coffee machine
Have you bought an espresso machine to cut down on buying takeaway coffee? They can save you money but require a little cleaning and maintenance to keep them running smoothly. Here's what is recommended. Marco Farina says he can taste when a machine hasn't been cleaned recently enough. He sells, repairs and services domestic and commercial coffee machines in Naarm/Melbourne. Mr Farina says a household machine often makes three to four coffees a day. This might not seem like a lot, so people do not tend to clean them often, he says. But he recommends giving machines a simple clean every day. "The cleaner it is, the better it is for the next coffee." Consumer group Choice recommendsemptying and rinsing the portafilter (the part of the espresso machine with the handle) and wiping out the filter basket with a clean cloth after every use. If you enjoy coffee with milk, Choice advices purging the steam wand by turning it on and off before and after you steam milk, and wiping it clean after use. Mr Farina says this should be done with a wet cloth every time the machine is used to avoid an off-milk smell developing. Wiping the bench and surrounding areas, plus emptying the drip tray are other tasks you'll want to do after you've finished making coffee for the day. Lara Timbrell is the head barista and assistant manager of Tribute cafe in Perth, on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Nyoongar people. She says a domestic espresso machine is likely to benefit from a more intensive clean once every week or two, or monthly, depending on how often it is being used. Source: Choice Ms Timbrell says both home and commercial machines tend to have plenty of nooks and crannies. Her trick is folding a cleaning cloth into quarters or eighths "so you have a nice firm corner" that you can use to remove grind build-up, particularly around the group head. Choice says a weekly clean can include refilling the water tank, and emptying coffee grounds from your knock box. For a monthly clean, it recommends removing the filter basket from the portafilter and soaking them both in a cleaning solution and using a toothbrush to clean grounds from around the shower screen. Ms Timbrell recommends dismantling the group head and cleaning behind the shower screen (the fixture that diffuses water from the group head onto the filter basket) for a more intensive clean, which Choice lists as an annual task. It's best to consult the instructions for your specific machine first. Mr Farina recommends back-flushing the machine with a blind filter regularly. He says espresso machines should come with a blind filter. It's a solid basket, while the filter baskets used with coffee grind have a series of small holes. Back-flushing involves placing the blind filter into the portafilter, placing it in the group head and turning on the espresso button, allowing pressure to build before turning it off and repeating a few times. It's not something every machine can do so check your model and its instructions. Mr Farina says it helps clean away leftover oil residue from the grind. Coffee supply stores sell cleaning products designed to help with this, he says. For semi-automatic and manual machines, Choice says to use the blind filter to flush hot water through about once a week. For a monthly clean it advises a "back-flush (for three-way-valve systems) using a commercial coffee machine cleaner" or running a cleaning cycle (if the model permits). "A good rule of thumb is to do this once for every 4kg of coffee you put through the machine." Choice also recommends descaling the coffee machine as part of an annual clean following the manufacturer's instructions, but some manuals will advise you do this more often. Ms Timbrell says depending on where you live, you can get a lot of build-up through the machine because of the water which will require you to descale. She says water also impacts the taste. "I would say one thing that you would really taste the difference with your coffee is, if you use filtered water instead of tap water." Ms Timbrell says regardless of whether your coffee grinder is a separate appliance or built into the espresso machine, looking up the manual before cleaning is a good way to get started. "When you keep grinding more and more coffee, the [remaining] coffee is getting ground over and over again." She says this may result in a bitter taste, because some of the grind will be older and finer (more likely to burn). She recommends emptying out the grinder and clearing out residual grinds with a dry brush or vacuum. Choice does not recommend using water to clean out rancid coffee bean oil from your grinder, and warns the blades can be sharp. It suggests using a small, clean paintbrush, soft-bristled toothbrush or a vacuum for the "really committed".
ABC News
30 minutes ago
- ABC News
Australia vs West Indies five quick hits: Steve Smith cops a painful blow and Cameron Green gets back in the runs on day three
Steve Smith cops a nasty blow on his injured finger, Cameron Green gets back in the runs, and Beau Webster falls in the rain. Here are five quick hits from the third day of the second Test in Grenada. Tap here for the full match report and re-live the live blog. In Test match cricket, weaknesses don't go unexploited for long. Still dealing with the effects of the dislocated finger that kept him out of the first Test, Steve Smith had been noticeably ginger in the outfield for much of day two. And coming to the crease after nightwatchman Nathan Lyon had been dismissed during a rain interrupted day three morning session, the last thing the veteran needed was a hit to the recently relocated digit. But that's exactly what he got on his very first delivery, when a nasty one from Alzarri Joseph nipped back and reared up and struck him plumb on the pinky. Smith was in some serious discomfort as his head went back and glove came off. Thankfully for Australia, the vice-captain was able to battle on. Cameron Green is on the comeback from back surgery, but even before that he wasn't in glistening form. Leading into the second innings, Green was averaging just under 27 since the 2023 World Test Championship final. And that average plummeted by 10 if you took out one innings — his career-high 174 not out against New Zealand in Wellington in early 2024. That towering knock was his only score over 42 since Australia's tour of India in March 2023, but day three in Grenada changed that. In tough conditions, Green showed gritty watchfulness while attacking bad balls to deliver exactly the kind of innings Australia needed. Elevated to number three in the batting order and not bowling as he continues his recovery from back surgery, runs are more important than ever for the 26-year-old West Australian. After 121 painstaking deliveries, Green brought up his drought-breaking half-century with a glorious drive back past Shamar Joseph. Two balls later, he was back in the pavilion courtesy of an ugly lapse in concentration. Looking to manufacture a bit of width to a back of a length Joseph delivery, Green's attempted cut ended up cannoning back into his stumps. It was a lazy, loose shot and Green was fully aware of it, throwing his head back and his bat to ground. Up the other end, Smith was equally disappointed. On the way to a milestone of his own, the vice-captain shook his head as Green trudged off. In a career defined by statistical superiority, Smith's remarkable record against the West Indies might fly under the radar a touch. Including his efforts this week, Smith has played 10 Tests against the West Indies, scoring almost 1,000 runs as well as three centuries at an eye watering average of over 116. And Smith was typically imperious on day three, especially after passing 50. He charged down the track to clobber Justin Greaves back past the medium pacer, deposited captain Roston Chase over the fence for six and manipulated a tiring West Indian field expertly. There were multiple rain delays on day three at Grenada's National Cricket Stadium, but with stumps in sight and showers blowing over, umpires didn't want to take the players off unless it was absolutely necessary. It wasn't immediately clear on the television broadcast how much it was raining, but every angle illuminated by the setting Grenadian sun showed a healthy squall. It was in these conditions that Beau Webster found himself at the crease after Smith's surprise dismissal. After a couple of attacking strokes, the Slug from Snug nicked off to his sixth delivery, perfectly picking out Roston Chase as the only fielder in the slips. Cricket famously isn't a wet weather sport, so most likely Webster doesn't have much experience in inclement conditions. He certainly looked a little extra perturbed as he trudged off. Three overs later, a similar downpour was enough to force the teams off.
