Latest news with #Winx
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Shayne O'Cass's race-by-race tips, analysis for Royal Randwick on Saturday
Form expert Shayne O'Cass analyses all 10 races for Royal Randwick on Saturday, presenting his race-by-race tips and analysis. • 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! â– â– â– â– â– KOKATAHI (6) is a son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan from the same family that gave us Black Caviar. This gelding was bought by Winx's trainer (and Guy Mulcaster) for $425,000 at Karaka. Ran well against the stablemates Central Coast (a real wow horse) and Crossbow on debut over 1250m; 1400m suit better in my opinion. If I am right about the Central Coast form, then you've got to have CROSSBOW (4) in there somewhere. FEAZABEEL (5) trialled well and had a head start in life by being born and raised at Newhaven Park. Bet: Kokatahi to win â– â– â– â– â– IN SUMMER (6) is by The Autumn Sun (of course) from one of the best families in the Studbook. In brief, her dam is a very close genetic relative of Typhoon Tracy. What's not to like about her form. So often it takes a Highway winner to win a Highway and she's ticked that box off. Ditto that for RED RAGS TO BULLS (7) who was a deserved Highway winner at Rosehill last start. Why not again? Joe Cleary and Gerry Harvey's mare VERMICELLA (8) has got some great numbers. â– â– â– â– â– AGITA (9) is one of mine. I remember telling anyone who'd listen that he would win a Derby of some description. Didn't happen for one (good) reason or another but I feel I know the horse well enough to suggest that a Randwick mile, first-up, is right up his street. Wide draw might even help him. HASTY HONEY (4) was never going to lose when she led on the Kensington track second-up. She's always had Saturday class talent; maybe a bit more even. Hard not to be taken with the Midway win of CALLISTEMON (10) last time. Bet: Agita each-way â– â– â– â– â– RACE 4: Petaluma (Bm72) 1100m Godolphin don't buy that many horses at the yearling sales but they certainly wanted CELERITY (11) it seems given they signed off on her for $850,000. She's by Exceed And Excel so who knows them better than Godolphin. She is a three-year-old filly taking on all comers but we are late in the season and more to the point, James Cummings invariably hits the mark when he tries this. FLAME OF HESTIA (9), the half to Hot As Hell, has won three times and all by pretty sizeable margins. This is harder than last start but if she wins, it will be the draw that did it. Bet: Celerity to win â– â– â– â– â– FEDERER (3) is trading off on those two wins that cast him as a future star of the sport early days and look, he might still make it to a decent grade; he has only had five runs. His breeding reveals a lot being a son of Dundeel out of Jameka and it could be that he will get to 2000m and even 2400m before we see him really sparkle again. Third-up here; he is peaking. MISTERKIPCHOGE (4) toughed it out for a well overdue win last time. How often does it happen, they win and they win two. It is Misterkipchoge though. Bet: Federer to win â– â– â– â– â– AGE OF KINGS (1) left England/Ireland as a Group 3 winner at Ascot over 1408m. The now Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has run in some big races since he got down here including the Golden Eagle, Linlithgow, Hall Mark, Luskin Star and a McKell Cup last start. You would like to, nay, need to see him doing something in a winter Benchmark 88. Ditto that last bit for ROYAL SUPREMACY (2). Take it as fact, he is not a '00' horse (in Australia so far). Bet: Age Of Kings each-way, Royal Supremacy each-way â– â– â– â– â– LULUMON (3) was purchased by Jason Coyle at the HTBA Yearling Sale in 2022 for $50,000. As of now, she has won $436,125 and she's only a four-year-old with 18 starts under her belt. The good numbers don't end there; she has won five times with five seconds and three thirds. Just to top it off, she is a last start Randwick winner beating Storm The Ramparts and Hi Dubai; talk about form being franked. YISKA (2) has won three of six of Soft, two of five first-up and there was plenty there to like about her last trial. Bet: Lulumon to win â– â– â– â– â– RACE 8: Asahi Super Dry Handicap 1600m KING RATEL (11) has raced twice since February 11, 2023. Both runs are here at Randwick; in fact he has run here eight times in his 20 starts for the simple fact that he is purpose-built for Randwick, pattern-wise, etc. Take note that the Bryce Heys-trained son of Animal Kingdom's best stats are at this same track and trip. OH DIAMOND LIL (4) is one for one at the track and distance and drawn a peach this time. TRAVOLTA (5) deserves great praise for that first-up win at Warwick Farm given he had 60kg on a Heavy 9. Bet: King Ratel each-way, Daily Double 1st Leg 11, 2nd Leg 2 â– â– â– â– â– RACE 9: Tab (Bm88) 1400m I was rather keen on RAZORS (7) first-up in a very deep Benchmark 94 here on June 21 but the market indicated that he might need the run; he was $12 to $18 on the day. He ran more like a $12 shot than a drifting $18 pop too, making a bit of ground at the right end. Gets out to 1400m here. The only time he was at this track and trip was his nose second in the Listed South Pacific. SUPER HELPFUL (3) is back at Randwick for the 12 time on Saturday. Funny record here, no wins, no seconds but one third and for that he picked up $300,000. Yep, it was the Big Dance. â– â– â– â– â– Could be a Randwick (Daily) double for Bryce Heys who has King Ratel in the first leg and GENTLY ROLLED (2) here. Two things standout about the daughter of Press Statement, one is that she is an accomplished 1400m horse and two, she has a neat little record here at Randwick. She was third to Nettoyer's little (half) sister CHANGING COLOURS (5) 14 days ago so if you like one, you have to like the other.
The Australian
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Muswellbrook, Goulburn previews: Winx and you'll miss it
There is Winx form at Muswellbrook on Tuesday. Kind of. Enter Wayne Wilkes' home-bred first-starter Bellerata. Granted, Bellerata was foaled 10 years after Winx arrived but her own dam, Uratta Belle, wasn't just a contemporary of Winx, she was once a rival. Housed on the Central Coast by Kylie Gavenlock, Uratta Belle was sent out a $4.40 favourite in the IBIS Milano Restaurant Handicap (1100m) at Warwick Farm on June 4, 2014. Try as she might, Uratta Belle finished a distant third to one of Chris Waller's debutantes, namely, Winx. • 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! On Tuesday at Muswellbrook it will be the turn of Uratta Belle's second foal, Bellerata, to make her racetrack debut in the Godolphin Maiden Plate over 1000m. Bellerata was among the 116 foals from the first crop of Greg Hickman's All Aged Stakes winner Pierata. Wilkes' filly has trialled twice, finishing third of four in a December 30 heat at Taree before resurfacing at Port Macquarie on June 24 to clock in a close second of the half dozen runners. 'She has just got to do things right in the race,'' Wilkes said. 'She did a little bit wrong in her trial so I am just looking for a good educational run. 'She is a nice filly but she is still probably a bit young in the head too.' It may not be too long again before Wilkes is back in Sydney on a Highway quest. The Taree master is eager to test his handy chestnut Tanglewood Jimmy in another Highway after his barnstorming fourth in his first Highway back on Spring Champion Stakes day, 2024. 'I would like to find a nice 1600m Highway for the next start would be ideal,'' Wilkes says. 'Jimmy's' immediate mission will be Tuesday's Arrowfield Class 3 Handicap (1450m). It will be the horse's second run in 2025, the best part of a month after his eye-catching third at Muswellbrook in a 1280m Benchmark 66. 'I was very happy with him,'' Wilkes said. 'He was probably a little bit on the fat side first-up but still found the line. 'The 1400m will suit him, it's just if he gets the right run.' Both Bellerata and Tanglewood Jimmy will be steered on Tuesday by Wilkes' talented apprentice jockey/daughter Shae, whose tally of winners has reached 60 in quick time, with 23 of those wins are shared with her father. Trainer Wilkes' third and final runner on the Muswellbrook card today is Sheila's Fanta Sea who boasts a tidy CV of two wins, three seconds and two thirds. Sheila's Fanta Sea will no doubt find Tuesday's assignment decidedly easier than her last start when pitched against all-comers from around the state in a 1200m Class 3 TAB Highway at Royal Randwick. 'She just goes up a little bit in weight but she comes back to the country,'' Wilkes said. 'I nominated her for Scone as well on Friday and this is quite a tough race but I don't expect Scone to be much easier. 'She's had a couple of goes at Scone and hasn't done well there, whereas she has placed twice at Muswellbrook the only times she's been there.' Sheila's Fanta Sea boasts a fascinating pedigree. Her fifth dam is none other than Sweet Embrace who still holds the somewhat dubious honour of being the longest priced winner of the Golden Slipper. The Jack and Bob Ingham owned daughter of inaugural Golden Slipper winner Todman was sent out at 40/1 when successfully shedding her maiden status in the 1967 renewal. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Cleary wants a win for 'Uncle Gerry' Trainer Joe Cleary (right) with his trainer father Frank. Trainer Joe Cleary aims to deliver the man he affectionately knows as 'Uncle Gerry' a parting gift when blue-blooded mare Juliette's Joy makes what could very well be her final racetrack appearance on Tuesday. Juliette's Joy was bred by Gerry Harvey and foaled down in New Zealand. Not only is she a daughter of New Zealand's nine-times Champion Stallion Savabeel, she is from the same family as the Harvey-bred 2003 Golden Slipper winner Polar Success. 'The wet track won't worry her, she is rock hard fit, 2100m – there's more positives than negatives,'' Cleary says. 'I have taken the blinkers off her, she's just been getting a little bit revvy with the hoods on so hopefully she can just get back and relax and find the best part of the track. 'And I think that will be it for her on Tuesday. I think she heads home after (today). 'She's been a ripper. She really cops her work and she enjoys her work and her racing but it is that time of the year when Uncle Gerry wants his mares home and I think she'll be one of them.' 'Uncle Gerry' can reciprocate by handing Cleary a present of his own should the in-form Pretty Vegas cash in on Tuesday. A daughter of Exosphere, Pretty Vegas made her way to Cleary's Queanbeyan HQ from Harvey's Baramul Stud in the Hunter Valley via Adelaide when offered at the 2021 Magic Millions. 'She is super consistent,'' Cleary said. 'I just thought I would stay away from Saturday's Highway and try and find her a confidence booster and I think I've found the right race for her on Tuesday. 'Keagan (Latham) seems to ride her really well, they seem to have clicked, and she carries weight okay. 'An outside barrier won't be a hindrance with the way the track is going to play, so it is probably a bonus drawn out to be honest, and she has trained on well since her good effort in the Highway (June 21). The Canberra Raiders tragic will also saddle-up stablemates Pick A Symphony and Crazy Atom. 'Pick A Symphony has still got his L-Plates but he is going to be a nice horse,'' Cleary said. 'Crazy Atom is screaming out of a bit of a journey and a bit of juice in the track and she is going to get both.'
Herald Sun
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Herald Sun
Beau Dazzler takes unorthodox path to Winx Guineas at Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. It's unconventional and quirky but Tony Sears reckons dropping his colt back 800m in distance might just be a masterstroke as he prepares to line up in Saturday's $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas. It's not every day you see a horse dropping so far in distance but that's what Beau Dazzler will be doing as he aims up in the Guineas over 1600m after last being seen in the Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2400m. • 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! Beau Dazzler is a $14 chance in the Group 3 Guineas on the Sunshine Coast with some punters not quite sure what to make of the left-field blueprint. Beau Dazzler copped a wide run in the Derby when being beaten more than nine lengths but Sears, who co-trains with daughter Maddy, now believes the colt's sweet spot could potentially be 1800m. • 'He told me straight up I had cancer': Legendary racing doctor retires Sears feels you need a horse who runs a strong 1800m to win the 1600m Guineas given the expansive nature of the big Sunshine Coast track. 'We were going to spell him after the Derby, but he hadn't had many runs this campaign,' Sears said. 'He was only third-up into the Derby and I'm not sure whether training him for a Derby really suited him. 'We decided to set him for the Winx Guineas because we figured that you needed a horse who could run 1800m to win the Guineas and he certainly is that. 'He hasn't raced for a while and he had a few days in the paddock and he's fresh and going well. 'I am now thinking he is a really good mile to 1800(m) horse. 'I know on Saturday that the distance will be no problem at all and he handles the sting out of the track.' Regular rider Jag Guthmann-Chester will again partner Beau Dazzler who has drawn barrier nine in the Winx Guineas, the race so named because it was the start of Winx's famous 33-race winning streak in 2015. Paul Shailer-trained Mister Bianco, who wears the same colours as Winx and is part-owned by Peter Tighe, is the $3.40 favourite for the Winx Guineas off the back of three successive wins. But Mister Bianco has drawn wide and punters must also note he has never raced beyond 1400m before. • Gollan filly makes late winter return with eye to summer Meanwhile, Sears is certain his speedy sprinter Steady Ready is the one to beat as the $3.10 favourite in the $200,000 Open Plate (1000m). Steady Ready was well beaten when resuming in the Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm last month but Sears said there were clear excuses. 'He had a few issues when he last raced, he galloped on his heel and he was lame for a week afterwards,' Sears said. 'But we took him and trialled him at Beaudesert and I thought he went really good. 'If he is back to his best, which I think he is, he is the one they all have to beat.' Originally published as Beau Dazzler takes unorthodox path to Winx Guineas at Sunshine Coast
News.com.au
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Black Caviar's family still providing champagne moments for lucky part-owner Neil Werrett
Black Caviar, the mighty mare who will soon be elevated to Hall of Fame Legend status, remains a huge influence on part-owner Neil Werrett's life. Werrett races Semillion, a close relation to Black Caviar, who lines up in the Foundation Female Member Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. He also owns boom colt Nepotism, winner of the Group 1 Champagne Stakes earlier this season and a direct relative of Black Caviar. Champion Black Caviar, the unbeaten winner of 25 races including 15 at Group 1 level, will be announced as a Legend along with another great mare Winx at the Hall of Fame-Horse of the Year ceremony in Brisbane on August 31. • 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! 'When you look at the three other horses that are already Legends, Phar Lap, Carbine and Makybe Diva, and the fact Black Caviar and Winx will join them, it's the biggest honour you can give a racehorse,'' Werrett said. 'All the owners of Black Caviar are so thrilled and so excited she is being recognised in this way and we are looking forward to the ceremony. 'Black Caviar has been an amazing mare for us and even though we lost her last August she continues to influence our lives almost every day.'' BLACK CAVIAR, WINX ELEVATED TO LEGEND STATUS TOGETHER The two mighty mares will later this year join Carbine, Phar Lap and Makybe Diva as the only horses afforded Legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) June 23, 2025 Werrett said he got another reminder of Black Caviar's fame when he attended England's prestigious Royal Ascot carnival last month. 'We were walking into Royal Ascot on the first day and near the entrance was this big poster of Black Caviar when she won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes there in 2012,'' Werrett said. 'It's the first thing we saw when we got to the track and for our mare to be on that poster was quite special. 'There's also a Black Caviar Bar at Royal Ascot and we made sure we had a drink at that bar to honour her memory.'' • Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday Semillion, trained by Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes, is no Black Caviar but he's a dual stakes winner of the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes and Listed Takeover Target Stakes and has earned more than $800,000 prizemoney. The rising six-year-old gelding finished only eighth when resuming at Canterbury a month ago but the likelihood of a soft-heavy Rosehill track surface is in his favour. 'We feel Semillion can run well,'' Werrett said. 'He will love the wet track and he is very capable on his day. If he gets a good run I expect he will go close.'' Semillion leads all the way in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes giving @ZacLloydx a winning treble! @newcastleraces_ @HawkesRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 11, 2024 • Werrett also provided an update on Nepotism, a leading contender for Champion Two-year-old honours at the Brisbane awards next month after his three-start juvenile campaign that yielded wins in the Group 3 Baillieu Handicap and Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'I'm hoping Nepotism can beat (close friend) Max Whitby's horse, Cool Archie, for the two-year-old award,'' Werrett said. 'But I would imagine those two might end up clashing a few times as three-year-olds. 'I know the Hawkes team think a lot of Nepotism, he's a very exciting horse and my big hope for the spring carnival.'' A huge win for Nepotism in the G1 Champagne Stakes, coming from last! ðŸ'° @G1TySchil | @HawkesRacing | @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 19, 2025 Werrett and the Hawkes stable was also combining with consistent mare Terrestar in the Leilani Series Final (1400m) at Flemington, and the owner is in the syndicate that races the Chris Waller -trained mare Vienna Princess who starts in the Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast. â– â– â– â– â– First starter's nod to Villiers winner 2 trials - 2 wins for this unraced Capitalist colt, his most expensive 2YO. Caesar (2c Capitalist x Fimatino) for @SnowdenRacing1 800k buy for @jmeharron from @attungastud at @mmsnippets Gold Coast Half-brother to MM winner Shaquero. Family of Shamus Award. @NewgateFarm — Breednet (@BreednetNews) June 19, 2025 Caesar, a two-year-old first starter in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill, will be a name familiar with turf historians. The late Tommy Smith trained a gelding named Caesar who won the 1958 Villiers (now The Ingham) Stakes then returned in 1959 to dominate at weight-for-age, winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Chipping Norton (now Verry Elleegant) Stakes, Autumn Stakes and PJ O'Shea Stakes. Leading owner syndicator James Harron, who purchased the modern-day Caesar for $800,000 at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale last year, admitted he wasn't aware of the former topliner of the same name but will be hoping his colt can forge his own reputation on the racetrack. Trainer Peter Snowden has had to wait for the final month of the season to get Caesar to the races but the chestnut colt by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist has been impressive winning successive barrier trials at Randwick and Rosehill in recent weeks. 'We have a very good opinion of Caesar, we like him a lot,'' Harron said. 'He's a lovely big strong horse and we are planning only a light preparation for now and then we will give him a little break with the idea he might measure up to some nice races at the back end of the spring.'' Harron and Snowden combined with another two-year-old by Capitalist, the emerging Gambler, to win at Hawkesbury on Thursday. Capitalist 2yo Gambler wins in good style @hawkesburyrc Beautifully prepared by @SnowdenRacing1 and well ridden by @TommyBerry21 he is a #jhbcoltpartnership purchase from @mmsnippets Congratulations to all his owners ðŸ�† — James Harron (@jmeharron) July 3, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– Maher still building on national prizemoney record Champion trainer Ciaron Maher can smash the 300-win barrier for this season on Saturday. Maher has prepared 293.5 winners for far in 2024/25 and will retain his Australian Trainer Premiership. His stable runners have earned $58.2 million and counting, which is already a national record. For Finals Day at Flemington, Maher has a particularly strong entry with 13 starters across eight races including boom unbeaten filly She's An Artist, the $1.60 favourite for the Listed $175,000 Creswick Stakes (1200m). The Maher stable also has strong chances at Rosehill Gardens including Hi Dubai ($3.90 equal favourite) in the Captivant At Kia Ora Handicap (1100m) and the exciting Sacred Rocks ($4.80) in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1400m). Maher will be represented by $2.90 favourite Warnie in the Listed $300,000 Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) on the Sunshine Coast plus he has stable has runners at Wyong and Wangaratta. She's An Artist shares a resemblance to a certain sprinter & she might share some of that ability... ðŸ'©â€�🎨 The bald-faced filly trounces her opposition under hands & heals. @CWilliamsJockey @cmaherracing — (@Racing) June 21, 2025 • Berry confident in Welwal's wet track advantage â– â– â– â– â– Drying track welcome news at Rosehill 🚨TAB Track Report 🚨 The latest on the track at Rosehill Gardens ahead of Member Appreciation Day. @racing_nsw | @tabcomau | @SkyRacingAU | @7horseracing â›…ï¸� Weather Tracker: 🎟ï¸�Tickets: — Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) July 3, 2025 The Rosehill track surface rating has improved to a heavy 8 on the eve of the Winter Stakes meeting on Saturday. There is even a likelihood of an upgrade into the slow range on raceday, which is welcome but unexpected news given the wild winter weather which swamped Sydney during the week. Rosehill received more than 70mm of rain earlier this week and the track was rated a heavy 10 on Tuesday. But a combination of strong winds and sunshine in the last two days has resulted in the improving track rating. â– â– â– â– â– 5 YEARS AGO Noble Boy, brilliant winner of the 2019 Country Championships Final, returned to the winner's list for trainer Clare Collett and her jockey husband, Jason, when he won the Listed Winter Stakes from Taikomochi at Rosehill. Krone, trained by Tony Gollan, won the Glasshouse Handicap at Sunshine Coast. The following year, Krone won the Group 1 Coolmore Classic. Wapiti won the Winx (formerly Sunshine Coast) Guineas but there was no Caloundra City Cup that year due to the Covid pandemic. Sirrconi, trained by Nick Ryan, won the Winter Championships Final at Flemington. Welcome back to the winners circle Noble Boy! @ClareCRacing's gelding was given another smart ride from Jason Collett to salute in the Listed Winter Stakes as the in-form hoop brings up a treble ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 11, 2020 10 YEARS AGO Winx began her phenomenal sequence of 33 consecutive wins when she came from last to score a sensational win in the Sunshine Coast Guineas. This started her incredible four-year unbeaten run that culminated with her 2019 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win at Royal Randwick to close out her career. Winx won a world record 25 Group 1 races and is recognised as one of the all-time great racehorses. Chris Waller trained a feature race double with Index Linked winning the Caloundra City Cup while Riva De Lago won the Glasshouse Handicap. At Rosehill, the Waller-trained Rugged Cross took out the Winter Stakes. It was Waller again at Flemington with Amovatio winning the Winter Championships Final. Winx's incredible win in the Sunshine Coast Guineas (now the Winx Guineas) in 2015 was the start of her 33-win streak! 🤩 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 2, 2025 20 YEARS AGO Carael Boy, trained by Bob Milligan and ridden by a youthful Zac Purton, won the Winter Stakes convincingly from Wild Queen. Tough New Zealand stayer Empyreal, trained by Peter McKenzie, won the Caloundra City Cup. He returned the following year to win the race again and remains the only dual Caloundra City Cup winner this century. Top Marc, trained by Kelly Schweida, won the Glasshouse Handicap. The David Bourne-trained Salsa won the Winter Championships Final.
The Australian
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Australian
To racehorse buyers, this nod is as good as a Winx
You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Give us your feedback. You can now listen to The Australian's articles. Could this be the most valuable thoroughbred yearling offered for sale anywhere in the world next year? The little colt with the white blaze just happens to be the second foal born from the all-time great racemare, Winx. His father was Snitzel, the four-time champion Australian sire that sadly passed away earlier this month, which only makes this colt even more valuable when he enters the sale ring at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next year. Winx's first foal was sold at the Inglis Easter Sale last year for $10m – a world record for a yearling filly. It is estimated Winx's colt by Snitzel will at least challenge the Australian record sale price for a yearling colt of $5m. Winx at the Cox Plate in a scene from the documentary movie A Horse Called Winx. Debbie Kepitis, a part-owner of Winx, became so emotionally attached to the mare's first foal she bid $10m to buy her back, but she said she was trying to be more pragmatic about Winx's colt. 'You can only do one of those horses (Winx's filly) in your lifetime,'' Ms Kepitis said. 'It was hard to part with the filly, but I have to be realistic with the second foal. 'He's gorgeous. He's cheeky and he has thrown a lot to Snitzel, which is exciting given he was such a good producer.'' Ms Kepitis said Winx's ownership group, which includes Peter and Patty Tighe, and Elizabeth and Rick Treweeke, agreed to offer the Snitzel colt for sale. 'It's not easy to part with these amazing animals but we can't keep everything,'' she said. 'We appreciate this colt and hopefully he can go on and shine for our beautiful mare.'' Peter Tighe, who has travelled to the US where the acclaimed movie-documentary A Horse Called Winx will feature at the Prescott Film Festival in Arizona in July, said he had not ruled out buying back into the mare's colt when he was offered for sale at Easter. 'I would be interested to buy into the colt, depending on the circumstances,'' he said. 'We get regular updates about the colt's progress and he's a nice type, he seems to be doing really well.'' Mr Tighe would not be drawn on how much the colt could fetch at the 2026 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, but conceded the thrill of watching Winx's first foal (by Pierro) sold at the Riverside complete last year was 'indescribable'. Hugh Bowman rides Winx in the Cox Plate, which she won four times from 2015 to 2018. 'It absolutely blew our minds. The team at Inglis did an incredible job and we think the Snitzel colt will get the attention of investors from right around the world in 2026,'' Mr Tighe said. Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch said it was humbling to be given the chance to offer Winx's latest foal for sale at Riverside Stables in Sydney next autumn. 'To have the first male offspring of the mighty Winx coming to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale is an absolute thrill and something we're hugely grateful to the ownership group for,'' Hutch said. 'I have been lucky enough to see this colt a number of times through his development. He has always looked like a good horse and I think he is going to present as a very good yearling at the sale. 'He's a handsome colt with great movement and unflappable temperament. He's a special sort of horse. His presence at next year's sale is going to make for a captivating spectacle.'' Winx's first foal, Quinceanera, is a rising three-year-old filly who has just returned to pre-training but won't make her debut until next season.
