Winx extends win streak to 30 races with another Apollo Stakes

Connections reassured that even as Winx embarked on an 8-year-old campaign, the great mare looked her same speedy self. The daughter of Street Cry confirmed it late Friday -- Eastern Time -- in winning her 30th straight race, Randwick's Apollo Stakes (G2).

It began a campaign that has no stated goals, other than to keep the Australian legend healthy and send her out on top. They'll go a race at a time, and when the moment's right, she'll head off to a new career as a broodmare.

Recently co-awarded the Longines World's Best Racehorse along with the since-retired European campaigner Cracksman, Winx ran her regular race, sitting fifth of nine through the turn before given a single pat by jockey Hugh Bowman. From there, she kicked clear down the center of the track, blazing past familiar rival Happy Clapper to the roar of the announcer: of

"Age shall not weary the champ!"

Indeed.

Winx won a third career Apollo Stakes — and very well could have four now. She skipped this spot a year ago when Bowman was serving a suspension.

Trainer Chris Waller, a tad choked up after the race, called it "a massive relief, for not just me but for the fans that support her."

"She can't tell us when she's had enough, and we made the decision to push on a bit further," he added. "She's pretty good.

"...For racing, she's exactly what we need, and it's why the sport's so great."

Winx is expected to wheel back in two weeks -- nothing out of the ordinary for her -- for the March 2 Chipping Norton (G2). Beyond that, defenses of the March 23 George Ryder (G1) and April 13 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) could await before her retirement.