Those following the exploits of Aussie superstar Winx, who is rated
marginally behind American hero, Arrogate in the World Rankings, would have enjoyed seeing her extend a winning streak to 20 after scoring in a Grade 1 at Randwick. The commentator described her “sailing down the outside” as she beat Happy Clapper by more than a length, using a swift turn of foot to run down the leaders who set off at a strong pace.
Winx threw in her customary sub 11 second fractional when turning on the afterburners, and her 400m to finish fraction of just over 22 seconds proved too rapid once again. She will next line up in the Cox Plate.
Up North in the UK, Capri, another top class son of Galileo, stayed on best to win the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster. He dug into deep stamina reserves to stave off Crystal Ocean, Stradivarius and Rekindling. It provided jockey, Ryan Moore with his first win in the world’s oldest Classic, and trainer Aiden o Brien’s his fifth. Moore described Capri, as “a very good horse and very honest.”
Locally, there have been some solid performances over the past few days. Amazing Strike (speed score 99 +) got first run on them at Turffontein then held off the late rally of Shukamisa (s/s 96)in a Pinnacle Stakes.
The blinkered winner has done really well for trainer Alec Laird, claiming seven career victories, being most effective over extended sprints. In another Pinnacle Stakes staged on Thursday at the same venue, The Thinker (s/s 102) woke up to beat off Isphan (s/s 101) and Talktothestars (s/s 101). He has been lightly raced at intervals, which is usually a sign of unsoundness, so thumbs up to trainer Johan van Vuuren for already managing four wins from just eight starts with the Visionaire gelding.”