Winx takes Turnbull Stakes to extend win streak to 28

On Thursday evening, Winx was honored as Australia’s 2017-18 Horse of the Year for a record-equaling third time.

On Saturday at Flemington Racecourse in Flemington, Winx progressed toward a fourth such title with a dramatic win in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes, her 28th consecutive win. Winx displayed her typical late rally to move through traffic under jockey Hugh Bowman in the stretch.

There were several anxious moments before Bowman had the race secured.

Winx was behind horses with about a quarter-mile remaining in the $356,200 Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles. Bowman guided Winx between horses and tapped her a few times left-handed. Once clear, Winx (1-10) accelerated rapidly to take the lead in the final sixteenth, winning by a length over 40-1 Youngstar.

The Turnbull Stakes was a prep for an attempt at an unprecedented fourth consecutive win in the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on the outskirts of Melbourne on Oct. 27. The Cox Plate at 1 1/4 miles is Australia’s leading weight-for-age race. Kingston Town won three runnings from 1980-82.

Winx, a 7-year-old mare by Street Cry, has won 32 of 38 starts for a partnership and trainer Chris Waller. The winning streak began in May 2015.

Winx joins Sunline and Black Caviar as three-time winners of the Horse of the Year title.