The 2020 TAB Queensland Racing Carnival will now include the Winx Guineas following the Sunshine Coast Turf Club’s decision to rename its Group 3 feature after the all-conquering superstar.
In 2015, Winx produced a scintillating run at Corbould Park to capture the Sunshine Coast Guineas en route to 33 consecutive victories and more than $26 million in career earnings.
With the legend commencing on Caloundra Cup Day, SCTC CEO John Miller said it was only appropriate to acknowledge Winx’s incredible winning streak by renaming the Sunshine Coast Guineas after the wonder mare.
As part of the process, Racing Queensland has agreed to increase prize money from $140,000 to $175,000, with the club hoping to up-grade the black-type status of the race which has delivered recent winners including Tivaci, Crack Me Up and The Bostonian.
“The Winx Guineas enables the Club to recognise the champion Winx and the connection to the Sunshine Coast Turf Club and the race where it all began,” Miller said.
“We are privileged to have the support of Winx’s owners to change the race name and have a permanent Queensland race name in her honour.”
With strong roots in the Sunshine State, Winx was sold as a yearling for $230,000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Sale on the Gold Coast before going on to capture a world-record 25 consecutive Group 1 wins in a row commencing with the Queensland Oaks at Doomben.
As managing owners of Winx, Peter and Patti Tighe said they were thrilled to have the race renamed in her honour.
“The beginning of the mare’s winning streak is a race we will never forget and as it turned out was the start of the greatest winning streak of races in
history,” they said in a statement.
“It is most fitting that this race will now be named after our champion.”