3 minute read
Australian Turf Club has unveiled a spectacular “larger than life” bronze statue of the champion racehorse Winx and her jockey Hugh Bowman at the mighty mare’s home track at Rosehill Gardens.
The statue, created by renowned sculptor Tanya Bartlett, has been placed in a newly landscaped garden inside the main spectator entrance at the racecourse in permanent tribute to the legendary thoroughbred.
Weighing more than 600kg (close to Winx's actual racing weight), the statue has been scaled to a 110% height and length of the horse, which won a world record 25 Group 1 races among 37 overall wins, and world record prizemoney of more than $26 million.
Winx won her final 33 races in a row, including a final race at Royal Randwick in front of a sold-out crowd, capturing the attention of millions of fans across the world.
The bronze sculpture of her regular jockey Hugh Bowman – which has also captured his signature "she's apples'' winning salute – has been given a tinge of the famous blue silks worn in all of Winx's races.
Rosehill Gardens staff lead by Racecourse Manager Shaun Patterson also landscaped and created a new garden around the statue for the Australian Turf Club project.
Australian Turf Club Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley said Winx would stand as an icon of Australian racing and sport: "We are honoured to have witnessed Winx's immense ability on the track and this statue will forever remind us of her greatness," Mr Barkley said.
"We thank Winx's owners, her trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman, and the sculptor Tanya Bartlett for their assistance in making this statue. The Australian Turf Club undertook this project over two years to ensure everyone who visits our spectacular Rosehill Gardens sees a lasting memory of the greatest horse we have ever seen.
"Winx provided millions of people with great joy over her racing career and will now continue to do so for many decades to come."
Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Kevin Anderson said: "The nation's fascination with Winx went well beyond watching her incredible success on the racetrack and her ability to win.
"We watched in awe at Winx's speed and poise that combined so many times for her to win in great style. This monument will stand for the ages as a testament to her legacy as Australia's greatest ever racehorse."
