Is there something wrong with Winx? Champion mare kicks out in a rare show of temper just two days out from her farewell race
- Winx has kicked at a sign initially worrying her trainers at a potential injury
- The horse was walked back to the stable and was determined to be uninjured
- The scare comes two days before her final and four million dollar race
Champion horse Winx has damaged a trackside advertising board while kicking out during an uncharacteristic temper tantrum in front of gathered media, two days before the mare’s final race.
Normally placid in her manner even when surrounded by huge crowds, the mare lost her cool after completing trackwork on Thursday morning and risked doing herself an injury, two days before the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.
Her trainer Chris Waller quickly decided to have her led out of the mounting yard and back to the stables, and later declared she was unharmed.
Winx normally wears earmuffs when around crowds to avert the risk of being startled by surrounding noises, but Waller this time decided to do without them as 14 TV crews and other media representatives moved around her.
‘It’s a big morning with a lot of cameras, people everywhere,’ Waller said.
‘I shouldn’t have taken the ear muffs off this morning. I just wanted to take them off so you could all see her without the ear phones on but as soon as I did she could hear the clicking and the clacking (of the cameras) so I probably shouldn’t have done that.’
She reared and kicked out eight times as strappers tried to calm her – and when Waller noticed her blanket was pinching at her hind quarter he removed it and she kicked out again, putting a rear hoof through an advertising sign.
Winx lashed out at a sign on Thursday after her final track work session when the mare’s earmuffs were removed and she was startled
Waller quickly checked with the course farrier who confirmed there was no injury to her hoof, so he was accentuating the positive out of the incident.
‘It shows how fresh she is and how much energy she has,’ Mr Waller said to the Daily Telegraph.
‘She’s a horse, they’re unpredictable, but she’s very well, very fresh, very bright and ready to go.’
Winx is a $1.06 heavy favourite to win on Saturday, and end her career with 33 consecutive victories.
She has drawn the outside barrier, but that should suit jockey Hugh Bowman, who normally keeps her back and wide to prevent the risk of any interference from other runners, before unleashing her powerful acceleration in the home straight.
Despite the close call Mr Waller said it was a positive sign for the two kilometre race ahead on Saturday and that it showed she was ready to race