Winx’s two Cox Plates on show at Gympie

In this case the ‘something’ is the two WS Cox Plates won by the current ‘world’s best horse on turf ’ Winx at Moonee Valley in 2015 and 2016 which senior part-owner Peter Tighe promised to display at the Nolan Muster Cup Race Day at Gympie on Saturday, August 19.

With Nolan Meats sponsoring the Muster Cup meeting for the past 15 years, Director Terry Nolan recently met Peter Tighe at Caloundra races and invited him to attend the Gympie Muster Cup and bring the two Cox Plates with him.

Peter readily agreed with one proviso: “Winx may be having her first start back after a spell. If that’s the case, I’ll be trackside at Randwick watching the mare but I’ll send the two Plates with my son James and daughter Nicole.”

Consequently, Peter flew 730km south to Sydney while James and Nicole drove 170km north to Gympie. As well as delivering the Plates to the Nolan marquee which attracted more than 400 interstate guests, James and Nicole also brought and sold 100 special Winx caps to racecourse patrons with all proceeds donated to the Jockeys’ Benevolent Fund.

Country race patrons seldom get the opportunity to view trophies associated with Australia’s iconic races. Wendy Green – whose horse Rogan Josh won the 1999 Melbourne Cup – adopted a ‘won cup-will travel’ celebration philosophy with the Australian public at large that extended over many years including a race meeting at Nanango.

In the many years I’ve been attending country race meetings, I’ve never seen so many smiles as race patrons – young and old alike – posed for photographs with ‘the Cup’ (myself included). And when the opportunity arose, Wendy also took ‘the Cup’ into the kitchen to allow hard-working CWA members to inspect it. It was a similar scene at Gympie once people became aware two Cox Plates were on display and the Tighe family must be congratulated on also sharing the joy.

Delivering the Plates was easy work compared to Winx delivering her 18th win in succession. The 6YO daughter of Darley's deceased shuttler and Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry drew audible gasps from the on-course crowd (and the Gympie crowd) when hopelessly missing the break by almost five lengths in her first start since winning the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in early April. Trainer Chris Waller intimated post-race that she will back up in a fortnight as she builds towards the defence of her Cox Plate in a quest to equal Kingston Town's record of three consecutive wins in the feature race. Now undefeated in her past 18 starts against all-comers, Winx improved her record to 22 wins and three placings from 28 starts for $13,039,175 earnings. Winx was a $230,000 Magic Bloodstock purchase by Peter Tighe’s Magic Bloodstock at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud. 

VETERAN galloper Glenthorn Avenue showed his liking for Gympie’s sand circuit when he scored a five lengths victory in this year’s 1600m Nolan Gympie Muster Cup on Saturday, August 19.

By Doomben Ten Thousand winner Bel Espirit from the Encosta de Lago mare Tolago, the 9YO gelding has now raced 15 times at Gympie for seven wins and six placings.  Owned and trained by Wondai-based Lindsay Anderson, Glenthorn Avenue began his racing career in Victoria after being sold at the 2010 Inglis Premier Melbourne yearling sale for $62,500. Having won at Benalla and Terang, Glenthorn Avenue moved north to Queensland where he has won a further 16 times including three of his past four starts.

Gympie trainer Barry Gill and jockey Cecily Eaton combined for a winning double with Sandy Straits (M4 Clang/Senji Star) winning a 1030m Class B Handicap by 5.5 lengths and Chayse ‘n’ Mason (G4 Pluck (USA)/Hamille) winning a 1070m BenchMark 60 Handicap.  

THE 2016/17 QTIS Premiership winners were too strong, dominating for most of the season, and despite a last minute dash in the final four weeks for the title, no one could catch this year’s winners – Krystle Johnston, John and Chris Meagher, Paradis Imperial and Our Beebee

Johnston and Meagher have each won complimentary entry into the 2018-19 Magic Millions Series for a yearling that they buy at one of the 2018 Magic Millions Sales.

Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association webnews reports Johnston won the coveted title of 2YO QTIS Premiership Trainer on Earnings, banking $162,950 worth of QTIS bonus prizemoney (general prizemoney not included in these figures) for the season. Last year’s Premier, John Zielke, was second with $126,250 and Liam Birchley was third, earning $117,950 in QTIS bonuses.

This is the second time Johnston has won the award, after taking out the 2013/14 season Premiership. “To win this again is just wonderful and a huge achievement. We’ve done this without having one big star. It’s on the back of all our horses, which we breed ourselves and they’re just so honest,” she said.

Johnston dedicated the award to her entire family. “Our whole family works hard and QTIS is a fantastic scheme that really helps our business, so I’m just thrilled. Hopefully we’ll have a big star next season and we can do it again!” she laughed.

It was also a phenomenal season for Brisbane trainers John and Chris Meagher, winners of the QTIS 3YO Trainers Premiership.

Describing QTIS as a fantastic incentive scheme, Meagher credited Savannah Amour and Heart of Australia as his main contributors to the premiership. The Meaghers’ recorded 12 QTIS wins and banked $242,000 in QTIS bonus prizemoney to finish just a head of Ben Currie, who actually had 13 winners and despite a late charge in the final month, couldn’t catch the long term leaders and ended his season with $228,700. Stephen Tregea also had an impressive July and soared into third position on $188,000 in QTIS bonus prizemoney.

Incredibly, neither Currie nor the Meaghers trained the horse that claimed the top QTIS 3YO for 2016/17 – Our Beebee. The consistent Red Dazzler filly trained by Rex Lipp earned $123,000 in QTIS bonus prizemoney, despite not coming into the season until fairly late. She won four QTIS races.

Our Beebee finished ahead of Thunder Raider (Dr Green) on $94,950, while Ringo’s A Rockstar, by Lyndhurst Stud sire Drumbeats, won $75,000 in QTIS bonus prizemoney to complete the 3YO trifecta.

There was no competition for the star of the 2YO season, Paradis Imperial. The smart filly, by Sun Stud sire Instinction, led from the first month and couldn’t be chased down, collecting $125,400 in QTIS bonus prizemoney with seven QTIS victories.

“It’s great to take the QTIS Premiership, we’re absolutely delighted,” said Tony McMahon, the trainer of Paradis Imperial. “There’re about 10 owners. Three have never owned a horse before and it’s remarkable to buy her for just $9000 and have these results.”

McMahon doesn’t train use conventional training methods on the filly. She spends her days in a paddock at Stanwell near Rockhampton. She’s stabled at night and is trained beside a car in a paddock.

“She’s a freakish filly but I’m a realist. This may not continue., However if it does I’d love to contest the top 3YO races, or send her to Melbourne next year where she’ll be better weighted,” McMahon said.

Paradis Imperial had a clear win over Bring it Home Pop, by champion Queensland sire, Rothesay who amassed $82,800 in QTIS bonuses with Craiglea Velvet third on $56,250.

Thanking Magic Millions for their ongoing support of the QTIS Premiership which was highly sought after title and prize, TBQA President, Basil Nolan offered congratulations to all QTIS Premiers. “It’s fantastic to see that everyone who supports our Queensland industry can reap the rewards and be recognized for their efforts. I’m sure everyone will be watching these QTIS statistics closely in the new racing season,” he said

The full results and monthly statistics are available on the TBQA website http://www.queenslandbreeders.com.au