Australian wonder-mare Winx will stay in training in 2019, bidding to continue her incredible 29-race winning streak.
Winx was last seen in October recording her fourth consecutive Cox Plate, beating Saeed bin Suroor’s runner, Benbatl.
Her trainer, Chris Waller, has confirmed that the seven-year-old mare will not be brought over to the United Kingdom to take part in the Royal Ascot meeting in June.
Instead, a home programme will be made for the 22 Group one winner, with the Apollo Stakes likely to be her first outing of the season at Royal Randwick in February.
Waller said: “She has nothing left to prove to us or her many followers, and we are under no illusion that she is getting a little older.
“However, she is in excellent condition both physically and mentally – and had she not pleased us in any area of her wellbeing or mental state, she would have been retired immediately.
“We will not commit to any races as yet, but it would be logical to follow the path we have previously – commencing in the Apollo Stakes at Royal Randwick in February – and if she did manage to get through a four-race preparation it would most likely culminate in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick.”
It does feel like a real shame that we will never see the Prix de I’Arc de Triomphe winner, Enable take on the 29-race unbeaten wonder-mare, Winx.
The winner of that contest will divide opinion both in the United Kingdom and down under, but late nights or early alarm clocks are sure to continue in 2019, as Winx stays in training.