The owners of Winx have pledged to never sell their superstar mare, even though they have had write-your-own-cheque offers.
The remarkable Winx will shoot for a fourth Cox Plate on Saturday, and has become part of the family to owners Peter Tighe, Debbie Kepitis and Richard Treweeke.
“I had offers from two people, who told me whatever I ask them for, they’ll give me for her,” Kepitis said. “I would never sell my part of her.
"There is no talk of selling her because we all respect what she has done on the track and what she has done for us.
“We all want her to have a great life after racing and the only way to ensure that is by holding on to her. That means we will be part of the next phase of her life and seeing the little Winxes.”
Tighe said he would also never sell Winx, who is a $1.20 favourite to add another Cox Plate to an impressive record at Moonee Valley.
“She is an Australian treasure now. To sell her would be a crime,” Tighe said.
“We never entertained any offers from the time we bought her. There were a few good judges that wanted to buy her early on, but we didn’t want to sell her.”
She is an Australian treasure now. To sell her would be a crime.
owner peter tighe
There has only been one formal approach of $600,000 after Winx won her first two starts, but it wasn’t even considered.
“We weren’t interested in that then because we were interested in racing her,” Kepitis said. “It has been pretty special. She is amazing.
“I have been told whatever we ask for we would get for her, but I’m not selling her.”
Winx has gone on to set records on the track with her 28-race winning streak, 21 group 1 wins and three Cox Plates drawing attention from around the world.
The owners have enjoyed her unbeaten run, spanning over three years, and embraced the public interest in Winx.
“There is a bigger group of fans for her than us,” Tighe said. “There are more people enjoying the ride with us.
“We love it because it is horse-related, it is Winx-related. She has got into our hearts and hopefully the hearts of a lot of other people and it enhances the sport around Australia and around the world.”
Winx will crash through the $20-million barrier in career earnings in Saturday’s Cox Plate and would join Yeats, which won four Ascot Gold Cups, to win a group 1 race on four consecutive occasions.
The preparation for the Cox Plate is down to the fine-tuning stage with trainer Chris Waller taking Winx to Breakfast With The Best for a Tuesday blowout around the Valley, as has been tradition.
"Hugh [Bowman] just let her use herself around the bend, making sure everything was right. Just as you would with a racecar before a big race, making sure everything is in order,” trainer Chris Waller said.
"The accelerator was there and the brakes were working this morning.”
He added that the stars would have to align against Winx for the mare to be defeated for the first time in more than three years and 28 starts on Saturday.
"Realistically only two things can beat her and that's bad luck or a champion," Waller said. "The next champion could be there waiting in the wings and be ready to pounce.”
Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times