Why Winx's win No.27 was extra special for Bowman

Every time Winx runs it is a celebration. Her winning streak went to 27 with victory in the Colgate Optic White Stakes on Saturday and the question now is how many more times we will see her? The Turnbull Stakes and, of course, the Cox Plate looked locked in, but beyond that, who knows?

Hugh Bowman knows how special Winx is and on Saturday he made sure he had his daughter, Bambi, at the races for what was her first time seeing the wondermare in action. Afterwards, he explained what that meant to him.

“Without my family here to enjoy the experience, it wouldn’t mean as much. She’s brought so much joy to not only those connected with her but far and wide across Australia and the world,” Bowman said.

“I know it’s a bit repetitive but the amount of people that approach me and just want to talk about her. She gives so many people so much to look forward, people that might not have much to look forward to in life, this mare gives them something to look forward to watching.

“She’s just a marvel, isn’t she? We’ll be lucky to see another one like her, while I’m alive anyway, I think that is a given. How lucky I am to be involved with such a horse.”

Bowman said Winx “had a race” on Saturday but warned it only improve her on her way to a fourth Cox Plate.

Kosciuszko deals not in the spirit of the race

The rumoured deals for Kosciuszko favourites Care To Think and Victorem have left those who came up with the concept fuming.

The owners of the leading contenders are asking for up to 90 per cent of stakes in the slots race that is restricted to country gallopers. It is clearly not in the spirit of the concept.

Racing NSW is going to review every aspect of the $1.3 million race after its first running and standard contracts look sure to come in.

There is a chance that a slotholder who does a 50-50 deal could end up with more money for running second, third or fourth than the winning slotholder with one of the favourites.

Given the way the first negotiations have gone, the race is further opened up to include provincial horses next year.

Seven to make The Everest the spring focus

Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club have signed on for another two years of premium coverage with Channel Seven, with The Everest set to become focus of the network’s spring coverage.

The move of the Melbourne Cup to Channel Ten has seen Seven make a commitment to Racing NSW to take The Everest to another level in terms of promotion and profile from 2019.

The contract for free-to-air coverage was signed at the beginning of the spring with another two-year option on the deal

Webster to keep Clapper happy

Pat Webster will have Happy Clapper back at home in a paddock on his farm this week after his star galloper bled in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

“He will get spoiled up here and we will let him have a good break,” Webster said. “This horse has done so much for me and my family and he will be treated like a king for the next couple of months.

“It was sad to him after Saturday but he has improved with treatment. We will see if he is up to coming back and if so, we will have another crack at the Doncaster.”

Avilius no value in Caulfield Cup

Anyone that is keen to take the $8 about Avilius in the Caulfield Cup should remember they are backing him to win two races.

The import stayer with the electrifying turn of foot is unbeaten in three runs in Australia, but would need to win The Metropolitan, for which he is the $2.80 favourite, to even get a run in the Caulfield Cup.

Even then, he is would still be at least a $5 chance in a Caulfield Cup, which means the $8 is big unders.

Avilius is an exciting staying prospect but he hasn't really had to encounter traffic problems from back in the field yet, with Glyn Schofield able to find clear air at the 300m mark. It is likely he will be closer in the running over the 2400m of The Metropolitan but the quality will step up.

However, if he can produce similar closing sectionals at the extended trip, he is definitely the one to beat.

Article courtesy of Fairfax Digital and The Brisbane Times