March 25, 2019
From the outset, it is fair to say that Winx is the champion of her era, particularly in the 1600-2000m domain.
The claim that she has scored 23 times in Group One company going into the 2019 George Ryder Stakes is also statistically correct.
However, comparing that fact to the Group One tallies of previous elite gallopers is as useful as a screen door on a submarine.
Let’s lift the carpet, retrieve the story of Manikato and brush away the dust that covers the pages about the Manihi gelding’s achievements.
In the pre-black type period, the Principal race category was the only one used by the Australian Stud Book.
Essentially, the single label covered what became Group or Listed affairs in the 1979-80 racing year.
Manikato’s key hits in that class in his first two seasons included the 1978 Blue Diamond, Golden Slipper, VRC Ascot Vale Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, VATC Invitation (now Sir Rupert Clark Stakes) and his first Futurity Stakes.
The chestnut was unwell when he won the 1979 Doomben 10,000 carrying 58 kilograms, an impost two kilograms above weight-for-age for a three-year-old at that time.
Today, all of those seven events are now rated at Group One level, and so are all of his 13 official Group Two successes.
They embraced an incredible five straight William Reids, three consecutive Orr Stakes, two Freeway (now Manikato) Stakes, MVRC Moir Stakes, VATC Memsie Stakes and STC Canterbury Stakes.
It is questionable to say that all the upgraded versions are of better quality than many of the earlier editions.
The only official Group One triumphs for the star, which finished in the first three for 42 of his 47 outings, are his two George Ryders and his final three Futurities.
It is not an extremely outrageous view to suggest that the sprinter that was less than a length behind Dulcify in the 1979 Australian Cup could be “credited” with 25 “Group One equivalent” victories.
Mark Taylor, in Century of Champions, wrote:
”Although seven at the time of his Moir win, Manikato was still showing the brilliance, and more particularly the courage, which marked his previous five seasons on the racetrack. Even after a heart attack, a bleeding attack and constant leg problems, he was still beating the best.”
Conversely, if you go back in time some contests that were Group Ones’ in quality have disappeared or been downgraded.
Randwick’s Craven Plate, presently tagged as Group 3, was once far more important than the currently coveted Cox Plate.
Chatham earned $2300 for his 1934 Craven Plate win. Two runs later, his first prize in the Cox Plate was $1300 plus a $200 trophy.
The Windbag entire’s 21 Principal race successes included three Craven Plates, two Cox Plates, two Epsoms (one with 61.5kg) and a Doncaster (65.5kg in the mud).
Officially, there are zero Group Ones to his name.
With Brisbane’s winter carnival looming, it is also appropriate to refer to Bernborough.
He defied his handicaps in the 1946 VRC Newmarket (63 kg), T.M Ahern Memorial, which was effectively the first Doomben 10,000 (65.5kg), and the Doomben Cup (68.5kg).
He was controversially beaten in luckless circumstances in the Caulfield Cup (68kg) when seeking his sixteenth straight victory.
Best leave the likes of Phar Lap, Tulloch, Kingston Town and Ajax for another day.
Also more than worthy of inspection are Gunsynd, Rising Fast, Super Impose and Peter Pan and – lest we forget – Rough Habit, Makybe Diva and Black Caviar.
The line up goes on … all these thoroughbreds had some remarkable accomplishments to relish.
Beware! In the next few weeks there will probably be far too many trumpeters jumping on the Winx Is The Best Ever bandwagon, because some of them cannot find a note on a stave and cacophony will be in the air.
The point is simple: the fabulous feats of many magnificent equine performers across the decades are to be enjoyed and not compared unless they raced each other.
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Bits And Bridles
- Hannah English, having landed a double for the John Manzelmann team, was back in the north this week at Mackay and Bowen. Having drawn a blank, the Nanango apprentice has Ms Orbital Spirit and Avalanche Warning among her Saturday engagements at Gatton for Glenn Richardson. Arnwood will be partnered by Ryan Plumb as he chases more QTIS cash in the Social Eating House Two-Year-Old Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast.
- Hannah Phillips, having travelled in vain to Toowoomba for Friday night’s partial washout, sports silk at Gatton and the Sunshine Coast this weekend.
- Racing has a number of worrying cases at present. Given that jiggers have been in the news, the name Jumper Leads produces a smirk or two. The Electric Charge gelding won at Cessnock last month for Wauchope trainer Colt Prosser. The three-year-old’s half-brother and stablemate Prince Mayted is an acceptor for Saturday’s Eagle Farm card.
- Note: One of next week’s topics will be about the night the horse from Kumbia stole the national limelight.
