The Australian Turf Club (ATC) has unveiled a spectacular ‘larger than life’ bronze statue of the champion racehorse Winx and her jockey Hugh Bowman at the mighty mare’s home track at Rosehill Gardens.
The statue, created by renowned sculptor Tanya Bartlett, has been placed in a newly landscaped garden inside the main spectator entrance at the racecourse in permanent tribute to the legendary thoroughbred.
The statue of Winx (Pic – Rosehill Gardens:FB)
Weighing more than 600kg (close to Winx’s actual racing weight), the statue has been scaled to a 110 per cent height and length of the horse, which won a world record 25 Gr1 races amongst 37 overall wins, and world record prizemoney of more than A$26 million.
Winx won her final 33 races in a row, including a final race at Royal Randwick in front a sold-out crowd, capturing the attention of millions of fans across the world.
The bronze sculpture of her regular jockey Hugh Bowman – which has also captured his signature ‘she’s apples’ winning salute – has been given a tinge of the famous blue silks worn in all of Winx’s races.
The ATC’s Australian Turf Club Chief Executive Jamie Barkley said Winx would stand as an icon of Australian racing and sport.
“We are honoured to have witnessed Winx’s immense ability on the track and this statue will forever remind us of her greatness,” Mr Barkley said.
“We thank Winx’s owners, her trainer Chris Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman, and the sculptor Tanya Bartlett for their assistance in making this statue. The Australian Turf Club undertook this project over two years to ensure everyone who visits our spectacular Rosehill Gardens sees a lasting memory of the greatest horse we have ever seen.”
