CHAMPION jockey Greg Childs believes Australia’s star of the turf Winx must win overseas before earning the title of a “super champion”.
The retired Childs, who won 72 Group 1s in a decorated career and was well-known for his association with two-time Cox Plate winner Sunline, feels Winx must travel internationally and win before she can be considered one of the true greats of the turf.
“People ask me what was the best horse you rode between Northerly and Sunline. I say Sunline only due to the fact that Sunline did travel in three different countries and win where Northerly he didn’t,” Childs said on WA’s TAB Radio on Tuesday.
Greg Childs rode dual Cox Plate winner Sunline to victory in Hong Kong and a brave third in Dubai during her stellar career.Source:News Limited
“I think that is what Winx has got to do. I mean, sure, if she wins the Cox Plate (a third time) well game over, but she also needs to, well I think to be that super champion, to win overseas.”
Winx is likely to head overseas next year after a tilt at a third consecutive Cox Plate this spring.
Childs won two Cox Plates on Sunline in 1999-2000 before Northerly ruined the great mare’s bid for a third consecutive Cox Plate in 2001. He also rode her to victory in the Hong Kong Mile in 2000 and third in the Dubai Duty Free in 2001.
Winx is a $ 1.50 favourite to join Kingston Town as the only three-time winners of the Cox Plate this year but Childs said she is not over the line just yet.
“Winx does look to have a mortgage on it and I agree but you just never know from those three-year-olds that can strengthen up from a little bit of time out coming back as four-year-olds,” he said. “Something usually comes out of the woodwork, maybe a horse internationally, maybe something coming from New Zealand but at this stage I don’t think there is much in New Zealand. Her lead-up form will be important to see how she performs.”
Winx finished third in her first trial of her campaign at Randwick on Monday and will return to racing in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 19.
Winx will begin her quest for a third Cox Plate in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 19.Source:News Corp Australia
Originally published as Childs: Wonder mare must conquer the world
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