Dual Racing Queens to Ascend Legends’ Throne

The legacy of two of the greatest Australian Thoroughbreds of our generation will burn even brighter as they are both elevated to Legend status at the upcoming Australian Racing Hall of Fame Ceremony in Brisbane on 31 August. Winx and Black Caviar, icons of Australian racing, are set to share the sport’s highest accolade: elevation to Legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Brisbane on 31 August. It’s a rare double honour celebrating mares whose brilliance redefined the boundaries of excellence. Black Caviar, the unbeaten sprinter with 25 straight victories, including 15 at Group 1 level, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2013. Her triumphs included two TJ Smith Stakes, three Lightning Stakes, and a memorable win in the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. “Black Caviar changed my life,” said her trainer Peter Moody, who will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame on the same night. “Every day, I still think about her and then when Royal Ascot comes around you relive those great memories again.” Winx, meanwhile, was inducted in 2017 after an astonishing sequence of 33 consecutive wins, including four Cox Plates, four George Ryder Stakes, four Chipping Norton Stakes and three Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Her first Gr1 was the Queensland Oaks and, fittingly, the Winx Stakes was named in her honour in 2018. Chris Waller, who guided Winx through that record-breaking run, recalled her single-minded professionalism and impact. “I always admired Winx’s determination and the uncomplicated way she went about her work and racing. She didn’t require any extra fuss. When I talk to people about Winx, there’s nothing but the ultimate respect for her. It is fitting she has been elevated to Legend Status.” Waller noted her broad appeal: “She was a high-performance athlete with an amazing amount of talent. She captured the imagination of everyone, here and around the world.” Moody paid tribute to both mares, saying, “They are both great mares and it was only a matter of time, with all due respect, they were both going to get that honour and deservedly so.” Australian Racing Hall of Fame Chairman Jason Scott acknowledged the magnitude of the moment, remarking, “Debate has raged for years over which of the two champion mares is the greatest we’ve seen, however what is certain is that their legacies transcend far beyond the boundaries of racing.” He added, “It’s deserving that they both be bestowed Legend status in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame together, befitting of their stature as two of the best we have and will ever have the good fortune to see.”