Bruce McAvaney rides home Winx’s dramatic Turnbull Stakes win
Source: Tom Naghten
Apart from maybe Chris Waller and his staff, Hugh Bowman, and the owners, no one loves Winx more than Bruce McAvaney.
The Channel Seven commentator has been known to ride Winx home as if it was him and not Bowman in the mighty mare’s saddle.
But even he could be forgiven for getting a little nervy as the seven-year-old picked up her 28th straight win with a heart-stopper in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Bowman and Winx found themselves in a shocking spot at the top of the straight and had to pick their way through some serious traffic and rack up some unbelievable sectionals to pip Youngstar by a length.
To put some context around the speed shape in The Turnbull… Winx ran first 800m in 50.82s / last 800m in 43.98s. That's a 41 length difference! Her last 600m 32.21s and last 200m an unbelievable 10.87s. Lack of speed and her position made it impossible for her to be dominant.
— Daniel O'Sullivan (@TRBHorseRacing) October 6, 2018
lenty of punters had their hearts in their mouths as the greatest winning run in Australian racing history looked like coming to an end.
As you’d imagine, McAvaney was willing her home along with thousands of others.
Check out the video below.
Winx and Bruce.
Is there anything better?
Watch his reaction during her 28th consecutive win at @FlemingtonVRC on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/AbsbOMiAKG
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 8, 2018
As Winx reeled in the leaders, McAvaney’s look of desperation turned to joy and then to disbelief as the superstar defied the odds to pull off one of her most dramatic victories.
Waller will now aim Winx at Mooney Valley in three week’s time where she will attempt to record a historic fourth Cox Plate win.