Pavlova, Phar Lap… our Aussie cousins love to claim our greats! The ‘Mighty Mare’ Winx took the world by storm, putting in performances that were quite frankly supernatural. However, there has been little mention of this superstar’s New Zealand heritage.

 

Winx’s mother, Vegas Showgirl, was foaled in 2002 and is a Kiwi lass. The ‘making’ of Winx’s mother was quite the series of events! Dam of Vegas Showgirl, Vegas Magic, was originally sent to Grangewilliam Stud in Waitotara, New Zealand to be served by Batavian. Upon the news that Batavian had unfortunately suffered a heart attack while serving a mare, the decision was made that she would be sent to Al Akbar instead. Eleven months later, Vegas Showgirl was born and would go on to be ‘mum’ to one of the greatest of all time - Winx.

To further our Kiwi claim, Winx’s Trainer, Chris Waller, is a New Zealand man himself! He grew up in Foxton before crossing the ditch to train in Sydney in 2000. Chris arrived in Sydney with little more than a credit card in his back pocket and when that maxed out, he had to go to the bank for another. To come from such humble beginnings makes training this superstar mare all the more special for Waller.

 

We can’t claim the jockey, Hugh Bowman, who is born and bred in Australia, nor can we claim the owners, Peter Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis. Winx’s sire, Street Cry is in fact an Irish lad. He was born and bred in Ireland before standing at stud in Lexington, Kentucky. Following a two year break, he moved to the Hunter Region in Australia, where he stood at Darley Stud. Tragically, Street Cry was euthanised in 2017 due to complications from a neurological condition.

 

It may be a stretch to call the wonder-mare our own, but Winx certainty has some strong Kiwi ties that we’re happy to claim!