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Last Saturday afternoon was football free on the TV. There were only two things worth watching.
The first was the Supercars from Melbourne, the second – and highlight – was Channel 7’s coverage of the mighty mare Winx going for her 27th straight win at Royal Randwick in the George Main Stakes.
Switching over I was confronted by Bruce Mcavaney’s dulcet excited commentary as he introduced the race. We heard interviews with the jockey Hugh Bowman’s wife and daughter – who looked so sweet in her flowered hat – the trainer Chris Waller who, although nervous, was quietly confident.
We then watched as this beautiful specimen paraded down the main straight amid thousands of waving blue and white flags.
Quickly the horses were in the barrier and then released. The race started and, as usual, our heroine lugged along at the back calmly reviewing the rest of her victims. They turned for home and the second favourite Le Romain moved into a commanding position, ready to swamp the leaders with a withering run.
Then we saw it and the excited commentator screamed “here comes Winx”. She edged up to Le Romain, moved to even terms and we thought this is going to be some finish. Winx, at last, has competition. But then with a burst of speed that was unimaginable, she streaked past her opponent and won by four lengths.
It looked so easy. Great horses always seem to do that.
Then the hysteria started. The crowd went wild. She had done it again. The top-rated horse on the planet, higher than Triple Crown winner Justify had come, raced and conquered. Bring on her fourth Cox Plate.
All her owners seemed to be crying, flags kept waving harder and harder as her victory was celebrated. It was like Olympic Gold or the penalty against Uruguay in 2005 to qualify for the World Cup.
What is it with horses in this country of ours? We love big winners, Makybe Diva and Black Caviar had their period of stardom and adulation. As a nation, this is the biggest feelgood period in the country.
Forget the odds, $1.04 for the win. Forget all those people who think horse racing is cruel to the animal. Forget that horse racing is a huge commercial enterprise that eclipses almost any other recreational enterprise.
We just love the feelings that a Winx win generates. It is our link to success. Everybody smiles everybody cheers. Long live this wonderful feeling.
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