Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
In a fitting moment for Australian racing, the champion mares, who redefined brilliance and captivated fans around the globe - will be honoured together, their remarkable achievements now formally etched in the highest tier of racing immortality.
For Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), who first entered the Hall of Fame in 2013, the Legend honour crowns a flawless and unparalleled sprinting career. Undefeated in all 25 starts, including 15 at Group 1 level, and in Queensland, Melbourne, New South Wales, South Australia and Great Britain.
She was a dominant force on the track. Her resume includes wins in races such as the G1 TJ Smith Stakes, G1 CF Orr Stakes, G1 Lightning Stakes, G1 Newmarket Handicap and G1 Sprint Classic, and perhaps most famously, her heroic victory in the 2012 G1 Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot, where she carried both the weight of expectation and a nation’s hopes.
Black Caviar | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Her trainer, Peter Moody, will also be inducted into the Hall of Fame on the same evening, adding a poignant symmetry to the celebration.
“Black Caviar changed my life,” Moody reflected. “Every day, I still think about her and then when Royal Ascot comes around, you relive those great memories again. (Both Black Caviar and Winx) 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."
“Black Caviar changed my life. Every day, I still think about her and then when Royal Ascot comes around, you relive those great memories again.” - Peter Moody
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017, produced a reign of dominance the sport may never see again. She won her final 33 starts, an astonishing feat that enthralled racing fans and casual observers alike. Her victories included four G1 WS Cox Plates, three G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, four G1 George Ryder Stakes, and countless others, with multiple triumphs in elite Group 1 races such as the G1 Turnbull Stakes, G1 Chipping Norton, G1 George Main, G1 Doncaster Handicap, and the G1 Winx Stakes, which was named in her honour in 2018. Her first Group 1 win was in the Queensland Oaks, a sign of the greatness to come.
“She was a high-performance athlete with an amazing amount of talent,” said trainer Chris Waller. “She captured the imagination of everyone, here and around the world. I always admired Winx’s determination and the uncomplicated way she went about her work and racing. She didn’t require any extra fuss.
Winx | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“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.” said Waller.
For Hall of Fame Chairman Jason Scott, the decision to honour both mares simultaneously was both symbolic and inevitable. “Black Caviar and Winx are without doubt two of the greatest thoroughbreds this sport has ever witnessed, both here and abroad,” Scott said.
“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.”- Chris Waller
“Debate has raged in recent 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. 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 fortune to see.”
Together, Black Caviar and Winx didn't just dominate the turf, they changed the way people engaged with racing and helped assist with bringing new people into the sport. Their elevation to Legend status is not just a nod to their breathtaking performances, but to the incredible imprint they’ve left on Australian sport and the global racing landscape.
The announcement comes after five new inductees into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame were announced last week. They were Peter Moody, Zac Purton, John Tapp, and the horses Hydrogen, and Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
Gallery: New inductees to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Paul Eriksson, the CEO of Racing Australia commented, “We congratulate the connections of these two wonderful mares, Winx and Black Caviar.
“Their outstanding equine feats have thrilled racegoers and inspired generations with their once-in-a-lifetime winning streaks. It is only fitting that they be elevated to Legend status, and we look forward to what will be an incredible event in Brisbane.”
Racing Queensland will host the Australian Racing Hall of Fame and Racehorse of the Year at 'The Star' on August 31 in Brisbane.
