Winx probably won't go to see the world, but what if the world was brought to Winx? As trainer Chris Waller poured cold water on calls for the soon-to-be world's highest rated racehorse to travel to Royal Ascot next year, Australian Turf Club officials are on a worldwide recruitment blitz to find Winx any worthwhile rivals during next year's autumn carnival.
Left without an international competitor during this year's The Championships after the failure of several Japanese horses to travel and one being barred due to a bleeding attack, autumn carnival organisers have drafted an international hit-list to find rivals for Winx in the $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
The ATC has had a representative at Royal Ascot's recent Champions day and will fly spruikers to the Japan Cup and Hong Kong international meetings with the explicit aim of finding, among other targets, suitable competition for Winx.
It is part of the club's near million-dollar war chest to globalise Sydney's autumn carnival in coming years.
Winx's local rivals will be few and far between in weight-for-age races over the autumn after a record eight-length Cox Plate annihilation, but the ATC is hopeful of bringing horses from overseas to take on Winx on her own patch.
"We watched with great pride on Saturday as our best horse, trained by our champion trainer and ridden by our champion jockey put in such an incredible performance," ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.
"She's clearly the best horse in Australia and the eyes of the world are now focused on her so we are working to attract some of the best from not only here but overseas.
"Imagine the national pride if Winx was able to maintain her unbeaten record against international competitors in Sydney during the autumn carnival and The Championships.
"There are horses we're identifying in Europe, Japan and Hong Kong and we'll be working hard on bringing overseas competitors to Sydney but there's a bit of water to go under the bridge yet.
"We're also focused on the Royal Randwick track renovation to ensure the track handles the rigours of the autumn so that Winx can ultimately aim for Sydney's richest race – the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at The Championships."
Winx was set to win the lion's share of $7 million in a Doncaster-Queen Elizabeth Stakes double during this year's The Championships, but won only the former before being aimed at a successful Cox Plate defence.
While on face value it would seem there would be a heavy reluctance by international trainers to take on Winx in Sydney, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes drew three northern hemisphere runners in 2015 when Red Cadeaux was runner-up to Criterion. Japanese pair Tosen Stardom and To The World also ran in the race.
The addition of Japanese runners will be a priority for the ATC, which can bank anywhere up to $1 million a race from Japanese wagering on the George Ryder Stakes, Doncaster Mile and Queen Elizabeth Stakes if they can attract runners from the land of the rising sun.
Waller on Sunday was cold on the idea of taking Winx to Royal Ascot next year, preferring to prioritise a third Cox Plate tilt and equal Kingston Town's record in Australasia's weight-for-age championship.
"There was a bit of emotional talk yesterday, but the simple fact is Winx deserves to be racing where she is at her absolute best – and that is in her backyard," he told ABC Radio.
"It doesn't matter if it's Rosehill, Randwick, Flemington or Moonee Valley. This is her home patch and anywhere in Australia she will be the best she possibly can. As soon as you travel a horse to the northern hemisphere you start affecting their body clock.
"Would we go for one race [to Royal Ascot] or would we go for three or four races? To go for three or four races would seem logical, but the same jetlag effect for six months when she gets home is going to make it harder for her to defend her title in the Cox Plate.
"It's going to be hard to get us on that plane."
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