Andrew Adkins riding War Baron falls in race 1 of the Kings of Sydney Sport Mile during The Championships Day 2. Photo / Getty
Andrew Adkins riding War Baron falls in race 1 of the Kings of Sydney Sport Mile during The Championships Day 2. Photo / Getty
Winx has sent off her career in style with another stunning run to claim her 33rd win in a row. The champion mare had the nation's eye on her going into her final race at Randwick and the seven-year-old superstar didn't disappoint.
Coming in at $1.06 odds, Winx produced the highest hold on a single horse the TAB has ever witnessed with over $3.8 million placed on the mare ahead of the Saturday blockbuster.
Fears of a Don Bradman-style send-off for Winx's final innings were squashed immediately as she pulled away from the pack and set the Eastern Suburbs alight.
The incredible finish also sees the departing champion equal Phar Lap's astonishing 37-win record in a fitting send-off to a marvelous career on the track.
Described as Bruce McAvaney as "the greatest all time", Winx trotted around Royal Randwick one last time to a standing ovation as jockey Hugh Bowman saltued the 42,000-strong crowd.
The nation well and truly stopped to watch the Aussie icon bow out. Incredibly, inner-city rugby league side the Newtown Jets stalled their match at Henson Oval to listen in on the result.
Winx 'captured hearts around the globe'
Winx jockey Hugh Bowman was emotional after crossing the line on Winx for the last time, sealing the mare's fourth Queen Elizabeth Stakes and a stunning 37th victory to finish her career.
"I'm so proud to be a part of it," the 38-year-old said after the race. "It has been very real for me all day, with the amount of people here, it is just amazing. Everyone watching around the world, Chris. America, Europe. Africa. All over Australia.
"This horse has captured the hearts of a lot of people around the globe. There is really nothing more for me to say. I mean, she just showed you what she is capable of doing. I dare say if she had something else to catch, she had something else to catch, she had more to give. Maybe we will never know how good she really is."
Race 7 result:
1. Winx
2. Kluger
3. Hartnell
Hugh Bowman, riding champion racehorse Winx, gestures to the crowd after riding her final race to victory. Photo / Getty
'Big kerfuffle' as jockeys, horses go down
Day Two of The Championships at Royal Randwick has begun in shocking fashion with jockey Andrew Adkins taking a sickening fall in the opening race of the day.
Adkins and fellow jockey Glyn Schofield both fell from their horses in the final 50m of the 1600m Kings of Sydney Sport Mile.
Their two horses, Persan and War Baron, were able to keep racing past the posts and were eventually contained by Randwick stewards.
Adkins went over the top of War Baron's head in the fall before hitting the turf hard.
War Baron, a two-year-old colt, then appeared to trample his rider, leaving Adkins with severe bruising around his eye.
"There's been a big kerfuffle here," a Sky Racing channel commentator said as Power Scheme edged out Foxborough in a tight finish right when Adkins and Schofield were forced off their rides.
After getting to his feet Schofield immediately went to Adkins, who did not get up from his fall until the ambulance arrived on the track.
Sky Racing spotted Adkins moving his legs and rolling himself over onto his back following the heavy fall.
He was not transported off the track for more than 15 minutes as medical staff assessed his condition.
A black plastic screen was set up to shield Adkins from the crowd as he was being treated — all while his family reportedly watched on from a Randwick grandstand.
After being diagnosed with severe facial bruising and a heavy concussion, Adkins was taken to Prince of Wales Hospital.
He was reportedly conscious when he was transported off the Randwick straight in the ambulance.
"He was quite shaken and he was in shock and he was in quite a panic when they got to him," a Sky Racing commentator said.
It was announced shortly after that Adkins would not be returning for any of his rides later in the 10-race Randwick meeting.
Extraordinary finished third ahead of Significance.
Jockey Andrew Adkins is conscious but heavily concussed and is being taken to nearby Prince of Wales Hospital after fall in Randwick opener @superracing
Andrew Adkins is being attended to on track after the fall in race 1 at Randwick. Has severe bruising around his eye area but his conscious. Being placed in hospital now. More updates to come.
Andrew Adkins still on the track being treated to. Glyn Schofield got up and went straight to him to help. The two horses got up and kept galloping and have been caught by clerk of courses. Hope all is Ok with Andrew 🙏
