Winx Stakes Day
Updated: Jul 31
The Winx Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age contest over 1400 metres, run at Sydney's Randwick Racecourse and open to the nation's best horses.
The race was renamed in 2018 to honour the legendary mare Winx, while she was still competing.
The change coincided with the event's elevation from Group 2 to Group 1 status, cementing its place among Australia's premier races.
Many racing fans still refer to it as the Winx Warwick Stakes in recognition of its long-standing history.
Originally known as the Warwick Stakes, the race was first run at Warwick Farm in 1923 and won by Sunburst.
It was granted Group 2 status when Australia's group racing system was introduced in 1979 and remained a key fixture of the Sydney racing calendar for decades.
The Winx Stakes now serves as the traditional opening Group 1 race of the Sydney Spring Carnival, launching the new Australian racing season in style.
While it spent most of its life at Warwick Farm, the event was periodically held at Randwick before being permanently relocated there in 2014.
Its honour roll reads like a who's who of Australian racing. Champions such as Limerick, Amounis, Chatham, Flight, Bernborough, Tulloch, Kingston Town, Super Impose and Sunline have all claimed victory.
Winx herself won three straight editions from 2016 to 2018, while Via Sistina added her name to the record books with back-to-back wins in 2024 and 2025.
One of the race's most remarkable results came in 1987, when Pablo's Pulse stunned punters by scoring at odds of $501.
YEAR | WINNER | A/S | POS | STAGE | LEAD-UP RUN | WEIGHT | ODDS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1991 | SUPER IMPOSE | 7G | 1UP | 5th G2 Orr Sand 1400m | 140 DAYS | 58.5 | $2.38f |
1992 | SHAFTESBURY AVENUE | 6G | 1UP | 271 DAYS | 58.5 | $1.44f | |
1993 | PRINCE OF PRAISE | 5H | 1UP | 126 DAYS | 58.5 | $12.00 | |
1994 | MARCH HARE | 4H | 1UP | 138 DAYS | 57 | $7.00 | |
1995 | STAR DANCER | 5G | 2UP | 4TH NZ Ruak 1000m | 58.5 | $2.88 | |
1996 | FILANTE | 4H | 1UP | 141 DAYS | 57 | $3.25 | |
1997 | FILANTE | 5H | 1UP | 182 DAYS | 58.5 | $1.80f | |
1998 | WHAT CAN I SAY | 5M | 2UP | 8TH G2 Premiere Rhil 1200m | 55.5 | $10.00 | |
1999 | SUNLINE | 4M | 1UP | 126 DAYS | 55 | $1.62f | |
2000 | AL MANSOUR | 6G | 1UP | 119 DAYS | 58 | $2.50 | |
2001 | LONHRO | 3C | 2UP | 3rd G3 Missile Rhil 1100m | 49.5 | $3.30f | |
2002 | DEFIER | 5G | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 58 | $7.50 | |
2003 | LONHRO | 5H | 1UP | 112 DAYS | 58 | $1.70f | |
2004 | PRIVATE STEER | 5M | 1UP | 126 DAYS | 55.5 | $1.70f | |
2005 | SIR DEX | 5G | 1UP | 98 DAYS | 58 | $41.00 | |
2006 | COURT'S IN SESSION | 7G | 1UP | 168 DAYS | 58 | $5.00 | |
2007 | Race Not Held | ||||||
2008 | RACING TO WIN | 6G | 1UP | 112 DAYS | 59 | $1.55f | |
2009 | TRUSTING | 3C | 3UP | 7th G3 Run to the Rose Phil 1300m | 50.5 | $9.00 | |
2010 | METAL BENDER | 5G | 1UP | 91 DAYS | 59 | $15.00 | |
2011 | PINWHEEL | 6G | 2UP | 3rd G3 Missile Rand 1200m | 59 | $2.70f | |
2012 | PINWHEEL | 7G | 2UP | 1st G3 Missile WF 1200m | 59 | $4.40f | |
2013 | VEYRON | 8G | 2UP | 5th NZ Ruak 1400m | 59 | $21.00 | |
2014 | TIGER TEES | 7G | 2UP | 1st G3 VRC Aurie's Star Flem 1200m | 59 | $5.50 | |
2015 | ROYAL DESCENT | 6M | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 57 | $5.50 | |
2016 | WINX | 5M | 1UP | 140 DAYS | 57 | $1.24f | |
2017 | WINX | 6M | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 57 | $1.10f | |
2018 | WINX | 7M | 1UP | 126 DAYS | 57 | $1.24f | |
2019 | SAMADOUBT | 6G | 1UP | 161 DAYS | 59 | $31.00 | |
2020 | VERRY ELLEEGANT | 5M | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 57 | $7.50 | |
2021 | MO'UNGA | 4H | 1UP | 126 DAYS | 58.5 | $11.00 | |
2022 | ANAMOE | 4H | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 58.5 | $2.50f | |
2023 | FANGIRL | 5M | 1UP | 140 DAYS | 57 | $5.00 | |
2024 | VIA SISTINA | 7M | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 57 | $11.00 | |
2025 | VIA SISTINA | 8M | 1UP | 133 DAYS | 57 | $2.80f |
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