Winx, Williams & JJ Miller headline Hall of Fame inductees

WINX has added yet another accolade to her impressive and ever-growing list of achievements.

On Wednesday, the champion mare was one of four horses inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

She joins Sunline and Black Caviar as one of only three runners to earn the honour while still racing.

The Chris Waller-trained star is currently on a spell in preparation for this year’s spring racing carnival, where she will aim to extend her 17-race unbeaten run and win a third consecutive Cox Plate.

“Winx has captured the imagination of racing fans across the globe and is undisputedly the best mare in the world,” said Greg Carpenter, chairman of the Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, at the induction ceremony.

“It is only fitting that she is inducted this year, joining other equine inductees including two-time Melbourne Cup winner Archer, 1965 Melbourne Cup winner Light Fingers and 1996 Melbourne Cup and Cox Plate winner Saintly, trained by the Cups King, the late Bart Cummings.”

Also gracing the Hall of Fame this year was Lloyd Williams.

Almandin’s victory at the 2016 Melbourne Cup gave the prolific owner his fifth win in the great race – a record that “will never be beaten”, according to Gai Waterhouse.

“Lloyd Williams is an outstanding person within the racing world,” she said.

“He has given so much to racing over so many years.

“He is unique in racing as he has been a major owner for five decades.

“His five Melbourne Cups, as an owner, is matchless and will never be beaten.

“Lloyd is racing’s greatest blessing and asset.”

Another notable entrant was star jockey John ‘JJ’ Miller.

It was he who rode Galilee with such great distinction from 1966 to 1967, steering the great stayer to glory in the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, CB Fisher Plate, Queen Elizabeth Stakes and Sydney Cup.

Miller was also a legend in his native Western Australia, winning the Australian Derby six times and tasting success in every one of the state’s major races.

All 11 inductees will be honoured during this Saturday’s feature metropolitan race meetings at Belmont Park, Doomben, Flemington, Morphettville and Rosehill Gardens.

Full list of 2017 Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees

Horses

• Archer
• Light Fingers
• Saintly
• Winx

Jockeys

• Tommy Corrigan
• JJ Miller

Trainers

• Brian Courtney
• Des Judd

Associates

• Edward Spencer Bell
• Lloyd Williams
• The Lee-Steere family