A HORSE NAMED WINX

Australia, 2024, 117 minutes, Colour.

Andrew Rule.

Directed by Janine Hosking.

At the end of her racing career, the horse named Winx – actually, THE would be better in the film’s title than A! – she was named the greatest racehorse in the world, 2018-2019.

Which means that audiences around the world, but especially audiences in Australia, know something of the career of Winx and her achievements, and the achievement of her trainer, New Zealander Chris Weller and her longtime jockey, Hugh Bowman, would be eager to see this highly interesting and entertaining look back into her racing past.

Actually, for audiences who have little or no idea who Winx was, they will be quickly drawn into this story, following step-by-step, listening to the range of interviews, getting to know the trainer well choose one, listening to the opinions of the owners, discussions with the jockeys. And, probably quite emotional, along with the racing fans, by the end of the film – and with the touch of tears as Winx loses her first foal.

We get to know Chris Weller very well also, his methods, his attitudes, and aspects of his biography. And, it is the same with jockey, Hugh Bowman. The audience is invited to identify very strongly with both of them.

Director, Janine Hosking, has been making effective documentaries for over 20 years, more recently into the world of Australian music, The Eulogy on pianist Geoffrey Tozer, Knowing the Score on Australia’s orchestra conductor, Simone Young. She knows how to tell a story well being her audience in.

The film is the biography of Winx, the stud background, birth, initial indications of success, taken on by her trainer, the markets and auctions, early promise, initial races, daring entries in prestige racing carnivals, their increasing wins… For the enthusiasts, plenty of racing sequences.

And, then, the recognition of Winx ‘s abilities, the beginning of the record-breaking long run of 33 consecutive wins, of the prestige races, breaking records, especially for winnings of the Cox Plate. (Any readers nunfamiliar with these races and the reputation of the Cox Plate will be on the edge of their seats not knowing whether Winx was going to break the winning record or not!). So, a very interesting documentary of Australian racing. And, so, a very entertaining portrait and drama of this champion racehorse.