2025 Winx Guineas: Owner Peter Tighe's Mister Bianco trying to win the race that started mighty mare's winning streak
Tighe is spending a few weeks on holiday in the United States, where he will attend a screening of the Janine Hosking-directed movie A Horse Named Winx at the end of this month in Arizona.
But it will still be a momentous occasion for Tighe if three-year-old Mister Bianco can take out the $300,000 race named after the mighty mare who captured the hearts of racing fans on a global scale.
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In 2015 Winx produced a remarkable last-to-first surge to secure the race, then known as the Sunshine Coast Guineas, marking the start of the superstar's amazing 33-race winning streak before her retirement in April 2019.
That was the last time Tighe had a runner in the field and it would be an emotion-charged victory if Mister Bianco can salute in the owner's Magic Bloodstock colours in the Winx Guineas, although the task was made a bit tougher after the $3.30 favourite drew barrier 17 out of 18 on Wednesday.
Winx's incredible win in the Sunshine Coast Guineas (now the Winx Guineas) in 2015 was the start of her 33-win streak! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/yDG6Vu4rUt
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 2, 2025
•
'He's in Arizona, he's having a month over there,' Gold Coast -based Kiwi trainer Shailer said about Tighe.
'He's having a good time, although he told me it's about 44C over there. The Winx movie is on over there at the end of the month so he'll be going to the screening of that.
'He hasn't had a runner (in the Winx Guineas) since Winx so there's a bit of romance to the story.'
Shailer turned to jockey Ryan Maloney to steer Mister Bianco this Saturday after regular riders Michael Rodd (broken hand) and Andrew Mallyon, who had joined Craig Williams on a humanitarian mission to Ukraine, were unavailable.
Three wins on the trot to Mister Bianco as he wins at @IpswichTurfClub today! ðŸ'�ðŸ'�ðŸ'� @mallyon_andrew @RacingShailer @RaceQLD pic.twitter.com/OAicAokWeS
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025
• Kosciuszko build-up begins without defending champ
'He's one of only three jockeys who have won on him and it's pretty important with that horse that he gets a rider who's familiar with him so we're pretty happy to engage him,' Shailer said.
'He's just a horse that lacks confidence and you've got to go with him and trick him into thinking that he's in control.
'The more you fight him, he just gets aggressive and resents it, so he always needs a rider with lovely quiet hands.
'Andrew, Michael and Ryan are those sort of riders and they really suit him.'
Mister Bianco is shooting for his fourth straight victory this weekend following his last-start triumph in the $150,000 TL Cooney (1350m) at Ipswich on June 21.
The son of Zousain leads the Winx Guineas betting market ahead of the only other horses in single figures – Millie De Lune ($4.60) and Apuntar ($8.50).
'Most horses get better with time and with another prep under his belt, he should be no exception,' Shailer said.
'Once he has this run and then goes for a break, he'll come back a better horse, I'm sure of it.
'He's racing well. There's still a question mark about him ticking the 1600m box.
'The weather shouldn't affect his chances because he goes well on both dry and rain-affected tracks so he's pretty versatile in that manner.
'It's important there's a genuine tempo for him to sit off because that's when he races at his best.'
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