The return of Australian Horse of the Year elect Verry Elleegant this Saturday in the Group I ATC Winx Stakes marks the beginning of another season of Group I racing that may see the six year-old mare propel herself even further up the list of our most successful Group I horses.
Below are the most successful Group I winning mares for the past 35 years.
Winx - 2011- 25
ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m), 4 times, ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), 4 times, MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), 4 times, ATC George Main Stakes (1600m), 3 times, VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), 2 times, VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m), 2 times, ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m), ATC Doncaster Handicap (1600m), ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m), BRC Queensland Oaks (2200m), ATC Warwick Stakes (1400m)
Black Caviar – 2006 - - 15
VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m), 3 times, ATC TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), 2 times, VRC Victoria Racing Club Stakes (1200m), 2 times, MVRC William Reid Stakes (1200m), 2 times, SAJC Goodwood Handicap (1200m), SAJC Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m), VRC Newmarket Hcp (1200m), MRC C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), BRC BTC CUP (1200m), Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m)
Melody Belle – 2014- 14
NZ Windsor Park Plate (1600m) 3 times, NZ Livamol Classic (2040m) 2 times, NZ Tarzino Trophy (1400m) 2 times, NZ Bonecrusher New Zealand Stks (2000m) 2 times, NZ Thorndon Mile (1600m), NZ Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), NZ Bcd Group Sprint (1400m), Empire Rose Stakes (1600m), NZ Haunui Farm (1600m)
Sunline – 1995 - 13
ATC Tad Kennedy Stakes (1500m) 2 times, ATC All Aged Stakes (1600m) 2 times, ATC Doncaster Handicap (1600m) 2 times, MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) 2 times, NZ Waikato Sprint (1400m) 2 times, MVRC Manikato Stakes (1200m), ATC Flight Stakes (1600m), HK Hong Kong Mile (1600m)
Avantage - 2015– 9
NZ Bcd Group Sprint (1400m), NZ Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), NZ El Cheapo Cars (1600m), NZ Haunui Farm (1600m), NZ Jr & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m), NZ Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes (1400m), NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stks (1600m), NZ Sistema Railway (1200m), Telegraph (1200m)
Verry Elleegant -2015 - 8
ATC WARWICK STAKES (1400m), ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m), ATC Storm Queen Stakes (2000m), VRC Turnbull Stakes (2000m), ATC Australian Oaks (2400m), ATC HE Tancred Stakes (2400m), MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m)
More Joyous – 2006 - 8
ATC Queen Of The Turf (1500m), 2 times, ATC Doncaster Handicap (1600m), ATC Flight Stakes (1600m), ATC George Main Stakes (1600m), MRC Toorak Handicap (1600m), ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m)
Makybe Diva – 1999 - 7
VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m), 3 times, VRC Australian Cup (2000m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), ATC HE Tancred Stakes (2400m), ATC Sydney Cup (3200m)
Seachange - 2002 – 7
NZ Stoney Bridge Stks (1600m) 2 times, NZ Telegraph Hcp (1200m), NZ Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m), NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m), NZ Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m), NZ Mudgway Stakes (1400m)
Typhoon Tracy – 2005 - 6
MRC C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), 2 times, ATC Queen Of The Turf (1500m), ATC Tad Kennedy Stakes (1500m), MRC Futurity Stakes (1600m), VRC Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)
Slight Chance - 1989 -- 6
BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), ATC Flight Stakes (1600m), BRC J J ATKINS (1600m), ATC Storm Queen Stakes (2000m), BRC Queensland Oaks (2400m), VRC Oaks (2500m)
Bounding Away - 1983 - - 6
ATC Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), MRC Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m), ATC Tad Kennedy Stakes (1500m), ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m), ATC Flight Stakes (1600m), ATC Australian Oaks (2400m)
Emancipation -1979 - 6
ATC George Ryder Stakes (1400m), 2 times, ATC Tad Kennedy Stakes (1500m), ATC All Aged Stakes (1600m), ATC Doncaster Handicap (1600m), ATC George Main Stakes (1600m)
Horlicks –1983 - 6
Television N.Z. Stks (2000m) 2 times, Draught Classic (2100m) 2 times , The 9th Japan Cup (2400m), VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m)
The overall list of most successful Group I winners for the same time period highlights the phenomenal achievements of mares during the latter part of this era which probably reflects the end of the legal use of anabolic steroids which helped geldings maintain top form and the rise of the early retirement of top class colts.
There seems little doubt colts such as Pierro, All Too Hard, Dundeel and The Autumn Sun could have achieved a lot more at the elite level had they been allowed to race on as older horses and would certainly be on the list below.
Winx - 2011- 25
Black Caviar – 2006 - - 15
Melody Belle – 2014- 14
Sunline – 1995 - 13
Tie The Knot - 1994 – 13
ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) 4 times, ATC HE Tancred Stakes (2400m) 2 times, ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m) 2 times, ATC Sydney Cup (3200m) 2 times, MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m), ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m, ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
Lonhro –1998 - 11
ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m) 2 times, MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m) 2 times, VRC Australian Cup (2000m), VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m), ATC George Main Stakes (1600m), ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), MRC C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m), MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Rough Habit –1986 - 11
BRC Doomben Cup (2020m) 2 times, ATC All Aged Stakes (1600m) 2 times, BRC Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) 2 times, MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m), BRC Doomben Cup (2020m), ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), BRC Queensland Derby (2400m), NZ Captain Cook Stakes (1600m)
So You Think – 2006 - 10
Curragh Tattersalls Gold Cup (2100m) 2 times, VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m), UK Eclipse Stakes (2000m), Irish Champion Stakes (2000m), Royal Ascot Prince of Wales Stakes (2000m)
Octagonal –1992 - 10
ATC HE Tancred Stakes (2400m) 2 times, ATC Rosehill Guineas (2000m), ATC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), ATC Australian Derby (2400m), VRC Australian Cup (2000m), ATC Randwick Guineas (1900m), ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m)
Northerly – 1996 - 9
MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m) 2 times, VRC Australian Cup (2000m) 2 times, MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m), WATC Railway Stakes (1600m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m)
Avantage - 2015– 9
Bonecrusher – 1982 - 9
NZ Air New Zealand Stks (2000m) 2 times, VRC Australian Cup (2000m), MRC Caulfield Stakes (2000m), New Zealand Derby (2400m), ATC HE Tancred Stakes (2400m), MRC Underwood Stakes (2000m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), ATC Australian Derby (2400m)
Apache Cat –2002 - 8
MVRC William Reid Stakes (1200m), VRC Australian Guineas (1600m), BRC BTC CUP (1200m), BRC Doomben 10,000 (1350m), BRC Doomben 10,000 (1350m), VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m), MVRC William Reid Stakes (1200m), ATC TJ Smith Stakes (1200m)
Better Loosen Up – 1985 - 8
VRC Australian Cup (2000m), VRC Cantala Stakes (1600m), VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), WATC Railway Stakes (1600m), ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m), The 10th Japan Cup (2400m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m), WATC Kingston Town Classic (1800m)
Schillaci –1988 - 8
VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) 2 times, MRC Futurity Stakes (1400m) 2 times, ATC George Ryder Stakes (1500m), VRC Newmarket Hcp (1200m), MRC Oakleigh Plate (1100m), ATC The Galaxy (1100m)
Mahogany –1990 - 8
VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) 2 times, BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), VRC Victoria Derby (2500m), ATC Australian Derby (2400m), VRC Australian Guineas (1600m), BRC J J ATKINS (1600m), MRC Caulfield Guineas (1600m)
Verry Elleegant -2015 - 8
More Joyous – 2006 - 8
Intergaze –1993 - 8
ATC All Aged Stakes (1600m), VRC Australian Cup (2000m), ATC Randwick Guineas (1800m), ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m), BRC Doomben Cup (2020m), ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), MRC Underwood Stakes (1800m)
Super Impose – 1984 - 8
ATC Chipping Norton Stakes (1600m) 2 times, ATC Doncaster Handicap (1600m) 2 times, ATC Epsom Handicap (1600m) 2 times, ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m), MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m)
Takeover Target –1999 - 8
Japan 40th Sprinters Stakes (1200m), BRC Doomben 10,000 (1350m), SAJC Goodwood Handicap (1200m), Singapore Krisflyer Intl Sprint (1200m), VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m), VRC Newmarket Hcp (1200m), VRC Victoria Racing Club Stakes (1200m), ATC TJ Smith Stakes (1200m)
Veandercross –1988 - 8
VRC Australian Cup (2000m), NZ Bayer Classic (1600m), ATC Randwick Guineas (1900m), VRC Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), NZ Lion Brown Sprint (1400m), (1600m), N.Z. 2000 Guineas, ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m), ATC Ranvet Stakes (2000m)
