Racing Victoria chief handicapper Greg Carpenter believes champion race mare Winx's stunning performance in winning her second Cox Plate on Saturday will lift her international rating beyond 132, eclipsing the figure that another Australian super star – the unbeaten Black Caviar – held at the peak of her decorated career.
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Carpenter said he had "never seen a performance like it," maintaining that the mare's rating of 127 before Saturday's performance will go beyond Black Caviar's highest rating during her amazing reign and unbeaten record.
"It's different to this degree that Winx is superior at 2000m and Black Caviar was just as compelling at 1200m but you won't see a performance like that – and everyone in the world of racing will appreciate her dominance of the 2000m distance," he said.
"The international handicappers will sit down as one and make a decision on Winx but I feel she'll be up in the realms of 133 plus."
Carpenter, along with Racing Victoria's international recruit Leigh Jordon, are the main architects of the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups and both were in agreement that an English campaign would be fitting to show the racing world this spectacular mare.
"I know the intention is the win a third Cox Plate, but I think that Peter Moody wasn't right when he stated that to prove yourself as a champion racehorse you had to go England."
"That's not correct right – you go to England basically to show European racing enthusiasts first hand just how good she is. People have watched and been amazed at her since a young age, she has nothing to prove but to be live at Royal Ascot. It sends another great message about the strength of our racing in Australia."
Winx scored by eight lengths in Saturday's Cox Plate leaving in her wake Melbourne Cup hopeful Hartnell who just three weeks earlier had thrashed Caulfield Cup winner Jameka by six lengths.
Ten days ago Jameka won the Caulfield Cup easily winning by three lengths.
"That is an extremely important form line, something that people must ponder when they look at just how good she is. I've got to say the effort was a breathtaking one considering the ease of the win," Carpenter said.
"I wonder now that her world dominance could even stretch from 1600m to 2000m.
"I think she's so devastatingly good at both distances that it's going to take a world-class racehorse to topple her."
