The owners of champion Winx have confirmed the mare is pregnant with her first foal by leading stallion I Am Invincible.
Debbie Kepitis, Peter and Patty Tighe and Richard Treweeke issued a statement on Friday expressing their delight at the news with Winx expected to give birth next October.
“We, the Winx ownership group are delighted to confirm that Winx is expecting her first foal in spring 2020,” they said.
“She has taken to retirement wonderfully well and has settled in perfectly to her new home.
“We are very excited about this next stage of her career. Hopefully she will be blessed with good luck and good health through the balance of her pregnancy delivering a happy and healthy first foal by I Am Invincible.
“He is a fantastic stallion and we are very grateful to the Mitchell Family and all of the team at Yarraman Park for their assistance through the breeding season.
“Similarly, to those who participate in the daily care of Winx at her new home.
“We consider ourselves fortunate to have her in the hands of such talented and considerate horse people. She looks as happy now as she did when she was racing, which is fantastic for us to see.”
Trained by Chris Waller, Winx was retired earlier this year with 37 wins from 43 starts.
She won 33 straight races, remaining unbeaten from May 2015 until her final race in April.
Her tally included a world record 25 Group One victories all with Hugh Bowman aboard.
Winx’s mother Vegas Showgirl, who has a foal at foot by the late Japanese champion Deep Impact, has also been covered this year by I Am Invincible.