WINX, A CLASS ABOVE When Hugh is asked to talk about what it is that sets Winx apart, he says, “it’s her ability to go very fast.” While there are many racehorses that can run very fast, Winx sets a new standard. “What makes her different is that she can sustain high speeds for a lot longer than other horses,” says Hugh, using a car analogy to explain. “Say you’re racing a car and you’re driving it up around 4000–5000 revs. You’re right on the red line and the pressure is building on the engine. Well, Winx can sustain those high revs. “In fact, her revs are probably 1000 less than the competition at the same speed and, because of that, she can sustain it for much further – she just doesn’t get to that red line. It’s like she has an extra gear.” Hugh knows fast cars. He has previously owned a Mercedes-AMG C 63 S, before trading in for a GLE 300, a vehicle that suits him as a family man. “It’s not like driving a 6.3 litre biturbo machine,” he says, “but it’s very smooth and fits the kids well. It’s a very practical motor car.” Winx is more C 63 than GLE 300, that’s for sure. Dr Graeme Putt, a retired nuclear physicist and honorary scientist at the University of Auckland, used biomechanical analysis to break down what it is that makes her so good. He found that Winx, at full pace, takes around 170 strides per minute, 30 more than the average racehorse. Each stride is seven metres in length, which isn’t outstanding – Black Caviar GAME 11