A young Champion of the mid 1960's, Winfreux went North and cleaned up the big QLD features

The racehorse Winfreux was foaled in 1961 and was by Affreux out of the mare Winlam (by Macarthur). Winfreux went to Queensland as the winner of a maiden and Improvers in country Victoria. He demonstrated remarkable growth and success in the sunshine, achieving victory in the Stradbroke during his initial venture North of the border. By competing against top-class horses in the spring, he solidified his position as a formidable racehorse with significant potential. He ran 2nd in the Doomben 10,000 the first time, but came back to win the Doomben Cup the next year. Jockey Jimmy Johnson basically trained him in Victoria, but the recognised trainer in his Halcyon days was Mick Wilson, a great conditioner who may have trained at Bendigo. Success followed as a result of Jim Johnson's association with Winfreux and then Tobin Bronze, the horse that supplied him a Caulfield Cup and two W.S. Cox Plates. Winfreux had an incredible will to win. Unfortunately, as a veteran he was brought back into work as a 10yo, running in country sprints. His form tapered off and Winfreux was permanently retired after a few bad runs at this time.

At his peak the talented Winfreux won 21 black type races. As a three-year-old he won the 1965 Stradbroke/Doomben 10,000 Double with Arthur Lister aboard and ran 2nd in the Doomben Cup. At four Winfreux won the Feehan, Caulfield Stakes and 1966 Doomben Cup in what was classed as world-record time for 11 furlongs, (2200m) established by Man O'War, the US champion, 22 years earlier. It will never be broken because the distance now is rarely run. Also Man O'War was clocked from a "flying start", whereas Australian times are from when the gates open. At 5 he won the Caulfield Stakes again then from a 6 year-old he went beserk.

He won 10 races including the Caulfield Stakes three times, 1967 McKinnon Stakes, William Reid and CF Orr Stakes. His last major wins were the Liston Stakes and Freeway Stakes at seven. He won the 1966 & 1967 Tattersalls Cup and Barnes Plate (twice). He also won the Hill Stakes and 1967 Craven Plate, 1968 St George Stakes, Freeway Stakes, 1965, 1966 & 1967 Yalumba Stakes, 1968 William Reid Stakes and twice ran second in the Cox Plate. Winfreux was the first great galloper to win the Freeway Stakes, though many others followed his lead, including Vain, Dual Choice, Century, Tauto, Scamanda and of course the great great Manikato who won two Freeway Stakes – 1979 & 1982. Winfreux was one of the definitive champions of his time.

RACE RECORD - 69: 27-9-3

EARNINGS - A$144,566

Stradbroke Handicap (1965)

Doomben 10,000 (1966)

Doomben Cup (1966/67)

Caulfield Stakes (1966)

McKinnon Stakes (1967)

William Reid Stakes (1968)

St George Stakes (1968)

Freeway Stakes (1965/66/67)

CF ORR Stakes (1967)

Hill Stakes (1967)

Liston Stakes (1968)

Craven Plate (1967)

Feehan Stakes (1966)

Tattersalls Cup (1966/67)

Barnes Plate (twice)

Yalumba Stakes (1968)