Story
Former trainer Chris Waller, jockey Hugh Bowman and the lucky few who purchased ‘Lot 329’ share insights and behind-the-scenes experiences as they tell the remarkable tale of the long-legged, unprepossessing horse who become the legendary champion Winx.
Unlike most horses, Winx was born in broad daylight and immediately got to her feet. She was soon racing around the paddock and was notoriously hard to catch. Largely viewed as unremarkable, she was auctioned off and eventually sent to an upmarket ‘bootcamp’ for future racehorses. Here she did all that was asked of her, but there was still nothing that marked her as the star she would become. She won some races, lost some races and then seemed to lose confidence entirely.
Winx was taken to Queensland to compete in the lead-up to the coveted Cox Plate. From this point, she seemed to know her purpose. She came from last place to take the lead and went on to win the race. And then, despite pain and challenges, she went on to win every race she entered.
Winx repeatedly made history and showed the world that, even under the most challenging of circumstances, not only did she have what it took to win but she also had what it took to survive.
Themes
Horseracing; animal injury; death of a foal; fame and sacrifice
Violence
A Horse Named Winx has some violence. For example:
- The jockeys often hit the racehorses on their rumps with whips.
- Hugh Bowman falls off Winx during a race, lands on the ground unconscious, and is nearly trampled by other horses.
Sexual references
A Horse Named Winx has some sexual references. For example:
- One of Winx’s owners is said to like women and fillies.
- A cartoon character winks and blows a kiss.
- Showgirls are described as having ‘cheeky buns’ and ‘lovely tits’.
Alcohol, drugs and other substances
A Horse Named Winx shows some use of substances. For example:
- A woman smokes in the background.
- A groomer describes Winx’s attitude to a challenging race like this – ‘Hold my beer. I’ve got this … No worries’.
Nudity and sexual activity
A Horse Named Winx has some nudity and sexual activity. For example, a man in the stands at a race is dancing wildly with his shirt open and his chest exposed.
Product placement
The following products are advertised, displayed or used in A Horse Named Winx:
- Bertocci
- BMW
- Carlton Draught
- City Jeep
- Dilmah Tea
- Emirates
- Heineken
- Ladbrokes
- Lifecycle Fitnes
- Longines
- Meyer
- Nikon
- Optus
- Ralph Lauren
- Schweppes
- Scone Equine Hospital.
Coarse language
A Horse Named Winx has some coarse language, including:
- ‘You’re frickin’ kidding me’
- ‘Oh f …’, with the last part beeped out.
Ideas to discuss with your children
A Horse Named Winx is a documentary that tells the extraordinary journey of legendary racehorse Winx and her trainers, as she achieved unprecedented success on the racetrack and inspired people all over the world. The movie contains race footage, historical glimpses of her jockey, and interviews with people in Winx’s team.
A Horse Named Winx is suitable for viewers aged 9 years and over, with parental guidance recommended for children aged 9-10 years.
The main message from A Horse Named Winx is that sometimes impossible things can happen and dreams do come true. The movie also aims to inspire viewers by sharing an incredible story of destiny and determination.
Values in A Horse Named Winx that you could reinforce with your children include determination, courage, persistence, compassion and love.
A Horse Named Winx could also give you the chance to talk with your children about the real-life consequences of things like:
- using animals for financial gain and not looking after them – which is the opposite of what Winx’s team did
- being blinded by fame and allowing other people to determine what you do as opposed to focusing on animal welfare
- being so focused on one thing that you miss out on other important parts of life.