General News
10 September, 2026
‘Winx of North’ defies odds
IT was nearly two years ago when, via the ‘Goss’, I had the pleasure of reporting that locally-owned racehorse Choir Boy had won the 150th Cooktown Cup.
Not only did he win it, but it was in a record time and with a record-winning margin of 11 lengths.
Since that happy sunny weekend in November 2024, it has been a long and troublesome road for the ‘Winx of the North’.
Shortly after this magnificent win, Choir Boy succumbed to a potentially fatal flesh-eating bacterial illness. For some time, it was unknown whether he would survive, let alone race again.
The initial recovery was slow, but eventually the now eight-year-old started to return to fitness with slowly improving results, including a win at the recent Innisfail Banana Races in August.
Atherton trainer Janel Ryan and numerous local owners in Port Douglas had suspicions that Choir Boy may well be coming back into form and ready for a special result, but a win at the Cairns Cup was really beyond everyone’s dreams.
“Choir Boy’s story is so true to real life with the ups and downs we all experience,” said owning syndicate member Dale Kemp.
“This story could be made into a film.”
Joint owner Paul Martinez said “the response from people in Cairns and Port Douglas has been amazing, with cheers and applause coming from people everywhere the trophy goes”.
Apart from the excitement of seeing this local hero cross the line first, many punters across the Douglas Shire were counting their winnings with a big smile on their faces.
