Turf Monthly April 2023 by turfmonthly

monthly

TURF

April 2023

THIS MONTH

LITTLE BROSE - BLUE DIAMOND WINNER A LOOK AT BLACK CAVIAR BOBADIL WHITTIER AND OTHER DESCENDANTS

Editor’s Letter I probably sound like a broken record at times, but there are glaring warning signs in the thoroughbred industry at the moment. We saw the Inglis Premier Sale conclude in March with a clearance rate of 80%. I remember a discussion with a stud master many years ago at a minor sale who was bemoaning the fact that any sale with a clearance rate under 90% had to be considered a bloodbath for the industry. What then do we call 80%? More disturbing is that we don’t hear about these results. If you were reading the media releases on the sales, you would think that the sale had been a huge success, and there is no doubt that some vendors came out well. But the industry is not sustainable if only one sector is successful. One interesting statistic that you will never see published is that over 100 yearlings were sold for $30,000 or less. That figure is widely used as a basic cost for getting a yearling to the sale, excluding service fees. When we add to this the fact that we regularly see multiple imported winners every weekend across the country, it becomes time for the industry to take a good look at where it is heading.

CONTENTS 4

Little Brose

Black Caviar

Surround

Lonhro

Bobadil

Bobadil’s Influence

Whittier

The Parisian

Until next month

Ross Prowd

Cover Photo 2023 Newmarket winner IN SECRET

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au Unit 4/125 West St Menzies Qld 4825

TURF MONTHLY 3

LITTLE BROSE

BLUE DIAMOND WINNER

ittle Brose was for some a bit of a surprise winner of the 2023 Blue Diamond, starting at $9.50. The colt certainly had the form for the race, and his win was a good one. We also cannot fault the trainers with the Hayes boys continuing a rich family tradition to land their first Group 1 victory as a training duo. The query that we will get to in a moment, relates to his pedigree rather than his performance. Little Brose went through the Magic Millions Yearling sale on the Gold Coast, being knocked down for $200,000 to Lindsay Park Racing. He made his first official racetrack appearance on 1 November 2022, Melbourne Cup Day, running second behind an impressive Krakarib by Ribchester in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate. Four weeks later, Little Brose won the Listed Merson Cooper at Caulfield beating the Darley galloper, Cylinder. After a break, the colt returned to run second to Barber in the Blue Diamond Prelude before his Blue Diamond victory.

TURF MONTHLY 4

ittle Brose was bred in New Zealand, a son of Per Incanto by Street Cry. Per Incanto stands at Little Avondale Stud for $50,000 and went to stud in 2011. He has been a consistent stallion with his best result to date third placed finishes on the NZ Sires List in 2018 and again in 2021. In Australia, his best result was last season when he finished 29th thanks largely to the performances of Roch ‘N’ Horse who won the VRC Sprint Classic and Newmarket Handicap. To date Per Incanto has sired 27 stakes winners, but what is perhaps most notable is that despite siring some 25 2yo winners, Little Brose is only his second Group winner at that age behind Dal Cielo who was from his first crop. Per Incanto has also sired three Listed 2yo winners and all of these have been in New Zealand. For many this would not come as a huge surprise being by Street Cry who we know more as a sire of middle distance types than of precocious 2yo’s. Interestingly we have seen Per Incanto’s progeny perform best up to 1600m with relatively few being able to extend beyond this.

ooking a little closer at the pedigree of Per Incanto, we see his damsire is Indian Ridge, a stallion that we have not seen all that much of locally but a significant speed source in the US in particular. Per Incanto had an interesting racing history and was himself a dual winner at two in Italy. As a 3yo, he won three of his five starts including the Group 3 Roma Premio Tudini to share the title of Italy’s Champion 3yo Sprinter. Per Incanto had only one start as a 4yo, and at five found himself in the US where he won an Optional Claiming race over 1200m. No doubt it was a lack of suitable sons of Street Cry at stud that saw him given an opportunity at stud in NZ where it is fair to say that he has outperformed expectations. Having said that, his family was impressive with his half brother by Stravinsky in Patapan was to win 16 races in Italy and was joint Champion Older Sprinter in that country in 2006. Their dam, Pappa Reale had won 13 races and had been crowned Champion Older Female Sprinter in Italy in both 1997 and 1998.

he family of Little Brose also probably did not suggest that he would become a Group 1 winning 2yo. His dam, Mohegan Sky has produced three other winners to date, but none who have won under 1500m. Mohegan Sky was bred in the US where she won five stakes races up to 1200m including the Listed Belmont Music Prince Stakes and being placed at Grade 3 level. She was by Straight Man, another US stallion that we do not see often in Australia. He stands in Florida which is not a key thoroughbred breeding region in the US, but was a good racehorse, running second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes as a 3yo. He is a son of Saint Ballado who was an excellent stallion and a full brother to Devil’s Bag and the mare, Glorious Song who produced Rahy, Singspiel and Rivotious.

TURF MONTHLY 5

elving further into the pedigree of Little Brose, we see that it is largely an overseas one. The third dam of Little Brose is Tempest Moon by Caro whose daughter Her Mink Coat by Affirmed went to NZ where she produced Moon Flute by Danehill, and her daughter Pine Away by Pine Bluff came to Australia to leave Absolut Glam by Snowland who won the Group 1 Tatt’s Qld Winter Stakes and her full brother Noby Snip who won the AJC Eskimo Stakes and Fireball Stakes before being sold to Hong Kong. Absolut Glam has since produce the Group 3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner, Jazz Song. One of the few family members who have made it to Australia include a stallion called All Chatter by Phone Trick who arrived in Australia in 1998 but had limited success. Delving further back into the family we see it is the family of the outstanding stallion Bull Lea who had a statue of him displayed at Calumet Farm in the US. The common factor is a mare called Colonial who, as the name suggests, has a colonial connection. She was by the stallion Trenton, a son of the great Musket. In the case of Bull Lea, he sees his pedigree also featuring the stallion Spearmint by Carbine, the sire of Musket to further reinforce the importance of local lines within the international thoroughbred. In the case of Little Brose, one would expect the Blue Diamond to be a stepping stone to perhaps other important races, and even classic success as a 3yo. It would be a great reward for the stallion, and also for the Little Avondale Stud who took a chance on a stallion who many others would have bypassed for the sake of fashion.

TURF MONTHLY 6

Per Incanto

BLACK CAVIAR UNBEATEN CHAMPION

lack Caviar is no doubt one the most identifiable thoroughbred in Australasia, if not the world, in recent times. Her victory in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot was accompanied by international attention that was likely unrivalled by any Australian horse. Many claim her as the greatest ever, retiring as she did unbeaten from 25 starts. While this is truly a remarkable record, it speaks perhaps more about modern thoroughbred management, and dare we say, a lack in quality opposition, than it does about such claims. It is perhaps fair to suggest that her “year” was not the most outstanding crop of horses that Australia has produced. We can speculate whether the outbreak of Equine Influenza in the summer of 2007/08, when Black Caviar was a yearling had any influence on the crop. Such is the nature of the thoroughbred that she was followed rather closely by another champion mare in Winx who rather pushed the legacy of Black Caviar into the background.

er 25 starts came in a career that covered from the ages of 2yo to 6yo. Black Caviar’s first start was in a 2yo handicap at Flemington over 1000m on 18 April 2009. It was to be the only run that saw bookmakers bet black odds about her, starting as she did at 4/1. She had only two starts as a 2yo, before returning as a Spring 3yo where she won her first Group race, the Danehill Stakes at Flemington. It was at this time that she linked with jockey Luke Nolan, having been ridden as a 2yo by Jarrod Noske. After only two starts in the Spring, she was again sent to the paddock. She returned to the races in January for a win in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and this was her last run as a 3yo.

TURF MONTHLY 8

he great mare returned as a 4yo with three starts in the Spring, culminating with her win in the Patinack Stakes on the Saturday following the Melbourne Cup. After a short break, she returned for the Autumn, winning the Lightning, Newmarket and William Reid in Melbourne before travelling to Sydney for the TJ Smith, and Brisbane for the BTC Cup. By this stage, the mare had a huge following, and some of racing’s largest crowds came out to share the excitement that surrounded Black Caviar. She returned again as a 5yo for victories in the same three races in the Melbourne Spring as she had won as a 4yo. After a brief let up, Black Caviar returned in January 2012 to win the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. She then stepped out in the CF Orr, winning convincingly in her only start over 1400m. A drop back in distance to the 1000m of the Lightning did not bother her, as she racked up her 19th straight victory to tie the Australasian record for consecutive victories that was held by New Zealander Desert Gold and Gloaming. Interestingly both horses had raced shortly after World War 1, so it had been a long-standing record.

nother break saw her return to racing in Morphettville where she sealed the record for consecutive wins in the Sangster Stakes. This was followed by a win in the time honoured Goodwood at the same track, before Black Caviar journeyed to England for her tilt at their Ascot carnival. Trainer Peter Moody was not all that happy with the way she had travelled, and she gave supporters a scare when jockey Luke Nolan eased up early allowing the second horse, French bred Moonlight Cloud to get closer than any horse ever had before to the great mare. After the race, Black Caviar was found to have suffered serious muscle injuries in the race, and her overseas campaign was cut short.

lack Caviar returned to Australia for a prolonged spell, not returning to the track until February when she won her third Lightning Stakes, breaking the long-standing track record in the process. A win in the William Reid followed, and the mare ventured to Sydney for her final start on 13 April 2013 in the TJ Smith. It was a fitting finale as she beat Kingston Town’s record for the most Group 1 victories with 15 in a race honouring that champion’s trainer. Her retirement was announced only a few days later.

er career highlights a couple of interesting factors. Firstly, we note that the mare never raced on a rain affected track. All of her performances were on either a Good or Dead surface. She also never raced beyond 1400m, and in fact only attempted that journey once. The heaviest weight she carried was 58kg when winning the 2011 Newmarket Handicap.

lack Caviar is by Bel Esprit and is the first foal of the unraced Desert Sun mare, Helsinge. Helsinge is out of the stakes winning Snippets mare, Scandinavia who won four races including the Group 2 QTC Cup and the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude. She was also placed in the Group 1 Goodwood, the Salinger, the Lightning and the Newmarket Handicaps making her among the best sprinters of her era. At stud she was no slouch either, producing the Group 1 AJC Galaxy winner, Magnus as well as Wilander, winner of the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes.

he filly’s third dam is an unraced Vain mare called Song Of Norway. She was an outstanding broodmare, producing eleven winners from twelve foals including not only Scandinavia, but also other stakes winners in Frosty The Snowman, Midnight Sun and Russian Tea Room. She also produced the stakes placed Song Of The Sun, by Desert Sun who is a three quarter sister to Helsinge. The fourth dam of the mare is an imported Danish mare called Love Song, by Warpath. She also produced the Bletchingly mare, Song Of Kingston who was to, in turn, produce the stakes winning Muirfield Village. While Love Song was foaled in Denmark, she was TURF MONTHLY 9

the product of the mating of the UK horses, Warpath and Folk Song. Warpath is an interesting stallion winning stakes races at both three and four years of age. He was a son of Sovereign Path, out of a mare by Right Royal. In turn, his second dam was by the wonderful stallion, Alycidon. Love Song’s female line traces to some wonderful influences with the most notable being the great stallion, Court Martial, by Fair Trial and another quality stallion in Hornbeam by Hyperion.

ourt Martial was Champion UK 2yo of his season, but at stud, this grandson of Fairway really stamped his importance on the breed. He was Champion Sire and perhaps more notably in the modern era, was leading 2yo sire on six occasions. Court Martial though is best known in Australia as the sire of Wilkes. Wilkes sired the wonderful sprinter and Golden Slipper winning Vain, which becomes even more critical when we look at the pedigree of Black Caviar. Hornbeam is also an interesting stallion, being by the great Hyperion. His lasting legacy in Australia is as the damsire of Lunchtime, who is the sire of another of our great speed sires in Snippets, interestingly the sire of Scandinavia.

lack Caviar’s sire is Bel Esprit, a son of the good stallion Royal Academy. Royal Academy was by the champion stallion Nijinsky and sired over 50 individual stakes winners including such horses as Bullish Luck, Kenwood Melody, Oscar Schindler, Serious Speed and Val Royal who won Group 1 races throughout the world. Bel Esprit won eight of his nineteen starts including the Blue Diamond Preview, Prelude and the Group 1 Blue Diamond. He also won the Doomben 10,000 at the highest level before retiring to stud in 2003. Bel Esprit is from the Vain mare, Bespoken who was a half-sister to another Blue Diamond winner in Mahaasin. The family had established itself in New Zealand for many generations and include the likes of the solid stallion, Omnicorp, winner of the Victoria Derby and San Domenico, the stakes winning son of Hurricane Sky in Wildly, and Tasmanian Derby winner, Suavity.

n an interesting connection, Love Song was imported to Australia by the legendary golfer, and equally enthusiastic racing man, Norman Von Nida and his close friend, David Haines. Considering that these two men also imported Ada Hunter, the dam of the immortal Kingston Town, it is fitting that these two champions have such a strong connection.

TURF MONTHLY 10

SURROUND A CHAMPION 3YO

S T

urround is one the greatest of all of our 3yo fillies. Her performances at that age were stunning, making history in winning the three Eastern States Oaks races over the classic distances, and again winning the Cox Plate at that age.

he filly was raced by trainer Geoff Murphy and some of his stable clients. Murphy was a regular visitor to Sir Patrick Hogan’s famed Cambridge Stud, and the annual pilgrimage to New Zealand to inspect young horses was part and parcel of many trainers’ regime. The practice may well have been instigated by legendary trainer, Bart Cummings who sourced many of his great horses from that country. NZ was widely held as the source of many of the great stayers. Surround though was the one that got away from Bart. Sir Patrick reportedly even tried to talk Geoff Murphy out of even looking at the weanlings in the bottom paddock, stating that Bart Cummings had looked at them the day before, and found nothing of interest. Murphy spotted a grey filly that took his eye, and he leased the filly from Hogan on the spot.

TURF MONTHLY 12

urround raced surprisingly early, appearing in the Maribyrnong Plate but pulling up shin sore. She won her first races in January of her 2yo season but was quickly spelled and bypassed the Autumn. The filly wintered in Brisbane, a tactic that helped her mature, and she had the rather strange preparation by continue her preparation back in Melbourne for the Spring. Brisbane saw the start of a ten-race unbeaten streak that included the Caulfield Guineas, Cox Plate, in which she ran a track record, and the VRC Oaks. She had a well-earned break following this victory and returned to extend her winning run in the CF Orr and Blamey Stakes before tasting defeat. Surround was treated for three displaced vertebrae shortly after, so perhaps she was not at her best at that time. After treatment she was to dead heat with Family Of Man in the Alister Clark before again having another break. She returned in the Autumn in Sydney to win the AJC Oaks, and continued to Brisbane

where she suffered leg problems, but was good enough to win her Triple Crown of Oaks with the Queensland version of that event. Surround returned as a 4yo but had only three starts before succumbing to leg problems. She was retired to Cambridge Stud where she was to produce Underwood Cup winner, Bowral.

urround was out of the Le Filou mare, Micheline who was crowned NZ Broodmare of the Year on the back of not only Surround’s performance, but also her stakes winning siblings in Purple Patch, Sovereign Parade and Lord Hybrow. What is remarkable is that her dam, Dulcie, by the Italian bred Duccio, had also held that honour producing four stakes winners in Gay Filou, Fulmen, Fileur and Balmerino who was to become a top sire.

hile bred in NZ, Surround has her links with early Australian settlement and industry. The Elder family were instrumental in the development of South Australia and created the Adelaide Steamship Company and many other ventures. Elders remains synonymous with agribusiness in Australia. One of the family behind much of the development of the family’s business interests was Sir Thomas Elder who created Morphettville Sud in South Australia in 1873. He imported the English bred Peradventure in foal to top stallion, Hermit although that foal was later to die early. She was nevertheless to produce a quality runner in Guesswork who was to win the SA Derby and the VRC Sires’ Produce. One line of the family though was to find considerable success when sent to New Zealand. This family gave us Redcraze who was born in 1950 and is another inductee to the Hall of Fame. He won 23 stakes races in both Australia and NZ including the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, Brisbane Cup and Metropolitan.

TURF MONTHLY 14

Redcraze winning the St George Stakes

LONHRO

ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR STARS

onhro was perhaps almost as famous for being a son of Octagonal as he was for being a champion racehorse. Octagonal, also an inductee of the Hall Of Fame, was among Australia’s most popular horses of his time. He retired to serve a quality book of mares, yet rather than match his racetrack performances, was to sadly leave relatively few quality progeny. Apart from Lonhro, that is. We could actually make a strong case I believe that the failure of Octagonal at stud was a failure to consider where he was best suited. It is my belief that if the stallion had stood in NZ, he would have succeeded with a similar broodmare band that had made his own sire, Zabeel such an important influence. The thoroughbred stallion throughout history has succeeded only where it meets broodmares and conditions that suit the progeny. Once the racing is over, it is the genetic base that is all important. But of course, that discussion is one for another day.

onhro was from the first crop of foals of Octagonal. He made his racetrack debut on a heavy track at Rosehill on 18 November 2000. He was to run second, and interestingly he started only twice on heavy tracks without winning. Lonhro then won his next two starts including the Blue Diamond Prelude before running fourth in the Blue Diamond. He was sent for a spell and returned again on a heavy track at Rosehill in the Missile Stakes against the older horses at his last of his 2yo season on the 28 July 2001, a matter of days before his official third birthday.

t was as a 3yo though that Lonhro made his name, being unbeaten in eight starts at that age. After four wins in Sydney, Lonhro went to Melbourne for the first of his Group 1 victories in the time honoured Caulfield Guineas. He was actually

TURF MONTHLY 16

the second of the stable runners in the race, behind the well-credentialed Viscount. A minor injury following this race led connections to send him to the paddock, with Viscount going on to an unlucky third in the Cox Plate behind Northerly and Sunline that year. Lonhro returned in Autumn, winning the Royal Sovereign and Hobartville Stakes in Sydney, before a virus was to keep him out of racing for the rest of his 3yo season.

onhro resumed as a 4yo in the Missile Stakes, this time winning by four lengths in a canter. It was the horse’s eighth straight win, but his colours were to be lowered next start by a half head to the underrated galloper Defier. A win in the Chelmsford followed before Defier again bested him the George Main. Lonhro returned to Melbourne to take on the great mare Sunline in the Caulfield Stakes. Sunline was in front in the shadows of the post, but the black horse never gave up, finally getting the better of the mare in the final few strides. Lonhro disappointed behind Northerly in the Cox Plate of 2002, finishing sixth, but he bounced back to end his Spring Campaign with a win in the Mackinnon Stakes. After a spell, Lonhro resumed in the Expressway Stakes in Sydney. Wins in the Apollo, Chipping Norton and George Ryder were followed by a fourth in the Doncaster on a slow track, when giving away six kilograms to eventual winner, Grand Armee. A victory in the Queen Elizabeth rounded out a highly successful 4yo season.

he stallion began his final Spring campaign with three wins in Sydney, in the Warwick Stakes, Chelmsford and George Main, before returning to Melbourne to win his second Caulfield Stakes. High hopes were held for the Cox Plate, and Lonhro tried hard as the 2 to 1 on favourite but finished third to Fields Of Omagh and Defier. Another spell ensued as Lonhro prepared for his final campaign with a stud career beckoning. The Autumn for Lonhro started in Melbourne with wins in the CF Orr and St George Stakes before winning the Australian Cup at Flemington. He returned to Sydney, and although back in distance easily won the George Ryder Stakes over 1500m. His final start was in the Queen Elizabeth at Randwick on 17 April 2004. It had been the same race that saw his sire Octagonal beaten in at his racing finale. A large crowd attended Lonhro’s final start, and rather ironically, he too was to run second, behind Grand Armee who he had beaten at his previous start.

ust like his sire, Octagonal, Lonhro went to stud among great fanfare. Luckily, he was to perform much better than his sire, and won the Australian Champion Sires’ Title in season 2010/11. It is pertinent that we look at a couple of interesting statistics from Lonhro’s racing career. Such was his popularity, the horse started favourite at every start since his Caulfield Guineas win as a 3yo. He did start equal favourite with Northerly in his Cox Plate defeat, but at all other starts was a clear favourite. In fact, in eighteen of those twenty five starts, he started at odds on. For the record, he was successful in nineteen of those starts.

onhro was a son of Shadea who had been among the leading 2yo’s of her season, winning the Sweet Embrace and running second to champion 2yo Tierce in the AJC Sires’ Produce. Shadea was also to produce the stakes winning Niello, a full brother to Lonhro who won the Spring Champion, Stakes as well as both the Rosehill and Randwick Guineas. Niello also stood at stud, although with little success.

TURF MONTHLY 17

onhro’s second dam is Concia who also produced the NZ Oaks winner, Mahaya. Concia was a half-sister to five stakes winners, including the very good stallion, Grosvenor who had won the VRC Sires’ Produce, Caulfield Guineas and VRC Derby. At stud he produced over 50 stakes winners including Abstraction, Cross Swords, Ebony Grosve, Omnicorp, Richfield Lass, Te Akau Nick and Westminster. To really understand the family though, we need to go back to a mare called Locket, a chestnut mare who was born in England in 1872 and bred by a Mr C Alexander. She was imported to New Zealand by Mr B D Ferguson of Gorton in 1878 and she became a grand old matron for the New Zealand Stud Company. She died in foaling a colt that was to come to be named Medallion by Nordenfeldt, a son of Musket. Medallion was to win three stakes races in his native NZ, including a Champagne Stakes and two Derbies. He retired to stud where he had a successful career siring 18 stakes winners including NZ champion, Achilles. Medallion continues a very special legacy, being found in the pedigree of the champion racehorse, Strawberry Road.

ocket was to become an important foundation mare in NZ and is rather interesting in that she is by a stallion called Thunderbolt by Stockwell. She was to have a son by the same name, by the stallion Musket. The locally bred Thunderbolt was unbeaten as a 2yo in NZ, and reportedly a stunning animal. He was purchased by Mr William Robinson for a significant sum and with great fanfare with an aim to the VRC Derby. Thunderbolt proved a great disappointment in Australia, and was sold for a considerable loss by Mr Robinson. Thunderbolt stood at stud in South Australia and is said to have sired 48 winners from his first 50 foals. If that is true, then it would be a remarkable record, but considering that we are delving back to the late 19th century, there is probably little way to prove, or indeed disprove the claim. As with much of horse racing, a good story is always important.

Medallion by Nordenfeldt TURF MONTHLY 18

Carbine

wo full sisters to Thunderbolt were to continue the wonderful line. Necklet was to win the Maribyrnong Plate and remained in Australia to produce a line that continues to this day. Necklace though remained in NZ and produced three stakes winners in Armilla, Coronet and Cravat. Her daughter, Miss Letty though produced a stakes winner called Beddington who won five stakes races in his local NZ. He was named in honour of the English sportsman and thoroughbred breeder, Mr H E Beddington who was a frequent visitor to Australia. He was also a very vocal supporter of the Australian thoroughbred, claiming that it had superior bone and substance to its English counterpart. He put this down to the climate and conditions that the local horse was raised under and was an outspoken critic of the English changing the date that the age of a thoroughbred was recorded from the 1st April to the 1st January. His arguments focused on the negative effects of mares not having access to natural feed, nor the foals to paddocks being born as they were in the middle of winter rather than spring. Beddington obviously was not successful in his attempts to change the rules of the Jockey Club, but one can only wonder if there could still be something in his plan. Beddington incidentally bred the English Goodwood winner, Magic, and made a substantial offer to lease the Australian stallion Carbine to stand in England. The offer was refused by Australian owner, Mr Donald Wallace, but again it is a case of what might have been if the foresight of Mr Beddington had come to fruition.

TURF MONTHLY 20

BOBADIL AT STUD

Bobadil at Stud Sport (Adelaide, SA : 1911 - 1948), Friday 22 January 1926, page 15 The Stud Record of Bobadil When great Australian sires are being discussed it is seldom that the name of Bobadil is mentioned. Yattendon, Chester, Grand Flaneur Trenton, Goldsbrough, Fisherman, Bill of Portland, Carbine, Maltster. Wallace, Lochiel, The Welkin, Comedy King, and many others are remembered, but Bobadil is forgotten. Yet he was a really great sire. He is overlooked, because he did not sire horses that appeal to the imagination as Gloaming, Abercorn, Grand Flaneur and a few other notables did at the zenith of their careers. He sired a few wonderful stayers, but the great majority of his progeny were just average performers, but unequalled for toughness and honesty. A few more horses of the type of Bobadil would be very welcome in Australia today. Sires of his sort are now conspicuous by their absence. His record as a sire is really remarkable when all the circumstances of his career are taken into consideration. At stud, he did not get the chances that came the way of several of his better remembered rivals. TURF MONTHLY 22

Eurythmic

His Many Owners He was a brilliant racehorse. who was endowed with great speed, but he could also stay. He had sufficient pace to win races like the Ascot Vale Stakes, Champagne Stakes, Caulfield Guineas, and Caulfield Futurity Stakes, and he stayed well enough to score in the Champion Stakes and Australian Cup. He was very versatile, and so were many of his sons and daughters. When he ceased to race, he was purchased by Mr. F. S Grimwade. who installed him in his Coolart Stud. At the SL Albans sale shortly after the death of Mr. W. R. Wilson, Bobadil was among the horses to go into the ring. He was then five years old, and Mr. Grimwade was lucky enough to get him for 500 guineas. He was a bargain at the price. He was a success from the outset and was not long finding his way into the list of winning sires. He was mated with a few mares before he left St. Albans. Mr. James Wilson of Bonny Vale was a keen admirer of Bobadil, and was about the first man to send a mare to him. He booked Postulant to him, and bred a smart mare named Attitude, who was racing in Western Australia, where she bad been taken by Mr. P. A. Connolly. In December 1907, the Coolart Stud was dispersed owing to the death of Mr. Grimwade. Bobadil was then purchased by Mr. James Wilson for 625 guineas and installed at Bonny Vale. He did well there, but he was limited almost wholly to the mares belonging to his owner. He remained at Bonny Vale until a disperse sale held in March, 1911. The late Mr. Tom Uphill bought him for 2300 guineas, and Bobadil then transferred to Pranjip Park, in the Goulburn Valley. He continued to sire good winners there, and Pranjip Park remained his home for several years. On the death of Mr. Uphill, Pranjip Park Stud was dispersed, and Bobadil came into the sale again. He was then 20 years of age, so Messrs. A. and G. Tye were able to get him for 425 guineas. He was then installed at Blackwood Park, near Fern Tree Gully, and after two seasons there he was again submitted to auction. Mr. F. Fairbairn became his last owner for 330 guineas, and Bobadil was sent to a Queensland station, where he died the following year. Bobadil sired few horses capable of winning the rich races for two and three-year-olds. In the face of that fact his record as a sire is an extraordinary good one. Wallace had much better opportunities at the stud than Bobadil, and his classic winners have not, as a whole, been surpassed by any other Australian sire. Wallace's progeny won just over £243,000 stakes, but Bobadil sired the winners of £182,613. Here is his complete stud record. TURF MONTHLY 23

Bobadil leading in the Futurity

Season Races Stakes 1903-4 2 £415 1904-5 20.5 £2285 1905-6 24 £2613 1906-7 26 £2430 1907-8 44.5 £5438 1908-9 43.5 £7827 1909-10 47 £6259 1910-11 58.5 £13047 1911-12 44 £13014 1912-13 72 £9492 1913-14 84.5 £12034 1914-15 119.5 £21337 1915-16 123.5 £14006 1916-17 125.5 £15152 1917-18 71 £8803 1918-19 66 £6775 1919-20 78 £9014 1920-21 73 £9011 1921-22 76 £9992 1922-23 40.5 £5759 1923-24 34 £5613 1924-25 20.5 £1592 1294 £182,613

TURF MONTHLY 24

Principal Winners. The best performer sired by Bobadil was undoubtedly The Parisian, who was one of the finest stayers we have seen in Australia of recent times. He won the Australian Cup, and the following spring beat a good field in the Melbourne Cup in smashing style. Another great Bobadil stayer was Pendil, who was a small horse but a great sticker. He won the Australian Cup and Champion Stakes as a three-year-old. Few people will forget his tremendous struggle with Prince Foote in the Champion Stakes the following year as he was beaten after a great set-to by only half a length, Bobadil could also sire speed, and Blague was proof of that. He led a Newmarket Handicap field from start to finish and won easily. Danaus and Blague both won the Caulfield Guineas. Miss Bobby and Berry Consols were two smart mares by him, as both won the Standish Handicap, and another Bobadil mare to win the race was Carette, who was the first important winner trained by Holt. Sons as Sires A number of the sons of Bobadil are doing well at the stud. Blague, who is in the Bringenbrong Stud in the Upper Murray has sired a number of smart horses, including the brilliant Last Drop. An even more successful sire is Burrabadeen, who was very smart horse in his racing days. He is the sire of the Grand National winner, Pildin. and a number of smart flat performers, including Brimming, Taivin and Pukka. Flaith sired a few winners in Queensland, and so did Danaus, who did quite well as a sire in North Queensland. T.T. another son of Bobadil, is the sire of winners, including the good steeplechaser, Berribee. Pendil is another Bobadil horse, with innumerable winners to his credit, and Kooringa with few chances, did well in South Australia, one of his progeny being that hardy old campaigner, Wee Gun, who won a lot of races, including the Birthday Cup. Bobadil Mares The daughters of Bobadil have been great winner producers, and the stud master who has Bobadil mares is a lucky man. Below will be found a list of the principal winners bred from Bobadil won by them:— Doncaster Handicap—Whittier (twice). Adelaide Cup—Stralia. Sydney Cup—Eurythmic Australian Cup—Accarak. Caulfield Cup — Eurythmic, Whittier (twice), Purser. Epsom Handicap — Boaster (dead heat). Moonee Valley Cup—Purser. Victoria Derby—Wolawa, Whittier. A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes— Wolawa. Ascot Vale Stakes—Wolawa. Had Bobadil been permanently located in one of the fashionable studs it is certain he would have made an even greater reputation as a sire.

TURF MONTHLY 25

BOBADIL

HIS CONTINUING INFLUENCE

e have touched on some of the influences of Bobadil but of course have not mentioned the champion Eurythmic who we have covered at length in the past. Shortly we look at his other great champion in Whittier who hails from a daughter of Bobadil. Another daughter of Bobadil left Wolawa by Wallace who won the VRC Derby, Ascot Vale, AJC Sires Produce, AJC and VRC St Legers. He sired two stakes winners in Karamu born in NZ who won the Qld Cup and Nonchalance who won the Qld Tatt’s Cup. His daughters produced NZ bred Big Pat who won the 2001 SA Derby, VRC St Leger and 2003 Saab Quality ran 19th to Ethereal in the 2001 Melbourne Cup after running third to Rain Gauge in the MV Cup. Big Pat was later to run 10th behind Makbe Diva in the 2003 Cup.

TURF MONTHLY 26

Wolawa

daughter of Wolawa in Laveuse produced Calshot, a promising 2yo winning four from 10 starts before and injury as an early 3yo saw him retired to stud. He was to produce the Qld galloper Repshot who won the 1945 Doomben Cup and Tatts Cup. He was a popular galloper across Qld and Northern NSW trained by George Benn. He was retired in 1947 because of wind issues but was brought back into work and won easily at Grafton giving the stable ideas of taking him back to town, but his comeback was short lived.

hen talking about sons of Bobadil, they are becoming difficult to find in modern pedigrees. On interesting albeit underrated son of the stallion was Burrabadeen who won the VATC Eclipse Stakes over 11 furlongs (2200m.) At stud he produced only six stakes winners, and only one of those in Darpuna managed to win more than one race at that level. He was to win the Werribee Cup and then went to Tasmania where he won the Newmarket and Launceston Cup. As expected, Burrabadeen is quite difficult to find and his daughters are predominantly found in South Australia. Perhaps the most significant current line of the family is that of Moshki by Moshe who won the SAJC Cinderella Stakes. Included in this family is Viminaria by El Qahira who won the G3 Sweetenham Stud Stakes and produced the Listed winner, Gazania by Encosta De Lago. This is also the family of the Alcove also by El Qahira who won the 1994 AJC Oaks, STC Ansett Stakes (now the Storm Queen) both at G1 level and the G3 MV WH Stocks Stakes.

btrorta by Bobadil was to go on to produce the stakes winning brothers Abspear and Lord Spear. The sons of Spearfelt have been discussed in a previous edition when we looked at that stallion but both were top gallopers in Qld. Lord Spear won two editions of the Hopeful Stakes and the Claret Stakes as a 2yo before going on to win the Qld Derby at three, while Abspear was to win the Tatts Cup and then head to Sydney to bring back the 1943 Sydney Cup.

TURF MONTHLY 27

Alcove

ata is another daughter by Bobadil that we still find in the modern breed, and perhaps is the most numerous of the current lines. We have previously spoken also about this family that includes Nothin’ Leica Dane, Pharaoh, Redding and Leica Jewel. Perhaps a more obscure line is that af Heptonstall who was one of the 23 stakes winners of the great Octagonal. While Heptonstall does not rate anywhere near the wonderful Lonhro who we spoke about earlier, she won the Tatts Winter Stakes in Brisbane and over $200,000 in prizemoney. She ended her breeding career at Yarradale Stud in WA retiring in 2018.

armonius is another daughter that deserves mention. She is responsible for Diamond Park by the little known US stallion Diamond Joe who was to win four stakes races in the VRC Bagot Handicap, the VATC Mona and Hopetoun Handicaps, and the STC Rosehill Cup in the late 70’s. She was to go on to produce two sons by Century who both won stakes races. These were Brooklyn Dodger who won the WATC Melvista Quality before being sold to race in South Korea, and Bronx Bomber who won the VRC Criterion Quality before going to stud where he produced regular winners. Another from this line is Latin Knight, an outstanding racehorse of the early 70’s who won the AJC Sires Produce, Rosehill Guineas, Australian Champion Stakes, Chipping Norton and QTC Grand Prix Stakes. He was to go to stud where he had a moderate career with his best progeny Saxon Slew who won the 1981 Moonee Valley Cup.

altee Princess was a daughter of Bobadil who was mated with the top stallon Magpie to produce Chatterbox. She was to produce a colt called Avenger by Pantheon who went on to win the 1937 AJC Derby. He was a product of the amazing Kia Ora Stud of Percy Miller who offered almost 100 yearlings for sale along with Avenger. The turf writers of the time tended to write under nom-de-plumes and Chiron from the Australasian is one who we quote regularly. In the case of Avenger, it is worth going to his words again:

TURF MONTHLY 28

“However, to my mind, the pick of the draft is the bay Pantheon colt from that onetime good performer, Chatterbox, by Magpie from Galtee Princess. The breeding is right, and so is the colt. The earlier progeny of Chatterbox were rather on the small side, but lack of size cannot be urged against this fellow, as there is plenty of him, and what there is, is exceptionally good. Although short topped, his back being strong and the middle piece splendidly ribbed, he stands over a lot of ground and is a fine reachy mover. He gives the impression of perfect pitch and balance. He is exceptionally good in front, with a long clean shoulder well set back, with a long muscular neck and a keen, intelligent head.”

t was a bitter-sweet Derby for many at the AJC as their renowned Chairman, Sir Colin Stephens died only 18 days prior to the running of the 1937 edition. It proved a quality race with Avenger beating Ajax and Hua, two horses who went on to outstanding careers. Other stakes winners that trace back to the mare are Purpose by Vain and Shining Wind who won the AJC Villiers, BATC Bernborough Handicap and Hawkesbury Gold Cup.

altee Princess continued a much larger influence than this and in fact her granddaughter Constant by Constant Son was to go to the US where the family met with some significant success. Among the US performers from this family are Zenoda by Alibhai who won 14 races including two stakes races, Mr Consistency a winner of 11 races including the California Derby and Del Mar Handicap, Golden Abbey who won 14 races and was sent to NZ to stand at stud and Forever Land by Badger Land who won three races including the G3 Astoria Stakes. One branch of this family also returned to Australia to leave Toledo by At Talaq who won seven stakes races in the Group 1 Stradbroke and Newmarket Handicaps and MVRC Australia Stakes, the Group 2 VRC Emirates Classic, two Group 3 VATC Schillaci Stakes and an SAJC Honda Stakes.

Toledo TURF MONTHLY 29

WHITTIER

A DUAL CAULFIELD CUP WINNER

hittier was a son of Woorak who was a top class racehorse who had won 11 stakes races including the VRC Sires Produce, VATC Oakleigh Plate and AJC Epsom and All-Aged Stakes. At stud he was to produce 17 stakes winners, although Whittier was by far the best of them. For our purposes, Whittier was out of Polacca, a daughter of Bobadil. The mare was also to produce Accarak, a full brother to Whittier who was to win the Australian Cup, Governor’s Plate and the SAJC Elder Stakes. While the dam of Polacca did little, she was out of the Debutante Stakes winner, Heloise by Wallace. She was a half-sister to top galloper Emir being out of the stakes winning Robinson Crusoe mare, Emmie.

TURF MONTHLY 30

hittier had his first start in the time honoured Maribyrnong Plate but finished unplaced. The colt was owned by the popular Victorian racing man, Ben Chaffey and trained by Harry McCalman. He then started at Caulfield but again failed to fill a place before heading out for a spell. Returning on the 7 January, 1922, Whittier showed a glimpse of what was to come by winning at Aspendale Park. He then won another 2yo race at Epsom narrowly and then made it a trifecta by winning at Williamstown again in a narrow finish. Taken back to Caulfield, Whittier was unplaced at his final two starts as a 2yo to finish his season with three wins from seven starts. Returning as a 3yo in early August, Whittier finished third at Flemington before again winning narrowly at Williamstown. He ws then beaten a half-head by Heir Apparent in the Heatherlie Handicap at Caulfield before he was beaten by Soorak in the Caulfield Guineas. Connections then took him to the Caulfield Cup, a tough ask for the 3yo’s and he carried only 44kg (6.13). The Caulfield Cup that year was run against the background of the smoking ruins of the members’ stand after a fire raged across the course in the early hours of the morning. The fire was always thought to be deliberately lit, but no one was ever charged for the crime. Some years later, a biography of the notorious criminal Leslie “Squizzy” Taylor claimed rather matter-the-factly that he had arranged the fire. Not long before Taylor had been thrown off the course by the track detective as being an undesirable influence. Great work by the fire fighters kept the damage to the members area which makes it even more likely that it was a targeted fire, and the meeting went on with little disruption. The Cup itself was not such a sedate affair. There was trouble at the start and the other 3yo Soorak was caught in the barriers and his jockey dislodged although he did manage to remount before the race got underway. The 1921 winner Violoncello had drawn wide and in a mad scramble at the start, he made his way

TURF MONTHLY 31

Harry McCalman the trainer of Whittier

Ben Chaffey Whittiers Owner

across the face of the field causing interference to most runners. Further incidents at the mile and five furlongs saw jockey Frank Dempsey describe it as the roughest race he had ever ridden in. The favourite Stare suffered such bad interference as to finish last, although none admitted whether this was by accident or design as was sometimes the case in those days. In the end, Whittier had a relatively trouble free run and went on to win convincingly in race record time. Whittier then showed his class by winning the VRC Derby at his next start again winning in race record time. His winning run though came to an end in the Melbourne Cup where he finished towards the rear. He resumed in the Autumn with a fourth in the St George Stakes and then went to Sydney finishing with two seconds including in the All-Aged Stakes behind Purser, and a fourth in the Doncaster.

hittier returned as a 4yo to run fourth at Williamstown before winning the Ailsa Handicap at Moonee Valley and the October Stakes at Flemington beating Maid Of The Mist. He then ran second to that mare in the Caulfield Stakes and fifth in the Caulfield Cup behind Wynette. A gallant second in the Cox Plate followed when he had a battle with the WA champion Easingwold for almost the entire race, with that champion eventually getting the upper hand to win by a length and a half. A break saw Whittier return in the Autumn to run unplaced in the Newmarket and Oakleigh Plate before heading to Sydney to win the Rawson Stakes and Doncaster, and finish second again in the All-Aged Stakes. Back as a 5yo Whittier won the Williamstown Stakes, the forerunner to the Underwood by 2 lengths as a 10/9 on favourite. A third in the Memsie was followed by a win in the October Stakes. He finished the Spring with seconds in the Caulfield Stakes behind The Hawk, The Cox Plate behind The Night Patrol and The Melbourne Stakes now the Mackinnon behind Gloaming. The Autumn saw Whittier again unplace in the Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket before heading to Sydney for three runs which resulted in seconds in the Rawson Stakes and All-Aged Stakes both times behind The Hawk. A trip to Adelaide saw him finish unplaced behind The Night Patrol in the Parkside Stakes.

TURF MONTHLY 32

Whittier 1922 Caulfield Cup finish

is final season was as a 6yo and he showed that his form was as good as ever by winning the Williamstown Stakes beating The Night Patrol first up. It was his first start since winning the Caulfield Cup some three years earlier that he did not race in bandages as a splint caused him terrible leg problems that led to him being raced sparingly. A second behind Heroic in the Memsie followed and then it was back to Sydney to win the Warwick Stakes beating The Hawk. He rounded off his last interstate trip by finishing second to Windbag in the Spring Stakes at Randwick. Back in Melbourne, he was beaten into third behind Heroic in the Caulfield Stakes with the margins being a neck by a neck. Heroic who was also owned by Chaffey was withdrawn from the Caulfield Cup and punters backed Whittier into the 9/2 favourite for the race. Champion Sydney jockey Jim Pike had been engaged for Whittier and Pike managed to start his mount from barrier three despite being drawn in eleven. It cost Pike a £10 fine but may have won the race. Again there was

TURF MONTHLY 33

Whittier leads into the straight in the Caulfield Cup

trouble at the start with Kanchani losing her rider at barrier rise, but with his new draw, Pike managed to have Whittier safely tucked away on the rails avoiding any trouble. As the leaders fanned as they entered the straight, Whittier got a run on the rails and strode away, never being in danger to win untroubled by two lengths and join a short list of dual Caulfield Cup winners. A fourth in the Melbourne Stakes behind Pilliewinkie was followed by a second to The Night Patrol in the Linlithgow Stakes to end the Spring. Whittier returned with a second to The Night Patrol in the William Reid Stakes over 6 furlongs. He then won the CF Orr Stakes beating Heroic and the St George Stakes from Pantheon before finally succumbing to his leg issues.

hittier originally stood at Richmond Park Stud alongside Manfred and St Anton. He was later transferred to Kismet Estate in Sunbury Victoria which was a new property operated by LTF Aldridge and DC Cudmore. Whittier surprisingly had little success at stud, but he can still be found in modern pedigrees. Almost certainly his best descendant was Laureate by Law Maker who we have discussed in the magazine previously. Laureate won the 1941 AJC Derby and Rosehill Guineas before going to stud and is out of a mare called Stage Wit by Whittier.

Whittier beating Heroic in the CF Orr

TURF MONTHLY 34

Whittier Caulfield Cup 1922

he stallion though has cemented his line in WA through horses like Sovereign Lady who won the WATC Gimcrack Stakes and SA West End Breeders Stakes before producing Royal Rubiton who won the VATC Autumn and Moondah Stakes. Another key line for Whittier is through the 2004 Adrian Knox and AJC Oaks winner, Wild Iris by Spectrum. She was also to run second to Mummify in the Craven Plate at Randwick and produced Zanbagh by Bernardini who won four stakes races including the Emancipation Stakes twice. This line had earlier given us Fiancee by Baguette who won the Gimcrack Stakes, Silver Slipper and Flight Stakes in Sydney, and also produced Zip Me Up by Zephyr Zip who won the WA Queen’s Plate. Another line produced In Love who won the 1960 Doomben 10,000, Tumble On who won the Villiers and two Hall Mark Stakes, and Friendly Embrace by Clang who won the 2008 George Moore Stakes. Arguably his most enduring daughter has been Jennifer who has left us with horses like Arbogast who won four stakes races in the Feehan, Theo Marks, Liverpool City Cup and QTC White Lightning, and produced the Caulfield Guineas winner Abaridy, and Chortle by Rory’s Jester who won the Qld Sires Produce and Caulfield Guineas.

TURF MONTHLY 35

THE PARISIAN

THE 1911 MELBOURNE CUP WINNER

Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic.: 1922 - 1954), Wednesday 21 August 1935, page 6 How I Won Melbourne; Cup On The Parisian By RON CAMERON, Australia's most versatile rider PETER PAN won two Melbourne Cups and Prince Foote won his Cup easier than any horse I have seen, but The Parisian will always be my idol among Cup winners. The Parisian was my Melbourne Cup winner. Winning a Melbourne Cup is every rider's ambition. I do not claim any great credit for winning. I merely carried out my part on a great horse, and thanks to the skill and patience of Charles Wheeler, The Parisian went to the post so fit that anybody could have won that Cup on him The Parisian had rather a chequered career before I became associated with him. He was bought as a yearling by Charles Wheeler for Mr JF Kirby of Casterton, and turned over to EJ Hatwell, at that time of Hamilton. It was not until he was a three-year-old TURF MONTHLY 36

that he raced and after winning a five furlongs race and being beaten in the run-off by Perilous after a dead-heat the same day, he was sent back to the Western District where he was trained by James Agnew. Long Run Of Success A long string of successes gave Agnew the impression that in The Parisian, Mr Kirby had a horse that would prove a top-notcher in the metropolis where his stamina would be given its full play in the Cups. Accordingly, he was passed on to Wheeler. Charles Wheeler was one of the greatest of a number of masters of the art of training at the time. He was then what Jack Holt is now. There was no hurry about Charlie Wheeler. There was no rush or bustle about a horse's preparation. Months and even a year ahead he would set a horse for a race. Big handicaps were his favourites. The Parisian's Cup was one of his masterpieces. Wheeler immediately set The Parisian for the Melbourne Cup of 1910, in which the gelding had 7.9. Mr Kirby was a man who would pay good prices for his horses, and he bet well, for that year the stable backed The Parisian at long prices to win a fortune. The Parisian had a cracked hoof and that year Wheeler did not persevere with him after the first day of the Caulfield spring meeting, but he planned for the autumn and the Australian Cup. Charlie Cooper will remember that race. It was just easy money for The Parisian. Charlie made sure that Wheeler's plans would not go awry and he beat Apple Pie by six lengths. Charlie Cooper decided to retire just then. A great rider, Cooper was riding as well as ever and few riders would have given up after having won the Australian Cup and Newmarket. Queen of Scots did not win the Newmarket very easily, having only a neck to spare from Desert Rose (Billy Foulsham) and Broadsword (Myles Connell). I rode Wakeful's son, Blairgour, in that race, but he did not finish in the first dozen. Blairgour, who was raced by Mr C Leslie Macdonald, was a great sprinter, as great, perhaps, as his famous mother over a short course. On him I won the Oakleigh Plate and Futurity Stakes. It was remarkable that I was destined to follow many great jockeys In Australia. As I had taken Jim Barden's place on Trafalgar, and in 1911 Charlie Coopers retirement gave me a further chance. The 1911 Melbourne Cup was remarkable in many respects. The Parisian's connections were confident they would win. It was just a matter of his keeping sound, and Wheeler was the to get him to the post if it were humanly possible. Earned His Weight The gelding had won only one race the previous season, but it was an easy Australian Cup, and the handicapper had no option but to give him 8.9. Fairly long prices were bet against him. From hundreds to fours, The Parisian was backed to 9 to 2, and probably he would have started favourite but for the fact that Trafalgar was there for his fourth Cup. Always public idol Trafalgar had the services of Billy Black, a leading Sydney rider. Black unfortunately was to come in for more backbiting than I did the previous year, but more of that later. On Derby Day, when backers had an atrocious day, Trafalgar, starting at 14 to 1 defeated Beverage (Jim Pike) and The Parisian comfortably with the odds on Comedy King fifth of eight. There was some justification besides his great popularly, for Trafalgar being Cup favourite. The Parisian was to meet Trafalgar 11lb. better in the Cup. The field of 33 we were to oppose included some great stayers, but I can remember that Trafalgar, Comedy King and The Parisian were the horses about whose stalls thronged the crowds. Comedy King, the handsome black stallion took the prize as the beauty of the field, and Jimmy Lynch was confident he would run the race of his life. Trafalgar, with his silver mane and tail was much more striking than the brown son of Bobadil and The Parisian as we rode out on the way to the post. Hie Parisian would never have

TURF MONTHLY 37

Ron Cameron

taken prizes for his looks, but no horse in that field looked better fitted to the task before him. And I knew it. Charlie Wheeler never sent a horse to a task for which he was not fitted, and failure could never be laid at his hands. It is a great thing to go out on a horse and be confident that he is fit and capable of doing the job. You can be overconfident, but somehow the importance of the occasion did not worry me. In fact, I do not think it worries many experienced riders for the race soon passes most other things from the mind. Mr Godfrey Watson lived up to his name as “Prince of Starters” that day, for no sooner had the 33 runners lined up than he had them away in perfect line. Mr Watson had the confidence of every rider, and that was one of the secrets of his success. Could Not Bustle Him I made up my mind I would not bustle The Parisian. Somewhere handy enough to the front would do me no matter where, so long as I was nicely placed. Either Black on Trafalgar or McLachlan on Comedy King had planned similarly, or they were keeping close to me. I do not know which but the three of us were in close company behind a fairly closely packed bunch of about 10 horses in front. Until they passed the stands the four leaders were almost in line and tenth or eleventh was not so far behind. The pace was very slow for more than a mile, bit The Parisian, great stayer he was, was more adaptable than Trafalgar, Cadonia and some of the other great stayers, and I was not worried. The bridge at the hack of the course was plenty near enough to make my run unless the pace was put on earlier and it happened that Morrie Leek on Aurofidina ran to the front just a little later and the battle royal commenced. Comedy King moved away first and I left Trafalgar but made very little actual progress until near the turn where Didas rushed past Fred Merton’s horse with Jacamar at his girth. Comedy King was third and I was right at his heels. It was then that my supreme confidence in The Parisian was put to the test, and he came through with flying colours. I let him go and before the leaders were fairly straightened for the run home I was in front with the race won. McLachlan had won the Cup two years earlier on Prince Foote in similar fashion. The Parisian won by two lengths from the Caulfield Cup runner up, Flavian, but it was a most comfortable victory. Greatest I Ever Rode The Parisian was the greatest horse I ever rode, and only his hoof troubles kept him from further greatness. The following year he was an even better horse, but he broke down when favourite for the Sydney Cup. He was working better than ever in the spring, but two days before the Melbourne Cup he again broke down and TURF MONTHLY 38

the winner was Piastre who had finished about twentieth to him the previous year. Some idea of how The Parisian was going in his preparation in 1912 may be gained by his run in the Caulfield Stakes won by Blairgour. The Parisian of course had no chance over the nine furlongs of the race, but he dashed away to lead that day and ran the first half mile in 48 sec. Not a bad gallop, you will admit, but The Parisian would stop if ridden in front. Mr Kirby was most liberal after The Parisian had won the Melbourne Cup, but even if he had not been he would still have been highly regarded by me as a great horseman. My master had always impressed on me that anything above the fee was a present, and a present, no matter what it may be, is always to be prized. Besides winning the Melbourne Cup in 1911 I had a great year. On the flat and over hurdles I could not go wrong. Increasing weight restricted my opportunities on the flat but during my apprenticeship Maher had not hesitated to get me to school horses. This was a common practice at the time. In 1910 I started over jumps. On Jewel Case in the Australian Hurdle I had my first ride. Jewel Case was running was running second to Coir (Hughie Cairns) when he fell. The race was won by Alec. Williamson on Tundulya. Both Alec, and Tom Williamson were great riders. At that meeting I won the St. Auburn Welter on Skybolt and rode Trafalgar’s half-brother Corroboree, a 12 year old stallion by Harmonist, winner of the Futurity Stakes 12 years earlier. He was a great little horse but by then on the downgrade. His owner, Jack Beck rode him himself and won a Welter at Caulfield with 12.4. It was not unusual for amateurs to ride their own horses and most of them could hold their own with professionals. At the VRC Birthday meeting of 1911 I won the York Hurdle on Norley, a horse that was very bad at the barrier and had been barred in Sydney, and the Princess Handicap on Durdans. Three times I won on Durdans and each time Billy Minter was second on Jemiah. Won Australian Hurdle There were 19 runners in the Australian Hurdle in 1911, and I was on the favourite, Uxbridge, owned by Mr W Moffat and trained, by Dan Coleman who died a few weeks ago. Uxbridge did not beat Wimmera by much but it was rather an easy win. Apart from my my good record that year, I was proud of the fact that I had won three important races that called for riding methods poles apart. The Oakleigh Plate on Blairgour, Australian Hurdle on Uxbridge and the Melbourne Cup on The Parisian. I think Hughie Cairns was the only other jockey in the last 30 years to accomplish anything like this.

The Parisian Melbourne Cup

TURF MONTHLY 39