Turf Monthly June 2021 by turfmonthly

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TURF

June 2021

THIS MONTH HURTLE FISHER PART TWO OF HIS REMARKABLE STORY MORE OF THE FISHER INFLUENCE ANOTHER GREAT RACE IN HISTORY

Editor’s Letter We are still in the process of the Autumn and Winter sales. This is the time of the year that the Broodmares and Weanlings come to the fore in a growing market. Some years back, these were the sales for the breeders while the Yearling sales were for the trainers and owners. Now the line is blurred between racing and breeding with many of the same people playing a big role in both. The emergence of large syndicators, especially those who specialise in buying stallion prospects, help to further blur these lines. When looking at some breeding figures, I came across an interesting statistic. In 2020, a total of 487 stallions stood across Australia. If we go back only five years, there were 646 stallions at stud, so a decline in such a short period of time of around 25% has to send alarm bells for the wellbeing of the breed. While the declines have been across all States, one interesting aspect is that these numbers have remained fairly constant for stallions standing for a fee of $5000 or more. The fact that the Stud Book uses a limit of $5000 reflects the changing nature of the industry over a long period. In NSW 57 stallions stood at a fee of $15000 or more in a total of 156 stallion. If we look at the number of mares being covered, these have remained fairly constant over the same period. An interesting statistic is that fewer mares are being left empty. It reflects the notion that the hobby aspect of breeding is dying out. A very positive statistic though is that the number of non-live foals has reduced significantly, so breeders are far more likely to have a positive result of a pregnancy. We are also in the midst of the Queensland Winter Carnival that has played such an important role in racing history. As we have looked through the legacy of Hurtle Fisher, it is interesting that his horses have not had the same major influence in that state, despite the Fisher empire extending North. It is not often talked about, but the type of horse that wins in each state is usually quite different. The old saying “horses for courses” certainly extends across regions We have no trouble in saying that there is a difference between French horses and Irish horses, yet we do not seem to draw this same comparison between Queensland and NSW horses. It all adds to the intrigue of the industry and to the attraction of the remarkable breed we call the thoroughbred.

CONTENTS 4 6

Hurtle Fisher Continued Juliet

Marchioness

Ammon Ra

Galilee

Highland

Sirius

Nightmarch

Roy Reed

Think Big

Mustard

Great Races - Winx

Until next month

Ross Prowd

Cover Image WINX

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

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

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HURTLE FISHER

the second part of our story also raced Realm, originally under the name of Empire, who won the Queensland Cup of 1891. Realm was later sold to prominent owner Sam Hordern in Sydney where he won the 1893 Sydney Cup before being sold to India.

he Headington Hill Estate covered an area of over 36,000 acres between the towns of Clifton and Allora that are located between Toowoomba and Warwick in Queensland. Fisher was a prominent figure in the area, and his wife laid the foundation stone for Clifton’s All Saints' Anglican Church in March 1889. In 1905 it was re-built and re-dedicated.

n part one of our Hurtle Fisher story, we saw how he sold off his Maribyrnong stud to brother Charles. Charles was later to sell the property to George Petty who gave 300 sovereigns to the VRC to establish a 2yo race to be known as the Maribyrnong Plate. The Fishers became involved in buying properties in Queensland, with the most prominent of these Hurtle Fisher’s Headington Hill Estate, part of it having belonged to Mr WB Tooth. Headington Hill bordered the township of Clifton on the Darling Downs and extended through to Allora and was some of the best agricultural land in the State. EJ “Ted” Easton was Fisher’s trainer at Headington Hill, and he continued with some good horses including Buttons who won the 1890 Queensland Cup. Fisher did take him to Melbourne in the hopes of running in the Melbourne Cup, but chose not to start him fearing he was not up to the standard of the southern horses. He

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here are differing stories as to the demise of the Fisher empire in Queensland at least. The Queensland Supreme Court ruled that the brothers’ claims to qualify as residents were fraudulent, but it was the banks who were to close in on both Hurtle and Charles’ fortunes which were closely tied. Headington Hill had fallen into the hands of one of the large English financial institutions, and the estate had to be sold. The Minister for Lands was approached by Messrs Dalgety and Co. Limited, on behalf of the British and Australian Trust and Loan Company of London and, after the land had been valued by the Government experts, the property was opened for close settlement, and was allocated by way of ballot.

mong the numerous applicants for the Headington Hill farms open for selection was Ted Easton, the well-known proprietor of the training stables known as Buttonsville, who succeeded in securing a farm of about 100 acres. Easton was to later build a residence by the same name in Ipswich and was responsible for the early establishment of Bundamba Racecourse, and also served as Mayor of that city.

he bankruptcy of the Fishers was perhaps the largest corporate collapse in Australia’s history. Charles Fisher’s debts totalled almost £1,500,000 in the late 1890’s, a figure that would top many billions of dollars today. It had repercussions in the Courts of England as it was argued that the Banks were in partnership with some of Fisher’s landholdings, rather than acting merely as financiers. Such was the fall of the Fishers that in 1899 Moonee Valley held a race meeting for Hurtle Fisher with all races named after

Original Stables at Headington Hills

his famed horses and the proceeds going to his own finances. Newspapers of the day commented that many of the leading racing identities of the day failed to attend the meeting. Hurtle Fisher was to die in Melbourne in 1905, in moderate circumstances. The Punch newspaper in Melbourne interviewed Hurtle Fisher in 1903, and on Thursday 9 July printed the following comments on the legendary racing man.

hen there were no suburban, meetings with their needy trainers and tricksters, backing now their own horse, and now that of a rival, just as the race is arranged, when there was no half-crown betting or shilling totes, racing was sport and pleasure. Now—and Mr Fisher shakes his head in ominous silence.

any things can be argued about Hurtle Fisher and his character, but we can never argue that n the whole, Mr. Fisher thinks that racing has he failed to improve the Australian thoroughbred. deteriorated. In the old days it was genuine sport, His legacy on the racetracks of Australia still remains calculated to improve the breed of horses, and not for the important after so many years. primary purpose of gambling. Amongst the old owners e continue this month with a look at the mares there was no trickery, but any quantity of emulation. If that were imported by Hurtle Fisher in Juliet one owner had a tip-top horse, other owners would not and Marchioness. There was another mare called rest satisfied until they had tried to secure something Gildemire who was killed in a fire at the stud of Hurtle better. Fisher, and had no impact on breeding.

Headington Hill and the township of Clifton in 1800’s TURF MONTHLY 5

JULIET J

uliet was by Touchstone out of the Tomboy mare, Lancashire Witch. She had produced three offspring before coming to Australia, but they had little impact. She was in foal to Stockwell when she arrived and produced a chestnut filly in Australia that was to be called Chrysolite. We have discussed Chrysolite to some extent as the dam of the wonderful Robinson Crusoe, but her impact extended much further. She was to prove a good racehorse, winning the SA St Leger in 1964. She was to produce four stakes-winners in total. Her first was Lapidist, interestingly a son of Fireworks, and he won the Ascot Vale Stakes as a 2yo, the VRC Derby and the VRC Town Plate. He was sent to stud in Tasmania where he did produce four stakes winners, although none were to win on the mainland. He is quite rare to find in modern pedigrees, and one of his more recent ancestors of note was Jet Fighter by The Pug who won five stakes races in the late 1980’s. He

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can also be found in the pedigree of a brilliant sprinter by Biscay called Ubetido who won three stakes races in Sydney and produced two stakes winners in Indeed I Do and Magic Winner who was also to stand at stud in country NSW. He was also in the pedigree of Consolidate, a son of Better Boy who appears in the pedigree of a good mare, Pindi who won the South Australian Oaks, VRC Crown Quality and Queen Elizabeth, and the Gold Coast Cup.

hrysolite’s second stakes winners was Robinson Crusoe by Angler who we spoke about at length last month. After that champion, she produced Vaucluse by Rapid Bay to win the VRC Oaks. Her final stakes winner was Crown Jewel by Crown Prince but neither of these two were to carry on a viable breeding line. In total, Chrysolite was to have eleven named foals. She had four by Angler with Henchman, Aureola and Onyx all full siblings to Robinson Crusoe and each of

Sylvanite after the Derby

Pindi Gold Coast Cup 1995

these played an important role. Aureola is perhaps best known for her granddaughter Gold Dust by Niagara who produced a son by Grafton called Sylvanite who won both the AJC and VRC Derbies in 1904. The line of Aureola was later to produce a good galloper in Winalot by Rossendale who won six stakes races in the Rosehill Guineas, Hill and Rawson Stakes, and the AJC St Leger, Spring Stakes and Sydney Cup.

enchman sired two stakes winners in Queen’s Own who won the AJC December Stakes, and the appropriately named Stockwell who won the AJC Epsom and Summer Cup. His daughter, The Charmer was to produce The Victory by The Admiral who won seven stakes races including the 1902 Melbourne Cup. The Victory was sent to the UK to stand at stud where he produced a daughter called Cooya who was to produce Actrice by Achtoi. In turn she was to produce a son called Actor who was born in France but was

Winalot

Winalot winning the Rawson Stakes TURF MONTHLY 7

later to return to stud in Australia. He produced seven avoc, a son of Nordenfeldt, won four stakes races in stakes winners including Sydney Cup winner, Proctor 1895 including the AJC Plate and VRC Australian but is best known for his daughter, Broadway who gave Cup. He in turn produced only nine stakes winners but us the Melbourne champion Lord by Targui who won they included Doncaster and Epsom winner, Hyman, 22 stakes races including the Memsie Stakes four times. AJC Derby winner, Belah, and Australian Cup and nyx arguably created the most important line of Hotham Handicap winner, Prizefighter. Havoc has all of the Hurtle Fisher horses. She was mated continued to be an important influence in pedigrees with Musket to produce Nordenfeldt. Born in 1882 by and can be found in the likes of Brisbane Cup winner, Musket, he was purchased by James White from New Blue Boots by The Buzzard, Down The Wicket by Zealand for 1200 guineas. He was trained by Michael Over, Taupo by Seremond, Piavonic and her Caulfield Fennelly who claimed that Nordenfeldt was the best Guineas winning son, Von Costa De Hero, Scomeld 3yo he ever had, which was a big call seeing as he had and her stakes winning son, Scotian, Malt Denis and also trained Martini Henry and Trident. It is hard to his stakes winning daughter Maltmaid, AJC Derby know just how good Nordenfeldt was, as he had only winner, Tregilla, and the remarkable Highland by nine starts for six wins in a career that lasted only from Highfield. We will look at the performance of Highland September to November 1885. In that time he won more closely a little later.

both the AJC and VRC Derbies and ran an unlucky fourth in the Melbourne Cup behind Sheet Anchor when his jockey Bob Ellis claimed the 5/1 favourite was “knocked and hustled about in all directions.” A leg injury curtailed his career, but he went on to become one of the leading sires of his day despite dying in 1895. Nordenfeldt first stood at Sylvia Park Stud, Otahuhu, Auckland but was later sold for 5,600 guineas to Mr Samuel Hordern's stud at Picton NSW. He sired 28 stakes winners many of which went on to forge their own successful dynasties.

edallion was another son of Nordenfeldt to make an impact winning three stakes races himself and leaving the NZ champion, Achilles who won fourteen stakes races including the Jubilee Cup and Jackson Stakes three times each. He can be found in pedigrees of horses like Stipulate by Count Rendered who produced Magistrate to win two Perth Cups, good filly Alma Mater who was to become the dam of the champion NZ stallion, Savabeel, emerging stallion Hellbent by I Am Invincible and the champion Pago Pago by Matrice. Medallion had significant

Nordenfeldt TURF MONTHLY 8

Nordenfeldt Launceston Cup 1906 behind Watchful and The Monk

impact overseas and we also find him in the pedigree of the Japanese stallion Kurofune by French Deputy, Dancing Brave by Lyphard, Animal Kingdom by Leroidesanimaux, Oasis Dream and his son, Captain Gerrard, the boom UK stallion by Invincible Spirit in Kingman, and one of the world’s leading sires, Dubawi.

nother of Nordenfeldt’s sons, Stepniak won four stakes races in his native NZ and was himself to become an important stallion, winning the NZ title on three occasions. Again, he is another who has had a remarkable impact on the thoroughbred. Among those who owe their heritage at least in part are the great Artilleryman by Comedy King who we have written about in the past, Nightmarch by Night Raid and Galilee by Alcimedes both of whom we will also look at in more depth later, another of our old favourites

in Windbag, Rajah Sahib, NZ champion Sasanoff, and one of the greatest of all time, the outstanding Winx.

ordenfeldt’s daughters also played an important role in breeding, and among those horses who see the stallion through his daughters include countless champions like Ammon Ra who we will discuss in depth later, Japan Cup winner, Marvelous Crown, St Covet, Sarcelle, the dam of dual Melbourne Cup winner, Think Big, and emerging stallions Love Conquers All and Lean Mean Machine. eturning to Juliet, her next three foals were all by Fisherman in Sylvia, Ragpicker and Charon and we touched on these in the last edition. Sylvia though needs a little more attention as she produced two remarkable sons in Martini Henry and Goldsbrough.

Tregilla leading the Derby field into the straight

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Poseidon

Martini Henry holds a special place in Australian racing history. He had his first start on 3 November 1883 winning the VRC Derby. His second start only three days later was in a field of 29 runners in the Melbourne Cup. Martini Henry won again as the 5/1 favourite, and less than a week later faced off against seven other runners in the Mares’ Produce to win his third straight race. A break saw him return in the VRC St Leger which he won, although this time he raced unattractively, and had to be taken to the front early in the race as he began to fight his rider. It was to be the colt’s last win, as he again fought the rider, the famed Tom Hales in his next start in the Champion Stakes. There was no doubt, according to the scribes of the day, that the colt had gone off. He was sent to Sydney and after running second in the AJC St Leger was unplaced in the Sydney Cup. A second in the Cumberland Plate was followed by his fourth start in five days when he was fourth in the Jockey Club Plate. He was spelled again and returned for only one more run in the Spring, when unplaced in the Caulfield Cup and retired to stud. Sadly, he was to prove only moderately successful at stud, although he TURF MONTHLY 10

was the damsire of the great Poseidon, the winner of 16 stakes races including the VRC Derby, two Caulfield Cups and the 1906 Melbourne Cup. He could also be found in the pedigree of 1995 Cup winner, Doriemus. Martini Henry was later sold to Queensland. He ended his days outside of Longreach in Central Queensland. His grave was discovered only a few years ago by the Melbourne Cup Tour and a plaque now marks the site at Bexley Station.

ylvia was also responsible for producing Goldsbrough by Fireworks. He won the AJC Autumn Stakes, St Leger and Great Metropolitan Stakes but was to become a wonderful stallion producing 23 stakes winners that included 1886 Melbourne Cup winner, Arsenal. His daughters became important broodmares and produced Abercorn, a successful stallion who won 18 stakes races and sired eight stakes winners including Coil, Cocos and Cobbity. Many of Abercorn’s daughters still have descendants impacting the modern breed. Old Rowley who won the Melbourne Cup in 1940 is one who traces back to a Goldsbrough daughter as was the champion Better Loosen Up.

Arsenal beating Trenton and Silvermine in the 1886 Cup - the first instantaneous photograph of a finish

agpicker was another by Fisherman who has become a foundation mare for many lines, although few have reached great heights. These lines have been regular sources of winners and seem to possibly be having something of a resurgence in more recent times. One particular line gave us Penghulu by Belele who won the 1997 G1 Toorak Handicap. This family also gave us the very good Millie by Marscay who won the 1994 Gimcrack Stakes. A full sister to Millie in Our Farm Girl is the granddam of She Will Reign who won both the Silver and Golden Slippers and the Moir Stakes, and Time To Reign who also won the Silver Slipper. Stepniak

Old Rowley Melbourne Cup 1940

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MARCHIONESS M

archioness was an important mare for Hurtle Fisher as she had won the 1855 Epsom Oaks. It was a remarkable effort to get such a well performed mare to Australia. Perhaps it does indicate just some of the level of wealth that the Fisher family had accrued. She was to prove an excellent broodmare and was also brought to Australia in foal to the great Stockwell. That foal was to be called Rose Of Denmark and she was to become a remarkable broodmare in her own right. Her first foal by Boiardo was called Florence and she won the 1870 AJC Australia Derby, Champagne Stakes, VRC Oaks and Derby and the 1871 Queensland Derby. Rose Of Denmark produced Hamlet by Maribyrnong, the son of Fisherman who won eight stakes races from 5 furlongs to 24 furlongs. At stud he produced only two stakes winners but his son, Salvage was sent to India where he won the famous Viceroy Cup. His daughters have continued the influence of the family and among the horses that trace back to this stallion are Sharply, who is best known for beating Tulloch in the 1961 Sydney Cup, Catalan Opening who won seven stakes races including the G1 VRC Chrysler Stakes now the Cantala, the Doncaster and the Hong Kong International Bowl, and Regimental Gal who won the Australia Stakes and Lightning Handicap at G1 level.

Sharply Sydney Cup 1961

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he other two stakes winners out of Rose Of Denmark were Horatio, a full brother to Hamlet, and Guinea by Fireworks who won the Geelong Cup. Hamlet won the AJC Great Metropolitan Stakes and was sent to stud where he had limited success. One daughter of his did produce Timbrel by Mozart who won the Sir James Wilson Handicap and Hobart Cup in Tasmania. He was to sire Rivose who won the 1919 Perth Cup and the 1921 WATC Metropolitan. A daughter of Timbrel was to leave a line that produced the WA champion Willoughby. He was an outstanding racehorse winning nine stakes races in Perth in the late 90’s including the G1 Railway Stakes before heading to Victoria where he won the Chester Manifold at Flemington. Guinea was to stand at stud in Qld and was to produce a daughter called Lurline out of an Angler mare. Lurline won the QTC Queen's Plate, Brisbane Handicap and Brisbane Cup.

St Covet Caulfield Guineas 1994

wo other daughters of Rose Of Denmark were to continue her influence to the modern day. Fleurette by Robinson Crusoe left a legacy that includes the Adelaide Guineas winning son of Luskin Star in Covetous who was to become a very good stallion producing the likes of Adrian Knox and AJC St Leger winner, Chaleyer, Brisbane Cup winner, Star Covet, Oakleigh Plate winner, With Me, and the Black Opal, AJC Sires’ Produce and Caulfield Guineas winning St Covet. St Covet had a sensational start to his stud career but died after covering only three crops. In this brief time, he produced ten stakes winners including McDougall Stakes winner, All Classic, Hong Kong Sprint winner, All Thrills Too, and Doomben Slipper winner, Shalt Not. Shalt Not produced the Silver Slipper winner, Amelia’s Dream while another daughter of St Cover produced 2007 Magic Millions winner, Mimi Lebrock who has gone on to produce last year’s Black Opal winner, Barbaric by I Am Invincible. Other horses that also share this female line are the NZ based stallion Sticks And Stones, Royal Purler who won the 2002 Flight Stakes and Mustard by Vettori who won four stakes races in the 00’s but was a real cult horse that we will look at more closely later.

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he final daughter of Rose Of Denmark to leave an ongoing legacy was Thyra by Boiardo who is becoming difficult to find in modern pedigrees. Without doubt, her most enduring legacy was the wonderful old galloper Doriemus who spent many years at Living Legends in Melbourne after winning the 1995 Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double.

archioness also produced another son in King Of Clubs by a son of Stockwell in Ace Of Clubs. King Of Clubs won a Maiden Plate at Flemington for Eli Jellett before going to stud at Werribee shortly before being sent to NZ. Among the horses that owe their lineage to King Of Clubs is Longfella, the NZ bred horse who won 10 stakes races in the 1970’s including the Memsie Stakes and CF Orr. Daybreak Lover who was a twice winner of the Elders Handicap now the Stradbroke is another. Arguably the most interesting is Zephyr Zip who not only traces to a mare by King Of Clubs, but he also sees a daughter of Stepniak in his female line. Zephyr Zip won the 1979 AJC Sires’ Produce before going to the Brisbane Winter Carnival where he won the Marlboro Stakes, Queensland Guineas and QTC Sires' Produce Stakes. He was to become a very good stallion producing 16 stakes winners including Qld Oaks and Derby winner, Bravery, AJC Sires’ Produce and VRC Oaks winner, Diamond Shower, Flight and Ansett Australia Stakes (now the Vinery) winner, Electrique, and 1997 Epsom winner, Iron Horse.

Iron Horse winning the Epsom

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AMMON RA

mmon Ra was another NZ horse that made his mark on Australian racing. He was a precocious 2yo even though he was beaten at his first start over 5 furlongs on 1 December 1930. Ammon Ra won his next start over 6 furlongs on Boxing Day, and then won his next three starts before coming to Australia. His first local start was in the AJC Sires’ Produce and the NZ form more than held up when he scored a dominant two length win as the even money favourite beating Johnnie Jason. He then suffered his second defeat, this time running third behind Burwood when an odds-on favourite in the Champagne Stakes to end his 2yo season.

eturning as the 3yo, the boom gelding cemented his position as one of the best of his generation. He won a Flying Handicap first up in August by four lengths before another dominant 2.5 length win in the Hobartville Stakes. Ammon Ra was considered a doubt over distance because of his brilliance but he dispelled those doubts by winning the 9 furlong Chelmsford Stakes at his next start. Ptolomy was two lengths away in second. Ammon Ra then won the AJC Derby beating Johnnie Jason by 2 lengths as the 9/4 on favourite. He then went to Melbourne to win the Caulfield Guineas again in a dominant display. Starting at 6/4 on, Ammon Ra won by 3.5 lengths in a course

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record time for the mile. He started as a short priced favourite at 7/2 on in the VRC Derby but it was a major shock when he was to end up fourth behind old rival Johnnie Jason.

mmon Ra returned from a spell in the Autumn continuing his good form. He won the St George Stakes at Caulfield over 9 furlongs first up in another dominant display, beating Viol D'Amour by 3 lengths. A week later he won the Futurity back to 7 furlongs by over a length from Einga. He blotted his winning run next up over the 14 furlongs of the VRC St Leger

Ammon Ra winning the AJC Derby TURF MONTHLY 16

Ammon Ra Caulfiled Guineas

when finishing second, two lengths behind Middle Watch. He was then back at a mile when he won the CM Lloyd starting again at odds-on when he defeated Chatham by 2.5 lengths. It was then to Sydney where only seven days later he beat champion Nightmarch over the 9 furlongs of the Rawson Stakes. Ammon Ra won by 2.25 lengths, this time starting at 6/4 on. He took his winning run to three when a week later he again defeated Nightmarch in the Chipping Norton over 10 furlongs. The additional distance saw Nightmarch close the margin on the 2/1 on favourite, being beaten only a half-length. He then started for the seventh Saturday in a row in the AJC St Leger, but again found the 14 furlongs a little too much, finishing second again to Middle Watch who had beaten him in the VRC St Leger. The margin this time was 1.25 lengths. Only four days later Ammon Ra stepped out over a mile in the All-Aged Stakes as the hot favourite at 5/2 on. He disappointed his backers by finishing out

of the places, beaten by Viol D'Amour but the margins between the first three was only a short neck by a head so he was far from disgraced.

tepping out after a spell for his 4yo season, and Ammon Ra was very much a glamour horse with high expectations. In his first run back though he was to suffer a bad bleed and finished fourteenth of sixteen runners in a Quality Handicap at Moonee Valley. He started again only two weeks later and again disappointed running fourth to Middle Watch in the Caulfield Stakes over 9 furlongs. It was clear that he had not recovered from his bleeding attack and he was sent out for a long spell. Ammon Ra did not race again until August 1933, but it was obvious that he was not the same horse. He was sent out at 9/2 in a 6 furlong Flying at Rosebery in Sydney but could only manage fourth. He was reported as having bled in trackwork before his next start, but managed to win his following two races both in Sydney, in a Flying at Ascot and the

Ammon Ra Sires Produce

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Ammon Ra winning the Futurity

Rosebery Spring Stakes. A second in the Sir Herbert Maitland Stakes at Victoria Park also in Sydney was enough to have connections send the gelding back to NZ. He was to have only two more starts there, one on 28 December and the other on 2 January 1934 but he failed to run a place. Again he bled on both occasions. Ammon Ra was retired to a life of leisure in his home country. In total Ammon Ra was to start 29 times for 17 wins that included at least 5 races that we would classify as Group 1 races today. His well-documented bleeding issues ignited a discussion on the hereditary nature of the affliction when his sister, Prolyxo, herself a handy mare winning seven races, also had her career cut short by the same issue.

mmon Ra was unsold as a yearling due to a turned in front leg, and he was raced by his breeder for the first two seasons. He was then sold to Mr CC Sheath for a reported 3500 guineas. Ammon Ra was by the imported Limond from Hyades who also produced stakes winners Phaola and Prodice by Catmint. Not only does Ammon Ra trace back to the original Hurtle Fisher mare, Juliet and her daughter Sylvia, but his fourth dam is a mare called Elflock by Nordenfeldt who traces to another daughter of Juliet in Chrysolite.

Ammon Ra CM Lloyd

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In modern terms, Ammon Ra has quite a heavily inbred pedigree (13.67%) but we must remember that a century ago, there were significantly fewer good horses to breed to. We see that Ammon Ra is by Limond, a grandson of the great St Simon. St Simon was by Galopin out of St Angela. In his female line we see the presence of Angelica, a full sister to St Simon. She appears as the dam of Orme who is the sire of Birkenhead, the grand damsire of Ammon Ra. We also see that the female line of the gelding includes another line of Galopin. Limond’s damsire was Kendal who is a son of Bend Or and Windermere. In the female line of Ammon Ra, we find that Bend Or is present in both the main sire line and damsire line. Bend Or is a son of Doncaster, and we see a three-quarter sister to Kendal in Thirlmere in the dam line of Hymettus. Thirlmere is a daughter of Doncaster and Windermere. We also see a duplication of Hermit who was a son of Newminster. One final point on the pedigree is that we remember that it was heavily inbred to Fisher’s original imports when the family came to Australia. It is likely important that we see that Limond carried two lines of Stockwell as well as another line of his dam, Pocahontas.

GALILEE

Galilee Melbourne Cup 1966

hile many might be surprised that Galilee raced as a 2yo, his first start was the very last day of the season on 31 July 1965 when he ran second in a Gawler maiden over 6 furlongs. After two unplaced runs, Galilee broke his maiden in a Transition Handicap at Cheltenham over 7 furlongs starting at 7/4 favourite. His next eight runs in Adelaide saw him win six more races, and run two seconds, culminating in wins in the Listed City Of Adelaide Handicap over 8 furlongs and the Birthday Cup over 10 furlongs in March 1966 before a well-deserved spell.

alilee came back with two unplaced runs over 5 furlongs at home in Adelaide before his first trip to Melbourne. Here he won his first start over 8 furlongs in a Caulfield Welter before going to Sydney three weeks later to run in the Hill Stakes. A disappointing seventh in that race was followed by a good second to Chantal in the Epsom. Back in Melbourne, he won the Toorak Handicap over a mile before winning the Caulfield Cup beating Gala Crest. Galilee was now firmly established as the Melbourne Cup favourite and went to the Mackinnon for his final hit out. The run of Galilee in the Mackinnon Stakes on the Saturday before the Cup led to plenty of attention from the Stewards. Galilee settled in last place in the Mackinnon and was ridden very quietly in the race. He ran on well without urging to finish a strong third behind champion Tobin Bronze. Both Miller and Cummings were called in before the Stewards in a scene reminiscent of that of Heroic so many years before. The hearing was adjourned until Cup eve with the threat of disqualification hanging in the air for the ruling favourite and his connections. After deliberation, the verdict was returned finding no malpractice although jockey Johnny Miller was given a strong warning to show more vigour in future races.

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Galilee Sydney Cup 1967

he Melbourne Cup itself was a little of an anticlimax for Galilee. Starting a dominant favourite at 11/2, the gelding was to score impressively. In winning the Cup, Galilee helped his trainer rewrite the records book making it the second year in a row that Bart Cummings had trained the quinella in the great race, coincidentally with the previous year’s winner Light Fingers finishing second in 1966. Light Fingers had valiantly hit the front but was no match for her younger stablemate who finished strongly to win by a comfortable two lengths. Four days later Galilee confirmed his place among our best stayers by winning the CB Fisher Plate over 12 furlongs beating a field of five as the 10/9 favourite with Tobin Bronze second.

fter a spell, Galilee returned to run second to Tobin Bronze in the CF Orr Stakes over 7 furlongs at Sandown and again in the Blamey Stakes over 10 furlongs at Flemington. Galilee then turned the tables on Tobin Bronze in the Queen’s Plate. He was undefeated for the rest of the Autumn winning the Queen Elizabeth, Autumn Stakes and Sydney Cup, each time beating Prince Grant who had beaten him in the Hill Stakes the previous Spring. His effort in winning the Sydney Cup by six lengths was regarded as one of the best staying displays on an Australian racetrack and prompted Bart Cummings to claim Galilee as the best racehorse that he had ever trained. Cummings was later to rate Saintly alongside the great champion many years later.

adly when returning for the following Spring, Galilee suffered an injury to a splint bone. He had been feeling the leg following the Sydney Cup, but the extent

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of the damage did not show up until he returned to work. As a result, Galilee did not race as a 5yo and returned to the races on 17 August 1968 when a good third behind Winfreux in the JJ Liston at Sandown over 7 furlongs having not raced for almost 18 months. He was back to something like his best at his next start winning the Memsie Stakes over 9 furlongs starting at the 9/4 on favourite. He then finished third in the Craiglee back over a mile but two other Cups contenders in Rain Lover and the Cummings trained Lowland ran past him easily in the straight. With his legs still a major concern, Galilee missed the Underwood but he won the Turnbull Stakes when Roy Higgins replaced the suspended John Miller. He did not race again for a month and stepped out in the Mackinnon which would determine if he had a second tilt at the Melbourne Cup. Galilee was a conspicuous last in the run, but stretched out in the straight to run third only a little over a length behind Rain Lover and Fileur. The day after the Mackinnon Galilee’s owner, Max Bailey sought an assurance that the champion would not break down if he ran in the Cup. Noone could give this assurance, and at 6.30am on Tuesday, a crowd of 1500 watched the Stewards testing Galilee before clearing him to run. The race was a roughhouse affair with Wilton Park falling only 300m from the start causing major interference to a number of runners, including Galilee whose legs were tangled with the fallen horse. There were several other scrimmages throughout the race, but Rain Lover managed to avoid them all and ran away for a dominant eight length win from Fileur. The grand old Galilee on his bad legs managed to run home solidly to finish eighth carrying the big weight of 10.1 (64kg).

fter another break of almost a year, Galilee returned to racing in August 1968 with a fifth in the JJ Liston and a fourth in the Memsie behind Fileur. The old champion though was feeling his legs and the decision was made to discontinue his campaign and to retire him to the Bailey’s family stud, Beaufields near Gawler, South Australia. Galilee is buried at the Gawler Racecourse.

alilee was a son of Alcimedes by Alycidon out of a Balloch mare called Galston. She had produced Arbroath by Chatsworth II who won two stakes races in NZ. The female line of Galilee traces to another daughter of Stepniak in Stepdancer who was the dam of Wardstep who won 12 stakes races including the Auckland, NZ, Dunedin, Canterbury and Trentham Gold Cups.

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Galilee has a moderately inbred pedigree, although perhaps with a little more inbreeding than you would have expected in the pedigree of a stayer in the 1960’s (8.20%). The key to his pedigree looks to be the sex-balanced duplication of the great Hyperion in the fourth generation. This was reinforced in the pedigree of Alycidon through the presence of another line of Hyperion’s dam, Serenissima. We also saw in his pedigree another line of Hyperion’s grandsire Bayardo. In the pedigree we also see a duplication of Phalaris who had yet to reach the peak of his influence but was no doubt critical. Interestingly we see another two lines of Desmond, the grandsire of Ammon Ra. While it is hard to see within a six-generation pedigree, Alycidon carried 50 lines of Stockwell within the first 10 generations of his pedigree.

HIGHLAND

ighland was bred at Canning Downs near Warwick in Qld by Mrs JHS Barnes, who raced the colt in her own colours for the beginning of his career. He started off in great fashion by winning the Hopeful Stakes at Eagle Farm. He beat a field of 24 despite being unfancied at 20/1 and he narrowly got home with the official margins being a head by a head. Highland was to have seven runs as a twoyear-old, but was not to win again, although he did finish third in the Claret Stakes. As a 3yo, he started off his campaign by finishing second in the Queensland Guineas before failing in the Derby at his second start. Back to shorter journeys he was to win at both Albion Park and Eagle Farm, and finish second to Pigeondor in the Shorts. The highlight of his season though was his victory in the premier Qld sprint, the Stradbroke turning the tables on Pigeondor although the margins were a short head by a short head in an exciting finish.

s a 4yo, Highland was sold to Terry Ahern, a prominent Brisbane sportsman and later racing official, for 500 pounds and given to Charlie McLoughlin to train. It seemed to improve his form as he won the Shorts and a QTC Open Handicap before tackling the Stradbroke again. He become only the third horse in history to win the race twice, fulfilling a life-long ambition for Ahern in the process. Not only that but Highland set a new race record of 1.13 for the event. Highland sat just off the leader and hit the front as the field entered the straight. He was challenged

TURF MONTHLY 24

Highland 1925 Stradbroke

Jack Holt

briefly but the 9/2 favourite kicked away to win by 1.25 lengths from Dalsyce and Fair Exchange. After his run in the Albion Cup, Highland was sent to auction but did not reach Ahern’s reserve. The gelding continued to race in Brisbane with success but was lumbered with huge weights. In the Autumn of his 5yo season it was decided to take him to Sydney where he might get some relief, and this turned out to be a fortuitous event.

eading trainer, Jack Holt, the “Wizard of Mordialloc” who trained horses like Hall Mark, Eurythmic High Syce and Heroic happened to be at Rosehill on 2 April 1927, when Highlander was having his last start as a 5yo. Holt was noted as having a great eye for a horse, and it was this attribute that led him to him acquiring the great Qld galloper. Holt had a large bet on Fuji San to win the Railway Handicap. He was convinced to have a “saver” on the Qlder by a friend. As the field moved onto the track, Holt commented that Highland was too light to do himself justice. Fuji San duly saluted, but Highland ran creditably to finish third and Holt sought out the owner, offering 700 pounds for the horse which was accepted. Holt passed on Highland to one of his leading patron’s Rita Buxton.

olt gave Highland a good break, and he did not return to the track until the October of his 6yo season. It took four runs before he won for his new trainer in an Open event at Mordiallic carrying 56kg. Holt kept him in work until June, winning four of 14 starts, but Holt was starting to understand the galloper a lot better.

ighland returned to win over 6 furlongs at Flemington carrying 63kg and followed that with two unplaced runs over the same distance again carrying big weights. Now a 7yo, Holt had always felt that Highland was a stayer and at his second run at that age, Highland stepped out in the G1 Underwood Stakes over a

Highland 1926 Stradbroke TURF MONTHLY 26

Highland 1928 Underwood

mile at Williamstown at WFA. He was well fancied by the big betting stable and started the 3/1 favourite, winning by a length from Lady Beth who he had finished behind at his last start when giving the mare 8.5kg. To top off his victory, Highland set a new race record time. A fourth in the Memsie Stakes behind Gothic followed and then he again ran fourth in a Quality Handicap over 7 furlongs. He then won the October Stakes over a mile at Flemington beating Gothic who had been sent out the 10/1 on favourite. A second in the Toorak still over a mile was followed by arguably his toughest test, a tilt at the 1928 Cox Plate.

n a field of nine, Melbourne champion Gothic who had been beaten in when favourite in the Caulfield Cup the start before, and the Caulfield Guineas runner up, Ramulus started favourite each at 3/1. Sydney Cup winner, Winalot was next at 4/1 with Highland at 9/2 the only other runner under double figures. The race was run at a moderate tempo with outsider Fourth Hand leading until the turn when the 3yo Ramulus hit the front and looked the likely winner. The only challenger was Highland who gradually wore down his younger rival to win by a short head on the post with Fourth Hand hanging on to run third two lengths behind. A week later Highland started over a mile in the Cantala Stakes which saw him victorious again, this time at the generous odds of 5/1. An ordinary performance in the Linlithgow five days later saw a tired horse finally head back to the paddock. He returned for the Autumn, but did not show his best, having only four starts with his best a third in the CM Lloyd again behind Gothic. Another spell followed, and Highland returned as an 8yo in August for what was perhaps his best season. He started with a second, beaten only a head in the Malakoff Stakes over 9

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Highfield inside winning the Memsie from stablemate High Syce

furlongs behind Affirm. Highland then won the Underwood Stakes for the second time, beating Albanian by a long neck when the 7/4 on favourite. At his next start, he won the Memsie Stakes over the same distance, this time beating his stablemate High Syce by the same margin also as an odds-on favourite. Another win in a Quality Handicap over 7 furlongs at Moonee Valley followed, and then Highland went back to a mile at Caulfield to win the Toorak Handicap carrying 9 stone 10 lb (62kg). He then lined up for his second tilt at the Cox Plate but in 1929, Highland’s role in the Cox Plate was reversed as he scooted through on the home turn only to be run down by the champion Nightmarch. Ten days later he finished off his great Spring by running second to Amounis over a mile in the Linlithgow Stakes. Sadly, that was to be the last top line performance of the gelding.

ighland returned for the Autumn but after two disappointing runs, was off the scene for over a year. He was not to win again until a 10yo when he won twice, both minor events over 6 furlongs at Caulfield. Highland was to have his last start on 9 November 1932 as an 11yo when he was unplaced in a field of 19 over 7 furlongs in a Caulfield Welter carrying 9.8 (61kg). Highfield was presented to the Mornington Race Club where he became a Clerk Of The Course.

s a gelding Highland played no part in future breeding. He was by Highfield out of the Havoc mare, Regulator. Havoc is another son of Nordenfeldt. Interestingly Highfield was a prominent Qld stallion who also sired High Syce who was also trained by Jack Holt. He was later transferred to the Tamworth Stud of Colonel Bruxton.

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Highland Cox Plate second

Highland had a pedigree that shows relatively little inbreeding (5.47%) especially if we take into account that he was born 100 years ago. The pedigree would represent as a total outcross in five generations. Looking at the duplications between the fifth and sixth generations it comes as little surprise that we see six lines of Stockwell. We must remember that Highland’s connection with Hurtle Fisher comes through Nordenfeldt whose second dam is Chrysolite by Stockwell. We also see another line of Stockwell’s dam in Pocahontas again through the presence of St Simon. There is also the presence of Queen Mary who is represented by Blinkhoolie and her daughter, Blink Bonny, the dam of Blair Athol.

SIRIUS

irius was only relatively lightly raced, facing the starter only 22 times for five wins. In fact, it was his last four runs that cemented his place in Australian racing history, and impacted a new generation of thoroughbreds.

he colt was trained by Elwood Fisher at Flemington. It would seem that Elwood was not related to the Fisher family of our story though, and he had little horse experience with his family coming from a business background. Elwood Fisher though desired to be a jockey, and lacking opportunity in

Australia went to Ceylon where he made his fortune. Upon return to Australia, he continued to ride but with limited opportunity in the saddle decided to take out his trainer’s licence, Fisher purchased stables next to those of renowned trainers Richard Bradfield and James Scobie. He was later to train the Qld galloper Basha Felika to win the Caulfield Cup. Fisher may well be best known as the trainer of the unlucky Shadow King who was placed in three Melbourne Cups.

irius had his first start on 21 November 1942, running seventh over 5 furlongs in the Byron

Sirius Melbourne Cup TURF MONTHLY 30

Sirius 1944 Melbourne Cup

Moore at Flemington. His second run saw him finish second over the same course and distance in the Stradbroke Stakes before a let up. Returning in February, he won his first race later that month at his first start over 6 furlongs at Flemington in the Alma Stakes. At his next start over 7 furlongs in the Sires’ Produce, he ran second to the flying filly Simmering who won by a commanding margin. Next it was the Ascot Vale Stakes back over 6 furlong and he again ran solidly to finish fourth behind the good mare, Scottish Maid who won on protest from Pharisee. Much was expected of his 3yo season which started off brightly enough by finishing third to Sun Valley in the Memsie Stakes against the older horses. Overall though, Sirius did not live up to expectations finishing fourth in both

the Caulfield Guineas behind Lawrence and fourth in the VRC Derby behind Precept. A win in the Batman Stakes on 13 November was his only win at that age, but he did finish the season with a good second to Lawrence over the 14 furlongs of the St Leger.

irius’ 4yo season started badly. He was unplaced in his first four starts in the Spring, but the solid racing was what he needed to bring him to a peak. On 14 October, Sirius scored an impressive 2.5 length win over Azores to come into contention for the Caulfield Cup. He was not to get a start in that race, but rather went to the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley where he finished a gallant fourth behind glamour mare, Tranquil Star. Champion jockey Darby Munro took the mount on

Sirius second to Lawrence in the St Leger TURF MONTHLY 31

Sirius for the first time in the Hotham Handicap on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup. He was in the second division of the race which was split that year due to the number of entries. Sirius defeated Mores and Cellini in one, with Claudette beating Peter and Contact in the other. Sirius had settled towards the tail of the field, a vast difference to his run in the Cox Plate that saw him fight the rider for the entire trip. As the field approached the three furlongs, Munro had sent Sirius out after the leaders, and he cruised to the front winning easily.

he Cup was to be his last run. When returning to work next Autumn the stallion suffered a tendon injury. He was sent back to the paddock and returned again to work only to suffer from the same issue. Sirius was retired in 1945 and stood at the Camperdown property of VRC Vice Chairman, TC Manifold. He performed moderately at stud, producing only four stakes-winners, two each in both SA and WA. Nevertheless, Sirius continues to play a role in our breed. He can be found in the pedigree of Gold Trump who won the 1988 Tramway Stakes and 1990 Newmarket. irius, on the strength of his wins in the Herbert Coolong Road who was a good galloper and later a Power and Hotham Handicap was sent out as the solid sire in Qld is another who traces to a daughter of 3/1 favourite in the Melbourne Cup of 1944. Munro Sirius. That stallion won five stakes races from 1400took Sirius to the front three furlongs from home 2000m including the Qld Guineas and VATC Easter (600m) because the horse was travelling so strongly. Cup. The same line produced Oh Blue Angel who won He lasted long enough to beat the fast finishing Peter, the VRC Great Western and produced Keyarna Blue to who had had something of a chequered run, by a half- win the SA Laelia Stakes. Perhaps the most enduring length with Cellini running third a further 1.5 lengths line at present looks to be that of Jestatune who won away. Cellini had to survive a protest by fourth placed the WA Gimcrack Stakes and produced Jukebox who Claudette. Sirius’ victory in the Cup was the first time won the 2017 Vain Stakes and has been at stud at Aquis that a VRC Chairman in Richard Turnbull, who had Farm in Qld since 2018. His first crop will hit the track bred the stallion out of his mare, North Star, by St in the 2021/22 racing season and no doubt fans of Alban’s stallion, Enfield, had owned the winner of a Sirius will be keen to see how they will perform. Melbourne Cup.

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Sirius Melbourne Cup

Sirius sees a moderate level of inbreeding within the first six generations (7.03%). It would nevertheless still appear as total outcross if we looked at only the first five generations. We see that the stallion St Simon appears four times within six generations. The stallion Enfield sees his damsire as Phalaris. In turn, Phalaris sees his damsire as Sainfoin, who was a son of Springfield and Sanda. A full sister to Sainfoin in Sierra, the dam of Sundridge also appears in the pedigree of Sirius. Springfield we should note is a grandson of Stockwell, and we in fact see 19 lines of Stockwell in the pedigree of Enfield. The pedigree also sees duplications of Hampton, Bend Or, and the mare, Pilgrimage who was the dam of Canterbury Pilgrim.

NIGHTMARCH T

he NZ bred colt was by Night Raid out of the Martian mare, Marsa. Marsa’s dam was Nantes, a daughter of Stepniak who was in turn the son of Nordenfeldt, the grandson of Chrysolite. Nantes was a quality broodmare in her own right, producing four stakes-winners in Artillerie, CJC Oaks and dual VATC Caulfield Stakes winner, Nanna who won the Railway and Telegraph Stakes in NZ, Prim who won the Christchurch Metropolitan and Dunedin Cup, and Marsa who herself won both the Invercargill and Timaru Cups.

ightmarch had an inauspicious start to his career, finishing unplaced in his first three starts as a 2yo in Dunedin before winning a Juvenile Handicap over 5 furlongs on 27 December 1927. A third in the Champagne Stakes over 6 furlongs followed before he deadheated in the Hopeful Stakes when back to the 5 furlongs. A second in another Juvenile Handicap was followed by two more unplaced runs in Canterbury NZ before his exhausting 2yo campaign ended. Nightmarch was beaten at his first start as a Spring 3yo in NZ before winning three straight races including the NZ Derby at his first attempt past a mile. He had ten more starts as a 3yo in his homeland which included wins in both the Marton Cup and Autumn Handicap at Canterbury both over the same distance as the Derby of a mile and a half.

t was not until 24 August 1929 that Nightmarch appeared in Australia for the first time, and again he did not impress many finishing unplaced over 7 furlongs at Rosehill. Three weeks later he won over 10 furlongs in the Spring Handicap with

TURF MONTHLY 34

the NZ jockey Roy Reed now committed to riding the horse. He defeated Paquito who was the ruling Epsom favourite. A week later he ran third in the Hill Stakes behind Winalot and was installed the favourite for the Metropolitan. It was then that two of Australia’s biggest punters went head to head. Rufe Naylor got in early and combined almost every horse in the Epsom with Nightmarch in the Epsom/ Metropolitan double. By the time the stable went to back their horse they found that Naylor had taken their price. Legendary punter Eric Connolly teamed up with the stable in an effort to get the edge on Naylor. Knowing that Nightmarch was a talented miler, a plan was hatched to head him to the Epsom, run two days before the Metropolitan. At worst, they figured, an ordinary performance in the Epsom over the mile would do little to affect his price in the Metropolitan. As much as 25/1 was bet against Nightmarch in the Epsom and Connolly’s commission agents snapped it up, with him eventually starting at 5/1. Connections started working the horse over shorter trips in trackwork and he won a 5 furlong trial against True Shaft in good time. Three weeks before the Epsom, another hurdle arose, this time when Nightmarch developed an abscess. No sooner had it healed than the stallion hit himself in his box one night causing an injury below his knee requiring a poultice to be applied. By now though Connolly was set for the Epsom, backing the horse to win around £50,000. Still, there were plenty of race writers in particular that were telling the public that Nightmarch could not win the Epsom, and in fact Gilt Edge was backed into favouritism on the day of the race. In his Epsom victory, Nightmarch set a weight carrying record for a 4yo with 9.4 (59.5kg). He jumped from an outside position at the barrier and moved off smartly. Six furlongs from home Nightmarch was sixth, but a bump near the half-mile cost him several lengths. Regaining his balance, he was taken to the outside and was about tenth as the field entered the straight. By the furlong Nightmarch had passed all but Sir Chrystopher and Gilt TURF MONTHLY 35

Nightmarch After The Cup

Edge, but he quickly gathered them in. The lightly weighted Reonui made ground, but he could only get within 2 lengths at the finish. Nightmarch’s win in the Epsom meant that Naylon’s doubles were worthless even if Nightmarch won the Metropolitan over 13 furlongs which he almost did. Burdened with a 10lb penalty for winning the Epsom, taking his weight to 9.12 (62.5kg). No horse had ever carried that weight to win the Metropolitan although both The Barb (1868) and Rebus (1919) carried only 2 lbs less, but they were not a 4yo like Nightmarch. Despite his huge weight, Nightmarch almost pulled off victory. He dashed clear in the straight but was caught in the shadows of the post by Loquacious, the sister to the mighty Windbag, who was carrying 15lb less. The official margin was a half-length, and Nightmarch almost certainly would have won without the penalty for winning the Epsom. On the same day as Nightmarch won the Epsom, a star 3yo called Phar Lap was to win the AJC Derby. Nightmarch then confirmed his staying credentials by winning the Randwick Plate over 2 miles a week later before heading to Melbourne.

ne highlight of Nightmarch’s career came on 26 October 1929. There were only four runners in the Cox Plate that year, with Nightmarch up against Highland, Mollison and the outsider, Black Duchess. Nightmarch was the 5/4 favourite with Highland second pick at 5/2, Mollison at 9/1 and Black Duchess at 15/1. Mollison led the race from Nightmarch who was having his first start around the tricky Moonee Valley track. Highland ridden by champion jockey Bill Duncan sat third behind the pair. Mollison wobbled around the final turn, pushing Nightmarch wide and allowing

TURF MONTHLY 36

Nightmarch Melbourne Cup

Duncan to sneak through on Highland to hit the lead. Nightmarch was in for a fight, and despite having trouble getting onto his right leg, he gradually overhauled Highland to win by a neck on the line. A week later he was third in the Melbourne Stakes, later the Mackinnon, behind High Syce in a good hit out for the Cup the following Tuesday. That day though another champion won the VRC Derby in Phar Lap and the scene was set for their first encounter in the Melbourne Cup.

he Melbourne Cup of 1929 is probably best remembered as the race that Phar Lap lost rather than for the excellent performance of Nightmarch. The champion 3yo was sent out the even money favourite but pulled very hard and was eventually sent to the front by jockey Bobby Lewis at the 6f (1200m) mark. He set up a large lead, but Nightmarch was travelling smoothly under the patient riding of Roy Reed and he effortlessly strode to the front early in the straight cruising to a three-length win with Paquito getting up to beat Phar Lap into third. It was considered that the Cup of that year was one of the weakest on record, and only fourteen runners contested the race. It would be hard to argue that any race that included Phar Lap among the beaten brigade was weak especially when others in the race included High Syce, Shadow King and Winalot.

well-earned break saw Nightmarch return to NZ where he was joined by Roy Reed who rode him in his first start there, beating Melbourne Cup runner up Pacquito in his first run over a mile in the Hazlett Gold Cup. Back in Sydney he was third in the Autumn Handicap at Hawkesbury before winning the Rawson Stakes at Rosehill. A third behind Phar Lap in the Chipping Norton was followed by a victory

Nightmarch winning the Randwick Plate TURF MONTHLY 37

Nightmarch winning the Cox Plate

over Amounis in the Autumn Stakes at Randwick. Amounis turned the tables a few days later over the 8 furlongs of the All-Aged Stakes before Nightmarch finished second to Phar Lap in the AJC Plate over 18 furlongs. Another spell saw him return in the Spring as a 5yo to run third behind Amounis again in the Warwick and Canterbury Stakes. Nightmarch then ran up against Phar Lap at the peak of his powers finishing second to the legendary champion on four occasions in the Chelmsford, Hill and Spring Stakes and Craven Plate. Rather than follow Big Red to Melbourne, connections chose to return to NZ where Nightmarch won the NZ Cup and Canterbury Cup. Nightmarch remained in NZ until a 6yo winning the Clifford Plate, Trentham Gold Cup and Awapuni Cup. He was off the scene for almost a year after the Challenge Stakes in April 1931, and actually had his first season at stud that year. In February 1932, he returned to racing to finish second in the Hazlett Gold Cup before travelling to Australia. His first run back in Sydney was in the Rawson Stakes where he started at the good odds of 20/1 when runner up behind another emerging star in Ammon Ra. Nightmarch then finished second again to Ammon Ra in the Chipping Norton before beating Veilmond in the Autumn Stakes and Cumberland Stakes. He then ran fourth of four runners in the AJC Plate before

TURF MONTHLY 38

Nightmarch show a moderate level of inbreeding (8.20%). The most significant appears to be the presence of Bend Or in both the sire line and damsire line of Nightmarch. Bend Or, apart from being a champion racehorse was a champion sire, was a grandson of Stockwell. We also should note that the third dam of Nightmarch, Huguenot was by Apremont whose second dam was Pocahontas, the dam of Stockwell. The other important duplication in the pedigree is that of Musket. He was the sire of Nordenfeldt but also appears in this pedigree as the sire of the immortal Carbine whose son Spearmint is the damsire of Night Raid. We also see the duplication of Hampton and we should not ignore the presence of St Simon in the female line of Night Raid.

returning to winning form in NZ in the Awapuni Cup a little over two weeks later. After a spell, Nightmarch returned as a 7yo to finish unplaced in the Warwick Stakes behind Johnny Jason and behind Gaine Carrington in the Chelmsford. He then ran second behind another emerging champion in Peter Pan in the Hill Stakes. Sent out as the 7/4 favourite in the Spring Stakes, Nightmarch finished third behind old rival Veilmond and then he finished fifth of six in the Craven Plate behind Chatham. Nightmarch was then retired after finishing fourth of five in the Randwick Plate over 16 furlong behind the great Qld champion in Lough Neagh. He again was sent to stud and finished the remainder of the season in NZ at Ladbrooks Stud in Christchurch.

ightmarch was to go on to become a very successful stallion. He was to have 21 seasons at stud, dying at the advanced age of 29. He produced only five stakes winners with his best most likely the NZ Cup winner, Serenata. Surprisingly he had only one Australian stakes winner in Haerepo who won the 1940 Toowoomba Cup.

espite his lack of stakes-winners, Nightmarch has continued to play an important role in thoroughbred breeding, not only in NZ but throughout the world. Nightmarch can be found in the pedigrees of horses like Melbourne Cup winners, Kensei and Jezabeel, while in NZ the excellent galloper and stallion, Kingdom Bay is another who owes his heritage to the great champion. The enduring influence of Nightmarch is found through the wonderful racehorse and stallion Strawberry Road who retired to stud in the US where his influence continues to play an important role.

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ROY REED T

he popular NZ jockey Roy Reed was successful in a majority of New Zealand's most important races, including two Auckland Cups, two New Zealand Cups, five Wellington Cups, and four Trentham Gold Cups. He also won the Melbourne Cup and the Epsom Handicap on Nightmarch on visits to Australia, and the AJC Metropolitan on Star Stranger. Many in Australia thought he lacked vigour, but his ability to judge pace especially in staying races was exceptional, as was his ability to get the best out his mount.

e holds an interesting part in racing history. In 1934, Reed convinced the AJC stewards, after he had been taken off Nightly in the Craven Plate, that owner JA McDougall had engaged him for all Nightly's Australian programme, and when McCarten was given the mount, Mr McDougall was ordered to pay Reed his fee. That season Nightly was to win the AJC Randwick Plate, Moonee Valley Cup and VRC CB Fisher Plate making for a lucrative result for the discarded rider.

R H

eed was tragically only 36 when he was killed in a race fall at Trentham in NZ. His mount, Hunting Cat, fell and the jockey was struck by a following horse, suffering severe head injuries. Reed died later that evening in hospital.

e was a brother of the Melbourne jockey Ashley Reed. Another brother was jockey Con Reed, who was also killed in a race fall at Taumarunui. Roy Reed married Miss Scott a daughter of the licensee of the Royal Hotel, Randwick. They had one son, named Con after Reed’s brother.

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THINK BIG

hink Big holds an interesting place in Australian racing history. He is one of only five horses to have won the Melbourne Cup more than once, but in many ways is the most unpopular of all. In 1974 he beat the glamour mare Leilani to again give his trainer Bart Cummings a quinella in the race, and in the following year he started at 33/1 after moderate form leading up to the race.

ather surprisingly the gelding had his first start as an early 2yo, on 23 September 1972. He was to stay in training until March 1973 although he raced only eight times in that period. His only win came in a 2yo handicap at Cheltenham in Adelaide when carrying only 50kg. On the strength of this win, his next start was in the VRC Sires’ Produce but he could only manage eighth in the ten horse field behind the brilliant Imagele. He followed that up with a fourth in the Gibson Carmichael also at Flemington behind Attilee.

well deserved break saw Think Big return as a 3yo in two unsuitable sprint races where he was unplaced before winning an Intermediate over 1600m at Strathalbyn. Another win over the mile at Morphettville saw the gelding head to Melbourne where he won the Carbine Club Stakes beating Marone. Five days later he was to run fourth behind that same horse in the Batman Handicap over 2000m when the 10/9 favourite. He returned to Adelaide to run second behind the brilliant mare Toltrice over 1600m before heading to the paddock.

TURF MONTHLY 43

hink Big’s Autumn included a win over 2200m at Ballarat before heading to Brisbane for the Winter. It was here that the gelding was first earmarked for future glory. He ran third in the Grand Prix Stakes behind Asgard before winning the Churchill Stakes. It was his very good third in the Brisbane Cup over 3200m behind El Karpe that put his name forward as a genuine Cups contender. A short break saw the gelding back for the Spring with high hopes for his connections. The preparation did not go to plan, and when Think Big ran last in the Metropolitan it seemed that he was not up to the ambitious Spring program. But Cummings persisted and after running seventh in the Coongy Handicap and eighth in the Moonee Valley Cup, his place in the Cup field was under threat. The Cummings magic saw Think Big win the Hotham Handicap on the Saturday before the Cup to cement his place in the big race. In 1974 though, Leilani was the pinup horse of the Australian turf. Not only was she trained by the popular Cummings, but she was also raced by prominent Liberal politician Andrew Peacock. She was the public elect and a firm 7/2 favourite for the race. Leilani hit the front inside the final 100m and looked to be home with the public cheering loudly. They did not count on the finish of Think Big who had been among the tailenders for the entire race. He unleashed a devastating burst that saw him sweep to the lead and cruise to an easy one length win. It was to provide the fourth quinella for Cummings in the race and was the first win for Harry White.

hink Big remained in work, running ninth in the Sandown Cup before heading to Perth for the Summer Carnival. He ran fourth in the CB Cox Stakes behind Battle Heights and third in the Perth Cup behind Taras Bulba. A well-earned break ensued and the gelding did not return to the track until August 1975. He had three unplaced runs in Sydney before showing glimpses of his best form by running third in the Caulfield Stakes behind dead-heaters Guest Star and Zambari. He then ran tenth behind Analight in the Caulfield Cup. A poor second last in the Mackinnon Stakes the Saturday before the race did little for stable confidence and Think Big was sent out at 33/1 on the Tuesday. The gelding though was not at home in wet

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There is not a great deal of close inbreeding in the pedigree of Think Big (4.69%) and by the 1960’s this was becoming a regular feature especially in stayers. The most notable feature is likely the three lines of Hurry On in his pedigree. If we were to look more closely at the pedigree of Hurry On, not only would we see that he is heavily inbred to Stockwell, but also to his dam Pocahontas, as well as seeing his damsire as Sainfoin who carries two close lines of Stockwell and appears importantly in the pedigree of Sirius. We also see two lines of Phalaris who we noted has Sainfoin as his damsire. There are also two lines of Son-in-Law, a stallion who sees the closest duplication in his pedigree that of Stockwell. Bart Cummings was very particular in type when selecting stayers, and it should be noted that both Galilee and Think Big see the presence of Hyperion in their pedigrees.

conditions, and the track had improved considerably since the quagmire conditions of the weekend, despite more rain on Cup day. Think Big, along with the two other Cummings entries in Leica Lover and Holiday Waggon, were positioned midfield, much closer than he had run the year before. Outsider Medici at 125/1 bounded clear inside the final 400m but Think Big, who had travelled comfortably throughout the race again unleashed his strong finish to put paid to the race in a few strides. Holiday Waggon ran on gamely and got to within three quarters of a length at the finish without ever looking like he was going to beat Think Big.

ith this win, Cummings not only quinellaed the race for the fifth time but also equalled the record of legendary trainer, Etienne de Mestre in winning five Melbourne Cups. It was also to be the final win for the gallant horse. He had almost a year off and returned the following Spring. After three unplaced runs in Sydney, Cummings took Think Big to Melbourne, but he finished last in both the Caulfield Stakes behind How Now and Shaitan in the Governor’s Stakes at Moonee Valley, a brief name change for the Moonee Valley Cup. Instead of aiming for a third Cup, Think Big was back in the paddock. He returned on 12 February 1977 with a sixth behind Surround in the CF Orr Stakes but two more ordinary performances in the St George and Australian Cup saw his form turn around with seconds in both the QE II Jubilee Stakes over 2500m at Flemington behind Better Draw and the Tancred Stakes in Sydney over 2400m behind Our Cavalier. A fifth over 2000m in the Tancred behind Balmerino saw Think Big go into the Sydney Cup but he was to finish last behind Reckless. A trip to Adelaide saw him finish fourth in the West End Stakes over 2450m behind Wave King and ninth in the Adelaide Cup again behind Reckless. He went to the paddock, but leg issues prevented his return to the races for over 18 months. As an eight year old, Think Big started at 400/1 over 1000m in the Challenge Stakes in Sydney where he finished last of 16 behind Chrisole. He went to Melbourne where he finished eleventh of 12 runners behind Manikato in the CF Orr at the remarkable odds of 1000/1. He was to have three more runs in the Futurity, TS Carlyon and Australian Cup before thankfully being retired to the care of his Melbourne Cup winning jockey Harry White. Think Big lived to the age of 24. The horse died peacefully under his favourite tree which is where he was buried. His name also lives on honoured by his famed owner, Dato Tan Chin Nam, who named his stud, Think Big Stud after the grand old galloper.

hink Big was by the NZ bred Sobig out of Sarcelle who also produced the Paramatta Cup winner, Duglig. He too traces to a daughter of Nordenfeldt in Stepfeldt to continue the influence of Hurtle Fisher on Australian Racing History.

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MUSTARD

he gelding was out of a Rigoletta mare in Altezza who had won two races in Sydney from 1400 to 1550m. Altezza is a daughter of Princess Talaria who won four stakes races in the One Thousand Guineas, Gimcrack Stakes, Edward Manifold Stakes and Marlboro Classic in distances ranging from 1000m to 1600m. Princess Talaria was by the underrated Dignitas, by Round Table. At stud, Princess Talaria was a good ustard won four stakes races in the G3 STC producer, with six winners coming from her nine live Concorde and Star Kingdom Stakes and the foals. The best of these was perhaps the stakes placed Listed AJC Razor Sharp Handicap, and STC Maurice Pearl Princess by Biscay who ran third in a Gimcrack McCarten Stakes. He raced against horses like Pimpala Stakes. The daughters of Princess Talaria though have Player, Shags, Impaler, Gullcatcher, Academe, Jetspur gone on to greater success with five of these producing and even Murphy’s Blu Boy. Mustard also faced stakes winners of their own. Pearl Princess went on off against one of the great Australian sprinters in to produce Silver Flyer by Kenmare, while others Takeover Target, most notably when he ran second to have produced The Mikado, Valuate, Deianiro and Sir that gelding in the 2004 Pacesetter Stakes in Gosford. Amadi. Interestingly, the granddaughters of Princess Talaria are also becoming prominent broodmares with ustard took his earnings to a little over three Royal Purler and Magsaya both seeing this good mare quarters of a million dollar with his 16th win at his as their grand dam. 107th race start. What may be even more remarkable is f we were to delve a little further into the pedigree that Mustard had some 18 months off racing between of Mustard though, we see that he has some more August 2007 and April 2009. In an astonishing training performance, Mustard then raced from April 2009 to famous relatives than these. The female family actually May 2010 without a spell. His most noted wins came traces to a mare called Field Rose who was imported to at Group 3 level in the 2006 Star Kingdom Stakes Australia from New Zealand around the turn of the 20th over 1100m at Rosehill beating Shannon Bank and century. She produced a horse called First Principle, by Denmarket, and the Concorde Stakes later that year the Champion Australian stallion, Malster, who was to over the same course and distance, this time defeating win the 1914 Doncaster Handicap. A number of good stallions hail from this family, with perhaps the most Regal Cheer. he grand old warhorse retired in 2012, having first started racing way back in 2001. In the modern thoroughbred world, which sees plenty of young horses barely make it to their 3yo season, it is worth looking a little more closely at the career, and pedigree, of the former black type winner, Mustard. He retired having raced 131 times for 17 wins and 30 placings. His total prizemoney was $811,617.

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important being Covetous by Luskin Star who was to produce ten stakes winners including the ill-fated St Covet, who was one of the early stallions to stand at Glenlogan Park Stud in Queensland, and the excellent mare, With Me who won seven stakes races including the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate. Another stallion to share this female line was Pag Asa, a relatively moderate sire but the producer of one of New Zealand’s best horses in Bonecrusher. Pag Asa was a full brother to Covetous but stood in New Zealand. He sired seven stakes winners in total, including Quick Score who won the 1992 Apollo Stakes, but will forever be remembered for the deeds of Bonecrusher. Bonecrusher won a total of fifteen stakes races, of which six of these were in Australia. These were the AJC Derby, Australian Cup, Caulfield, Tancred and Underwood Stakes, and the 1986 Cox Plate.

Kempinsky. Her daughter, Chimeara also has gone on to produce De Beers, winner of 2006 Rosehill Guineas who stood at Lindsay Park.

his all brings us back to Mustard, who is by Vettori, one of the earlier shuttle stallions. Vettori was a son of Machaivellian, by Mr Prospector, and had won the 1996 French Two Thousand Guineas over 1600m. He came to Australia from 1996 to 2000. Vettori produced only five stakes winners in Australia including Sound Action, who won the Ranvet Stakes and Australasian Oaks, and the grand old galloper, St Basil who won the 2005 Stradbroke as a rising nine year old. If we look at the six generation pedigree of Mustard, we see relatively little duplication of ancestors present. In fact, only the great Nasrullah who is found through his son, Nashua, and his daughter, Courtesy, the dam of Dignitas, and another legendary stallion in Princequillo are repeated. he third interesting stallion from the family comes Princequillo appears through his most famous in the form of Haulpak who was a full brother to daughter, Somethingroyal, the dam of Sir Gaylord, Princess Talaria. Haulpak stood in Western Australia as well as Quill who is the third dam of Vettori, and and produced 32 stakes winners, although few had his son, Round Table, the sire of Dignitas. Mustard success outside of his local state. Among some of his traces back even further to Rose of Denmark who was best runners in the east were Chanteclair who won a daughter of Marchioness. That mare was in foal to the Tramway, Hobartville and Ampol Stakes and the Stockwell when she arrived in Australia and that foal Epsom Handicap in 1986. Coal Pak had won a number was Rose Of Denmark. Marchionesse of course was of stakes races in WA before coming over to win the one of the mares purchased by Hurtle Fisher from the Oakleigh Plate also in that year. Paklani, Roadsong, dispersal of Lord Londesborough in 1850. The line that Ropak and Pashenka’s Gem are other progeny of gave us Mustard among others was Fleurette who was by Robinson Crusoe, a son of Angler by Fisherman, Haulpak to win stakes races in NSW and Victoria. ticks And Stones, the half brother to Haulpak by purchased by Fisher at the same sale. Faringdon is yet another stallion from this family. or those in the industry that seem to think that He produced only three stakes winners including the horses have a use by date, it was great to see old listed winners Full Page and Regal Habit. His best warhorses like Mustard proving that there is more to progeny was Our Diamond Lover, a result of a mating the thoroughbred than speedy two-year-olds. with this stallion and the wonderful broodmare, Eight Carat. Interestingly, Diamond Lover is the only Australian bred progeny of the mare who was later exported to New Zealand where she struck incredible success when covered by the father and son duo of Sir Tristram and Zabeel. Our Diamond Lover won the Group 1 Railway Handicap in WA, but went on to even greater success as a broodmare when she produced four stakes winners in Antwerp, Don Eduardo, Peruzzi and Tristalove. All have gone on to stud with varying amounts of success. Antwerp was to produce the wonderful galloper and good sire in Viscount, while Tristalove produced full brothers Viking Ruler and

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Rather surprisingly Mustard’s pedigree has less inbreeding than any of the others we have looked at this month (3.13%). Oddly, it would not appear as a five-generation outcross though like some of the others. The closest ancestor duplicated is Princequillo in the fifth generation, and he appears again in the sixth. Princequillo appears through two daughters in the pedigree of the sire, Vettori, and through a son in the female side of the pedigree. The only other duplication in six generations is that of Nasrullah who also appears through a son and a daughter. Interestingly both stallions appear in the pedigree of Altezza through one ancestor in her grand damsire Dignitas. Both Princequillo and Nasrullah carry multiple close lines of St Simon. In the case of Nasrullah, he sees Phalaris in his sire line, and interestingly, the full siblings Sierra and Sainfoin. Where does Stockwell fit in the modern pedigree? He appears almost 1200 times in the pedigree of Mustard which is not unusual. Interestingly though Stockwell appears around the same amount in the both the sire and dam.

WINX - 2015 COX PLATE

ur cover picture this month is the remarkable Winx. Winx, as we saw, is another horse who would never have existed without the influence of the great breeder, Hurtle Fisher. The Fisher influence might be a little obscure, but it does not make it any less important. We see that her female line traces back to an incredibly important NZ bred mare in Stepdancer. Stepdancer was a daughter of Stepniak. That stallion won four stakes races from distances from 4 furlongs (800m) to 18 furlongs (3600m) in NZ in the Canterbury Welcome Stakes, Canterbury Cup, Derby and Steward's Handicap. Stepniak was a son of Nordenfeldt, by Musket and tracing to the Hurtle Fisher imported mare, Juliet. There are few racing fans throughout the world that are not familiar with the deeds of Winx, and this month we are going to focus on the great mare’s first Cox Plate win in 2015.

he story of Winx is unlike a lot of other stories of champion racehorses. She was clearly an above average type, being a daughter of champion stallion, Street Cry out of Vegas Showgirl, a relatively little known NZ bred mare by Akbar, a son of Success Express. Vegas Showgirl had won two stakes races in the Auckland Soliloquy Stakes and NZ Bloodstock 2yo Fillies Stakes. Despite her dam being something of a precocious 2yo, Winx did not see an official trial until May of 2014, when she ran on well late to finish fifth behind a filly called Pink Perfection by Mossman out of La Mamma Rosa by Testa Rossa. A couple of weeks later she was given another hit out in a 900m trial, this time finishing fourth behind Toxic Asset, a daughter of I Am Invincible. Winx stepped out for her first race at Warwick Farm over 1100m, winning narrowly beating Felines and being ridden by Jason Collett. Three weeks later she won again, this time at Rosehill over 1400m when also ridden by Collett beating Inz’n’out, a filly by Zariz. After a let up, she had one trial running third behind Longma and Peggy Jean before winning the G2 Furious Stakes at Randwick over 1200m at her first 3yo run. She then ran second behind First Seal in both the Tea Rose and Flight Stakes before going to the paddock. Two moderate barrier trials saw the filly return for the Light Finger over 1200m where she ran home solidly to finish seventh, beaten around 3 lengths by Adrift and First Seal. Stepping up to the 1400m of the Surround Stakes made little difference for the outstanding First Seal who was a dominant winner with Winx again running home from the rear to finish fifth, almost five lengths behind the winner. Two weeks later she won the Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m beating Hauraki before starting the $2.80 favourite in the AJC Oaks, running second beaten 2.5 lengths by another NZ bred filly in Gust Of Wind by Darci Brahma. In a move that might have been important to her long term development, connections sent her to Queensland where she was to win the Sunshine Coast Guineas in remarkable fashion before another stunning finish saw her dominate the Qld Oaks when an odds-on favourite. The Oaks was also the first time she had been ridden by Hugh Bowman after Larry Cassidy had the mount in the Guineas. A spell saw her return in the Spring for a brief campaign. She won the Theo Marks over 1300m beating Sons Of John narrowly when at the tail of the field

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on the home turn, and unleashing her now expected stunning finish which excited crowds. Winx then earned her first open Group 1 by winning the Epsom beating Equador. It was then on to Melbourne for her tilt at the big time, in the 2015 WS Cox Plate against a quality field.

ven though Winx started favourite, there were plenty of doubters. It was her first time around Moonee Valley and in fact in Melbourne. The mare who finished so strongly was thought by many to going to be too far back if she handled the conditions at all. The race was also her first Group 1 test at weight for age, and while she had been impressive in the Spring, it was a step up in class. Enjoy watching the race, and the cementing of the legend that was to be Winx. THE FIELD

1 CRITERION David Hayes Michael Walker $6 2 FAWKNER Robert Hickmott Damien Oliver $21 3 HAPPY TRAILS Paul Beshara Mark Zahra $21 4 HARTNELL John O'Shea James McDonald $16 5 MOURINHO Peter Gelagotis Vlad Duric $41 6 THE CLEANER Mick Burles Noel Callow $18 7 PORNICHET Gai Waterhouse AO Kerrin McEvoy $61 8 AROD Peter Chapple-Hyam Craig Williams $8.50 9 COMPLACENT John O'Shea James Doyle $21 10 GAILO CHOP Antoine de Watrigant Brad Rawiller $21 11 KERMADEC Chris Waller Glen Boss $9 12 PREFERMENT Chris Waller Nash Rawiller $14 13 HIGHLAND REEL Aidan O'Brien Ryan Moore $8 14 WINX Chris Waller Hugh Bowman $4.60

TURF MONTHLY 51

Turf Monthly June 2021

Articles inside

Think Big