Turf Monthly June 2022 by turfmonthly

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TURF

JUNE 2022

THIS MONTH

HITOTSU - A Dual Derby Winner SPEARFELT The Great GUNSYND ANOTHER GREAT RACE IN HISTORY

Editor’s Letter Another month has flown past and we are getting close to the end of our story that started with Carbine and took us on to Spearmint and the legacy of this wonderful line. Next month we will be looking at the stallion Spion Kop who came to Australia to make a large impact. Because we publish early, we are still getting over the sad news of the passing of the very talented jockey, Rod Griffiths, after a long battle with cancer. In our Great Races section this month we coincidentally look at the 1995 Golden Slipper which was Rod’s first ride in the race after a lengthy period overseas. I believe his last winner was at Wangaratta for trainer Colin Little. It was on a horse called Cherak by Lord Ballina who won his maiden over 1600m. Rod was a great jockey and a true family man who will be sorely missed. We have also seen the running of the Kentucky Derby won by an outsider in Rich Strike who paid over $250 on the NSW TAB but that had more to do with a lack of interest in the race in Australia than much else. Looking through the field prior to the race it was notable that there were a lot of stallions who are very unfamiliar to Australian breeders. Rich Strike is by a stallion called Keen Ice who stands at Calumet Farm, the breeders of the Derby winner. Keen Ice stood for a fee of only $7500 which no doubt will go up this year after a racing career that saw him earn over US$3.4 million. The highlight of his career was a win in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes which saw him as the only horse to have beaten American Pharoah in his Triple Crown winning 3yo season. We have seen American Pharoah stand at stud in Australia due to his remarkable performances, but from a pedigree perspective, Keen Ice might offer more important, or at least compatible bloodlines for Australian racing. He is a son of the wonderful Curlin out of a mare by Awesome Again, both stallions who have had international success but have yet to really make their mark in Australia. Perhaps Keen Ice, or even Rich Strike could be the stallion that brings these influences to the fore here. It was a stunning run by Rich Strike and if you haven’t seen it, make sure you have a look.

CONTENTS 4

Hitotsu

Spearmint Sons

Spearfelt

Dark Felt

Gunsynd

Vin O’Neill

Spike Island

Spelthorne

Zionist

1995 Golden Slipper

COVER IMAGE HITOTSU

Until next month Ross Prowd

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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HITOTSU

DUAL DERBY WINNER

he Autumn ended with a shock if you were wondering who the best 3yo in Australia was. The Godolphin horse Anamoe, having run second in the Cox Plate after winning the Caulfield Guineas had been unchallenged as clearly the best of his age. A week after Anamoe’s unlucky defeat in the Cox Plate, a relatively unheralded colt won the VRC Derby, a race that connections of Anamoe probably thought was of little value to his resume. That colt was Hitotsu, a son of the Japanese shuttle stallion Maurice and most thought that the Derby was going to be the pinnacle of his career. In only two starts in the Autumn, Hitotsu proved that his Derby win was just the beginning as he won the Australian Guineas and AJC Derby to lay claim to the title of our best 3yo and to match some wonderful racing records on the way. Hitotsu’s win in the AJC Derby saw him join an elite group to have won the two Derbies in the modern era, and in fact he was to become the first colt to achieve the feat since the fabulous Mahogany in 1993/94.

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itotsu was bred at Arrowfield Stud, by their Japanese stallion Maurice out of the Redoute’s Choice mare, Love Is Fickle. The colt was sold at Magic Millions, purchased by Kevin Kelly, the bloodstock agent husband of Cranbourne trainer, Wendy Kelly. Kevin was acting on behalf of owner, Kevin Payne and the colt was sent to the Kelly stable. They had a big wrap on the colt from the beginning, and he was set for an ambitious campaign. His first race start was on 7 February 2021 in the Blue Diamond Prelude. He started at $91 but stuck on well from midfield to finish seventh, beaten a little over 3 lengths, behind General Beau and a colt who was having his first run back from a spell in Anamoe. His next start was in the Blue Diamond and he settled last and ran home decently to finish tenth, beaten a little over 5 lengths behind the impressive Artorius with Anamoe in third. Next up it was another G1 in the Sires Produce, and again Hitotsu settled well back in the field. When taken to the outside in the straight, he finished strongly to run sixth only 3.5 lengths from winner Lightsaber. After the race, a large offer was made for the colt by leviathan owner, Aziz "Ozzie" Kheir but the Kelly’s convinced Kevin Payne to retain a share in the colt that they thought was going to be a Derby prospect.

itotsu resumed racing for his new stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in a 1350m maiden at Donald, winning comfortably at the prohibitive odds of $1.24. It was then to the Caulfield Guineas where he was doing his best work late to finish fifth, less than 3 lengths behind the impressive winner Anamoe. Three weeks later Hitotsu then won the VRC Derby having settled towards the rear in the run. Once he got clear around the 400m, Hitotsu finished like a true stayer to win impressively. Like most modern Australian Derbies, the quality of the field that he beat was questioned, and Hitotsu’s win passed with little interest from the general racing public as the colt was sent to the paddock.

urprisingly the Derby winner returned to racing on 5 March in the Australian Guineas. It was a competitive betting race with Profondo starting the $4.60 favourite while Captivant ($6), Forgot You ($6.50) and Pinstriped ($6.50) competed for market share. Hitotsu was next at $8 while Lightsaber, the Sires Produce winner was unwanted at $19. Hitotsu had come back a more mature horse and this was reflected in his ability to race much closer than was his normal pattern earlier in his career. He settled midfield, gaining a run on the inside to join the leaders in the straight. It looked like the swoopers were going to run straight past, but Hitotsu showed his fighting ability and eventually pulled away to win by almost a half-length from Lightsaber. Connections then took the colt to Sydney for a tilt at the AJC Derby, an ambitious programme given that it was only his second start back. On the heavy track at Randwick, Hitotsu again raced midfield and was taken to the outside as the field entered the straight. Favourite Benaud who had tracked him in the run loomed beside him, taking the lead. Again Hitotsu proved his fighting qualities as

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he wore down Benaud as the pair, along with the Darley trained Alegron came away from the field. Hitotsu did too well, winning by 0.36 lengths from Benaud, with around the same margin back to Alegron in third. Connections had no hesitation in sending the colt back to the paddock. There is little doubt that Hitotsu is the most exciting staying prospect since Russian Camelot who was lauded by the press after winning the SA Derby.

s we have mentioned, Hitotsu is a son of Maurice, a Japanese stallion who was an outstanding galloper. He won two of his three starts as a 2yo, although at only a moderate level. As a 3yo, Maurice started only 4 times, running only one placing and finishing fourth in the G2 Nakayama Fuji TV Sho Spring Stakes over 1800m. However, the following season, Maurice proved himself top class. He was unbeaten in six starts including three G1 races in the Kyoto Mile Championship, Tokyo Yasuda Kinen and HKJC Longines Hong Kong Mile. As a 5yo, Maurice started five times for three wins and two seconds. His wins were all at G1 level in the Longines Hong Kong Cup over 2000m, the famed Tokyo Tenno Sho (Autumn) also over 2000m and the HKJC Champions Mile. He was second in the G1 Tokyo Yasuda Kinen and the G2 Sapporo Kinen over 2000m beaten by Neorealism who interestingly stands at stud in Qld where he has not attracted much interest from local breeders. Maurice is by Screen Hero who was an upset winner of the G1 Japan Cup in 2008. In turn he was by Grass Wonder by Silver Hawk who shuttled to Australia for four years in the early 2000’s. Grass Wonder was interestingly out of a

Maurice with Arrowfield stallion groom Mitchell Ralph – photo Joan Faras TURF MONTHLY 6

daughter of Danzig, while Screen Hero saw his damsire as Sunday Silence. Maurice though is out of a Carnegie mare, Mejiro Frances highlighting the international flavour of Japanese pedigrees. Another interesting feature of Maurice’s pedigree is that Japanese breeders embarked on a plan to create their own exceptional branch of the thoroughbred. Little was done by accident although the early days often saw them utilise lesser known lines of the top international influences. Sunday Silence of course is a classic example in that despite his racetrack success, there was little interest in him as a stud prospect in the US. In the case of the family of Maurice, it is actually the family of one of the great stallions in Bayardo by Dark Ronald. There are plenty of lines that have had international success, and Australia has shared in that with greats like Chiquita, Eskimo Prince and Imagele all sharing common ancestors.

itotsu is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare, Love Is Fickle, who was unraced but did trial without success on half a dozen occasions. She was a daughter of She’s A Meanie by Prince Salieri who won the G1 Avondale Gold Cup and G3 Thames Valley Cup in NZ where she raced as She’s A Diamond originally. As a side note to her career, she retired with seven wins from 39 starts and earnings of less than $200,000 reflecting on major changes in the industry. She’s A Meanie was to prove an outstanding broodmare producing Love Conquers All by Mossman who stands at stud having won eight races including the G2 The Shorts. She also produced She’s Meaner by Falvelon who won the Listed Tommy Smith Slipper and Wyong Millions, and ran second to Augusta Proud in the Magic Millions. At stud she has produced another emerging stallion in Lean Mean Machine by Zoustar who won the ATC Run to the Rose and BRC Sires’ Produce. The female family is of particular interest to historians as it traces to a foundation mare called Gipsy born in 1840, and a celebrated race mare in NZ. She is recorded in the studbook as being by the stallion Rous’ Emigrant out of an unidentified Bay Camerton mare. Gipsy was to prove a wonderful matron and was responsible for many good horses

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including Calumny (1875 VRC Newmarket), the stallions Slanderer and Zingara, and Manton who won six stakes races in NZ including the NZ and Canterbury Cups and two Derbies, and himself was to go on to become a popular stallion. A letter to the editor of the Sydney Mail though gives a hint as to the origins of Gipsy. She was recorded in the stud book as a black mare, bred in New South Wales by Mr Charles Smith. She was subsequently sold to Mr John Beit in 1845 who sent her to NZ. Around 1827, the NSW Government had imported fourteen mares into the colony. Among them was a filly believed to be born in 1825 by Muley Moloch. She was purchased by Robert Campbell of Bligh Street in Sydney, who sent her to his brother-in-law, Robert Crawford who lived at Hill End, a farm on Penrith Road which adjoined Bungarrabee, the stud farm of Charles Smith. This mare was then served by Bay Camerton who had been imported in 1824 to produce a brown filly in 1829, and later a chestnut colt called Chester who was to win a race on the sand course at Randwick in 1834. The filly though was put to Rous’ Emigrant who had been imported in 1828 to produce a black filly in 1840 which was believed to be the filly that was to become known as Gipsy. She was regularly ridden at the property of Charles Smith by a former jockey in Johnny Higgerson who was the source of the information. Gipsy was later sold by Smith as part of a dispersal sale which saw her end in NZ to create one of the most enduring of that country’s thoroughbred lines. Quite remarkably after all this time, it seems that the family though has reached a new level and it only remains to be seen just how far the remarkable Hitotsu can take it.

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Hitotsu at 8.59% is actually one of the more heavily inbred pedigrees that we will look at this month. The feature of the pedigree is a sex-balanced cross of Danzig which actually remains less common than finding that stallion through two sons. The stallion’s greatest legacy has been through his sons, and it is interesting to see what the future of Maurice will bring when we look at this. Arguably, a feature like this in a pedigree can sometimes end up as a negative as breeder’s focus too much on one aspect of a pedigree rather than the other factors at play. We also see multiple lines of Northern Dancer, His Majesty and Natalma all of which appear in the pedigree of Danehill. The only other duplication we see is that of Never Bend, a son of Nasrullah who is very underrated in the modern era but was a wonderful influence who we saw most commonly as the sire of Riverman and Mill Reef.

THIS MONTH

SPEARFELT THE GRANDSON

SPIKE ISLAND SPELTHORPE ZIONIST TURF MONTHLY 10

SPEARFELT

THE SON OF SPEARHEAD

e ran out of room last month when writing about the sons of Spearhead. Spearfelt was his most famous son and deserves his own story. Not only did he become an outstanding sire, winning the Australian Champion Sires’ Title in 1942/43, but he was a top-flight racehorse in his own right. Arguably his influence has been instrumental in shaping the breed, especially during the 60’s and 70’s. While history regales the influence of Spearfelt, his name barely seems to rate a mention in the modern era and hopefully we can go a little way to remedying this oversight.

pearfelt had an interesting history. Goulbourn Valley breeder, Mr JV Smith sent a number of his mares to sale in Victoria in March 1922. One of these, Lady Champion, by Challenger, had a colt at foot by Spearhead. Mr Reg Inglis purchased the mare and foal on behalf of Mr Alfred Thomson of Widden Stud in NSW for the sum of 150 guineas. The mare and foal were put on a steamer for the trip to Sydney, but an accident on board saw the mare killed. Fortunately, the colt was uninjured, and he was raised as an orphan by the staff at William Inglis and Son’s at Randwick before being sent to Widden. The colt returned to the sale yard in Sydney the following April as reportedly “a trifle small and low set” and did not attract much interest. Trainer Vin O’Neill and his racing partner Doug Grant purchased him cheaply for 120 guineas, and the colt was to reward them many times over. TURF MONTHLY 11

pearfelt starting his racing career on 6 October 1923 in the time-honoured Maribyrnong Trial, finishing sixth behind a future star in Fujisan in a field of 22 runners. He then finished second behind the great Heroic in the Gwyn Nursery with 23 horses facing the starter. He finished the Spring with a sixth behind Fujisan in the Flemington Stakes. The Autumn saw him run second over 4 furlongs at Moonee Valley before finishing unplaced behind Heroic in the Alma Stakes. Spearfelt then had his first win in the Gibson Carmichael at Flemington before finishing second in the Orrong Handicap. He then went to Sydney where he finished fifth in the Sires Produce before winning the Easter Stakes. He ended his 2yo season by running fourth to Heroic in the Champagne Stakes. As a 3yo, Spearfelt returned to finish second in the Bulla Handicap over a mile at Moonee Valley and second in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, this time behind Englefield. He then went to Sydney where he ran second in the Rosehill Cup before being beaten into third place behind Heroic in the AJC Derby. The margins were a head by a head with Nigger Minstrel splitting the pair. Returning to Melbourne, Spearfelt then won the VRC Derby by six lengths before lining up in the 1924 Melbourne Cup starting the 9/4 favourite. That was the year that had seen Purser win the Caulfield Cup in controversial fashion, a story we have told previously. This led to the disqualification of Heroic’s

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Spearfelt winning the Derby.

connections that led to him being off racing for some time and missing the Derby and Cup. Favourite on the morning of the Cup was the impressive winner of the Moonee Valley Cup, a SA 4yo called Stand By. Flemington was abuzz with rumours of the scratching of the favourite, but the owner, Mr T Ryder insisted that the horse was to start despite him appearing to be unable to put any weight on his off hind leg. Constant attention on the heavily bandaged leg saw the pain diminish and Stand By made his way to the start still clearly favouring the leg. In what must rate as one of the most remarkable finishes to a Cup, Stand By was still hopelessly behind a wall of horses at the 400m mark while Backwood, an imported English entire, had reached the front. Somehow Bobbie Lewis managed to get Stand By clear to fail by a head, with Spearfelt only a neck further back, a nose in advance of Lilypond. The dramas surrounding the Cup of that year did not end there as the judge incorrectly put up the number of fifth place getter Brown Rajah as third, and many bookmakers paid out until the mistake was rectified. Spearfelt was also a hard luck story in the Cup. He had been second last as the field passed the winning post the first time. Jockey Ted O’Sullivan had him running fourth as the field approached the home turn but he struck trouble resulting from an incident with the immortal Drongo and was pushed back to the tail of the field. Spearfelt finished strongly to narrowly fail. Vin O’Neil who we will talk about a little more later was a colourful character to say the least. When dismounting from Spearfelt, O’Sullivan who was visibly disappointed told O’Neill that if the race was rerun, that Spearfelt would have won by a furlong. O’Neill quickly responded, “The trouble is, Ted, that they don't run Melbourne Cups over again.” In a further attempt to play down the bad luck, O’Neill asked O’Sullivan “What's the difference to me between a Melbourne Cup and a £10 handicap in the bush?” Quick as a flash O'Sullivan answered: “Only about £9,990.” O’Neill claimed that the quick and clever retort was all he required to make him forget the defeat and he laughed over the incident many times. The following Saturday Spearfelt ran third of three runners in the CB Fisher Plate behind Lilypond to round off his Spring. TURF MONTHLY 13

Spearfelt after the Australian Cup

he colt returned for the Autumn over 6 furlongs at Caulfield in February to finish fourth, and then fifth over a mile in the Mentone Handicap. He then stepped up to the 14 furlongs (2800m) of the VRC St Leger to win from Wycherley, before beating Lilypond in the 16 furlong (3200m) King’s Plate. A trip to Sydney saw him run second to Windbag in the AJC St Leger before he fell in the running of the Sydney Cup of 1925 won by Lilypond. He was then sent to the paddock in preparation for his 4yo season. That was to prove a disappointment as Spearfelt lost form completely as he struggled with an illness. The season started with promise by running third to Heroic in the Memsie but that was followed by unplaced runs in the Hill Stakes and Spring Stakes in Sydney behind Manfred and Windbag. Back in Melbourne, he started in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, but never figured in the finish, running sixth behind Whittier at Caulfield and well beaten when a 33/1 chance at Flemington behind Windbag. He returned for only start in the Autumn, another unplaced run in the CF Orr Stakes before Spearfelt again found himself in the paddock.

’Neill remained confident that Spearfelt would return to his best and rated him Australia’s top stayer. Doug Grant had bemoaned the fact that he would never have as good a chance to win a Melbourne Cup as he had in 1925, when O’Neill confidently predicted that Spearfelt would be set to win the Cup in 1927. All of his Spring runs were aimed at this one goal, and he returned with pleasing runs over

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unsuitable distances in a handicap at Flemington over 6 furlongs (1200m) and the mile of the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown. A fifth in the Memsies was followed by another trip to Sydney to run third behind Valicare in the Hill Stakes. He then won the Spring Stakes over 12 furlongs (2400m) before finishing seventh in the Metropolitan. A third behind Pantheon in the Randwick Plate over two miles saw him back in Melbourne to run fourth in the Melbourne Stakes behind the brilliant Manfred on the Saturday before the Cup. Onlookers were worried about the run, but not O’Neill. He blamed the jockey George Young who he said shown poor judgement and sacked from the horse in the Cup. There are always two sides to every story, and O’Neill who was a regular favourite with racing writers was later to tell all and sundry that he had decided that Hugh Cairns was a much stronger rider and he had sought to have him take the mount. He claimed to have promised Young £500 if Spearfelt won, and that Young had been among the first to congratulate him on the victory. Other stories have Young protesting to the Stewards who told O’Neill that he would have to pay Young a winning or losing fee for the Cup if he was to obtain a new jockey. Manfred unfortunately for connections was to go lame and the ruling favourite was withdrawn from the Cup. This left Hugh Cairns without a mount leading to the sacking of Young. Another champion in Heroic was also to go amiss and he was to end his remarkable career never having the opportunity to compete in a Melbourne Cup.

uch was the confidence that O’Neill had in the horse, he had coupled him with Manfred who won the Caulfield Cup in a double that was worth £20,000. Before the Cup though, the plans went awry with Spearfelt splitting his hoof. The injury appeared that bad that the horse could not put any weight on the foot, and O’Neill started laying off his investment. He also commiserated with his good friend Doug Grant about the ill-fortunes of racing. Spearfelt’s attendant was Stan Boyden who was later to own a fleet of horse transports and he spent day and night with the horse trying to make him comfortable. O’Neill decided to cut away part of the hoof near the issue to see if it might relieve the pain. The procedure had remarkable success with Spearfelt allegedly bucking and kicking in pleasure as he put his foot on the ground pain free. Boyden however never stopped working on the foot, but by race day few even suspected that there had been an issue. It was reported that on Cup Day morning that Spearfelt, who had reached 33/1 in the betting, was backed for a fortune to start at 10/1. The 1926 Cup was the first time that the Cup horses had paraded in race book order as another interesting insight into history. The Cup itself was another remarkable story. The two favourites for the race were Panthoen at 9/4 and ridden by Jim Pike, and The Banker at 4/1 ridden by Maurice McCarten. The Banker was trained by Cecil Godby who had also entered Comus for the race as a pacemaker as he was worried by a lack of speed. The move backfired as Comus galloped freely setting up a lead of around 30 lengths at around the mile mark. McCarten and Pike were forced to chase the tearaway, and their two mounts were in front as the field entered the straight, but their effort was to tell. Pantheon got the upper hand but was challenged by Spearfelt who moved away to win by a half length from Naos who was a neck clear of the valiant Pantheos. The breakneck speed saw Spearfelt equal the Cup record that had been set by Windbag the year before.

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Pantheon was to turn the tables on Spearfelt the following Saturday in winning the CB Fisher Plate with Spearfelt second.

fter a spell, Spearfelt resumed by running fourth of four runners in the unsuitable CF Orr. A third behind Heroic in the St George Stakes was followed by a second in the Woodcliff Handicap at Caulfield. Spearfelt then put in arguably his best performance to win the 18 furlong (3600m) Australian Cup beating Naos who was in receipt of over 2 stone from the champion. Spearfelt set a weight carrying record for the race lumping 9 st 13 lbs (63kg) and winning in race record time. He then won the Governors Plate over 12 furlongs (2400m) at his following start beating Heroic. Spearfelt then travelled to Sydney to run unplaced behind Amounis in the Chipping Norton before again heading to the spelling paddock. Spearfelt was to race on at six and seven but his best days were behind him. He was to start only four times next season with his best result being a fourth in the Memsie Stakes behind Royal Charter in 1927. He briefly entered stud at Bendigo but was put back into racing after covering only a handful of mares. As a 7yo, he started seven times but again could not fill a placing, and he retired after running fifth of six runners in the Herbert Power at Caulfield on 17 October 1928 when ridden by Hugh Cairns. This led to another late start to the breeding season, and Spearfelt was sold again in 1929 to Mr Thomas Jennings for 1300 guineas. Mr Jennings stood Spearfelt at his Alma Vale stud, at Greenmount near Toowoomba where he gained immediate recognition. In 1937, he was to finish runner up in the Australian Champion Sires’ Title to the seven-time winner, Heroic, before managing to win the title in 1943.

he stallion was by the imported British sire, Spearhead as we have discussed. Spearfelt was out of Lady Champion, by Challenger, a moderate imported stallion. He produced only five stakes winners including the AJC Sires’ Produce winner, Gillamatong. Lady Champion was out of an imported British mare, Bangle that produced the 1906 Doncaster winner, Little Toy, and the CB Fisher Plate winner, Rock Gun. In turn, Bangle was by Barcaldine out of the Bend Or mare, Chatelaine, who was a good mare producing eight winners. Her grand dam, Chanoinesse was a full sister to Hermit, the English Derby winner who was a successful stallion.

t stud in Queensland, Spearfelt sired twenty-six stakes winners including the Queensland Hall Of Fame racehorse, Spear Chief. Spear Chief won the QTC Sires’ Produce as a 2yo before going on to win the Queensland Guineas and Derby as a 3yo. He also won the Brisbane Cup twice and the QTC King’s Plate as well as travelling interstate to win the Hotham Handicap, Cumberland and Rawson Stakes. Spearfelt also produced Doomben Cup winner, Brown Lance, Queensland Cup winners in Willwear and Soft Step, Herbert Power winner, Rex Felt, and Sydney Cup winner, Abspear.

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Spearfelt has moderate inbreeding at 7.0.3%. Readers will be familiar with many of the names that we see duplicated as they are many of the staples of pedigrees of that time. Lord Clifden we see importantly through his son Hampton, and through the female line of Isinglass. We also see multiple lines of his sire, Newminster. West Australian appears as the damsire of Musket and also in the female line of Spearfelt. The legendary stallion Stockwell appears four times within six generations, but interestingly only through the pedigrees of Spearmint and Bangle at the top and bottom of the pedigree. The other stallion we see duplicated is Blair Athol who is found through a son and a daughter. Blair Athol we should point out is a son of Stockwell.

Spearfelt’s owner D Grant with the Melbourne Cup

n spite of these, Spearfelt’s best known progeny is one that never raced in Queensland. Alma Vale Stud sent a draft of Spearfelt’s progeny back to the William Inglis sales in Sydney in 1939. One colt was purchased by veteran Caulfield trainer, Mr Frank Musgrave for 550 guineas. He called the colt Dark Felt and he would go on to become one of Queensland’s few locally bred Melbourne Cup winners, although no doubt somewhat regrettably for Mr Musgrave. Being a slow maturing type, Dark Felt did not win a race for Musgrave, although the trainer had a deal of faith in the horse, using him as a galloping partner for his most famous charge, Ajax. Despite his belief, Mr Musgrave sold Dark Felt, still a maiden as a 4yo following an unplaced run at Flemington on Boxing Day in 1941.

ark Felt was purchased privately by Mr EW Spark who then leased him to a former Melbourne jockey, JA Cain. He was almost five before he won his first race, a maiden handicap at Kensington in NSW. Within twelve months, Dark Felt had won the Moonee Valley Cup and Hotham Handicap, before starting favourite in the 1942 Melbourne Cup where he finished unplaced. In 1943, Dark Felt would again win the Hotham Handicap before this time going on to his most famous success in the Melbourne Cup of that year beating Counsel and Claudette.

ark Felt was from an interesting Australian family, being out of the Top Gallant mare, Gallant Elsa. Her dam, Elsa Craig, by the imported French stallion, Kenilworth, was a half-sister to the Launceston Cup winner, Sand Dune. In turn, her dam, Elie, out of the St Simon mare, Elsie, was a half-sister to stakes winners Reliance and Red Streak. Red Streak is best known as the fourth dam of one of

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Australia’s greatest broodmares, Dark Jewel. She produced five stakes winners in Baguette, Cabachon, Betelgeuse, Birthright and Heirloom.

or many racing fans, and Queenslanders in particular, Gallant Elsa may be best remembered for her daughter, Loloma, a full sister to Dark Felt. She went on to produce a daughter called Woodstand by Mr Standfast who produced two stakes winners in Drop Volley and New Stand. She also produced a daughter by Newtown Wonder called Woodie Wonder. Woodie Wonder is the dam of Queensland’s favourite racing son in Gunsynd. It is not coincidental that we often see Spearfelt in modern pedigrees through the influence of Gunsynd and his family. Gunsynd is the damsire of Emancipation whose family continues to influence Australian racing with the likes of Railings and Virage De Fortune winning stakes races. His female line continues to produce good horses of the likes of Top Echelon and Brockman’s Lass. However, Spearfelt continues to impact further than just this line. Others that owe success to the influence of Spearfelt are Shogun Lodge, Make Mine Magic, Lashed and Ice Chariot. While Spearfelt may now be resigned to the depths of pedigrees, no doubt his influence still endures, as hopefully will the memory of one of Queensland’s truly great sires.

Dark Felt returning to scale after the Cup

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Worker (Brisbane, Qld. : 1890 - 1955), Monday 15 November 1943, page 13 by Jim Anderson

DARK FELT CUP WIN DECISIVE

o excuses were possible after Dark Felt’s runaway Melbourne Cup success. At every stage of the race he was travelling like a winner, and although a run on the rails on the inside of Saul making the home turn simplified his task, he moved right away from his main challenger, Counsel, in the last furlong.

ounsel was three lengths behind Dark Felt at the judge, with Claudette a neck away, just beating three-year-old Precept for third place. Equal favourite, Skipton, was fifth, but he was never close enough to look a possible winner. The big majority of Queenslanders stuck to Dark Felt, and although 7/2 was still on offer here at starting time, Dark Felt was definitely favourite for money, as against the topweight Skipton, about whom it was possible to get 9 to 2, compared with his Melbourne starting price

iggest Brisbane winner was one of the younger of the bookmaking fraternity, who kept on backing him at fourteens and twelves wherever he could get set over a fortnight ago. Otherwise all the bookmakers who fielded in the Cup had a bad settling and early results at Albion Park also did not make them any happier.

MONEY MANOEUVRES

onfusing stories about Dark Felt prior to the Cup were not taken very seriously by those who are experienced in the money manoeuvres before a big race. With big sweeps and big betting to be cut up and old hands like Alby Cain, lessee of Dark Felt, would be unlikely to overlook any of the garnerings. To have a Melbourne Cup certainty is a change that comes to few men even once in a lifetime. Back in July, Cain confided to a couple of his close Brisbane friends that he felt confident of winning either the Caulfield or Melbourne Cup with Dark Felt. It was just a matter of the race on which he set his mind. Consequently the statement within the last week that the stable had not invested a penny on the horse for the Cup was scarcely believable.

nowing his form better than anyone, and in view of the manoeuvres to escape a Cup penalty, there was little doubt in the minds of keen racing men that Cain had made the Melbourne Cup Dark Felt's mission. Even if it had been a case of running for the stake alone, that race would not have been passed over, because there could never be another like it to get him into an important handicap with such a favourable weight.

BOUGHT AS MAIDEN

ain deserves every credit for the way he has developed Dark Felt since he advised Mr EW Spark to bid 600gns for him at auction nearly two years ago when the horse was four years old, and still a maiden. Until that time, Dark Felt had been trained by veteran Frank Musgrave, who had Ajax and other good ones. He had been placed in the Derby won by Lucrative, and in several other races, but his first win was when he defeated Moondarewa in a Maiden at Ascot, Sydney, in the last month of his four years old season.

TURF MONTHLY 20

ollowing quickly on that he won an Improvers' Handicap at Newcastle, and a Novice in Sydney. Taken back to Melbourne, he won a Welter at Geelong, then was second in the Toorak Handicap and unplaced in the Caulfield Cup, but he won the Moonee Valley Cup and Hotham Handicap. Following the 1942 spring racing, Cain decided to reserve the horse for the 1943 spring campaign, and with four wins in a row he has fulfilled Cain's highest expectations. BEEN THROUGH THE MILL

s a youngster, Alby Cain was apprenticed to the late Hugh Munro, father of Jim and Darby, but it didn't take him very long to run into weight, and until he got Dark Felt he haft been battling along as a trainer of moderate horses. Vic Hartney, who had his 23rd birthday on Cup day, is one of the headiest of Melbourne jockeys, and in Dark Felt’s four recent wins he has displayed coolness and judgment combined with keen horsemanship.

ydney trainer Mick Poison has one of the hardest luck stories to tell regarding Dark Felt. He made an offer of 2000 guineas for the horse when he was a threeyear-old; but it was refused. He wasn't in Melbourne later when the horse was eventually sold for 600gns. Dark Felt is the second Queensland-bred winner of the Melbourne Cup; the first being Old Rowley, who scored in 1940. He also is the first of the Spearfelt stock to win the big race. His time, 3.23.75, was two seconds outside the race record held by Wotan, but it compared very favourably with other times during the day. BEATEN BRIGADE

ounsel's second was a good effort, but he weakened slightly when the final pressure was applied, indicating that he is not quite as good over two miles as at a shorter distance. Claudette, who filled third place, is one of the plugging stayer type. Her rider, Knox, considered she would have finished second but for having to take the long way round on the home turn, when Dark Felt slipped through on the rails. Precept showed that he has stamina by running on as strongly as anything behind the winner, to be just beaten out of a place. Like Skipton (fifth) he was badly placed in the early stages when the pace was slow. Skipton had to travel wide in the last half-mile, which was not in his favour with 9.9. Saul, who made most of the pace, weakened into sixth place, and Tranquil Star and Temple Chief, who were well placed in running; both dropped right out at the end. Heart's Desire, Saint Warden, and Neutron were never real possibilities.

Dark Felt Melbourne Cup win TURF MONTHLY 21

Dark Felt has quite a heavily inbred pedigree at 11.33%. We have been speaking for some time about the influence of the great Carbine, and in this pedigree, we see the duplication of Carbine a feature through his sons Wallace and Spearmint who we have highlighted in the magazine. What becomes more remarkable is that Spearhead is a son of the mare, Baroness La Fleche, who was in turn a daughter of La Fleche. La Fleche, when mated with Isinglass produced a son called John O’Gaunt, the sire of Swynford, who is the sire of Top Gallant, the damsire of Dark Felt. Isinglass is also found in the tail female line of Spearfelt. Importantly La Fleche is a daughter of St Simon, a stallion we also see appearing twice more in the pedigree within 6 generations. We should also mention the presence of multiple lines of Isonomy who also appears through that top stallion Gallinule.

GUNSYND

MORE POPULAR THAN PHAR LAP

ven people who had no interest in racing were familiar with the “Goondiwindi Grey” who retired the greatest prize money winner in Australian racing at the time. Such was his fame that he was popularized in song by Tex Morton, and his statue adorns the small Queensland border town of Goondiwindi. His connection with the small country town though does not go beyond that of his owners, who purchased the grey from the Brisbane yearling sales for the sum of $1300. It must have been an interesting sale, because I personally know of at least half a dozen people who lay claim to having been the underbidder on the famous horse.

unsynd had his first career start for Brisbane trainer Bill Wehlow on 11 October 1969, winning the QTC Hopeful Stakes over 5 furlongs (1000m). He won the Sapling Stakes at the same course and distance three weeks later before going out for a break. Gunsynd returned in February to win the Nursery Handicap, again at Eagle Farm, although this time over 6 furlongs (1200m) before heading to Sydney to win the Endeavor Handicap over 7 furlongs (1400m) at Warwick Farm. He then suffered his first defeat behind the brilliant Baguette in the 1970 Golden Slipper. Baguette was to become the first ever 2yo Triple Crown winner that season and connections of Gunsynd may have been wise in avoiding that good colt for the rest of the season. It proved to be a successful strategy as Gunsynd won the Fernhill Stakes at Randwick over a mile.

fter a break, Gunsynd returned to Brisbane to win at Doomben and Eagle Farm before heading back to Sydney. First up he ran fourth in the Canterbury Guineas behind the very good son of Showdown in Royal Show who had controversially run second to Baguette in the Golden Slipper before protesting unsuccessfully. Gunsynd then won the Chelmsford beating Roman Consul before finishing a good third behind Royal Show and Baguette in the Rosehill Guineas. After that race connections of Baguette decided that he would not stay and scratched him from the Derby. Gunsynd was the popular elect for the Derby despite champion trainer Tommy Smith having four starters in the race. Despite looking the winner in the straight, Gunsynd struggled to run the Derby trip and ended up running fourth behind another son of Showdown in Silver Sharpe, Silver Sharpe who had been a maiden before the race carried saddle cloth eleven to repeat history with Tommy Smith’s first Derby winner with Playboy 21 years earlier. Gunsynd was taken to Melbourne where he ran seventh in the Cox Plate behind Abdul, and then twelfth behind Silver Sharpe again in the VRC Derby. The campaign wasn’t finished for the grey as he trekked back to Brisbane to see Silver Sharpe win the Triple Crown

TURF MONTHLY 24

for 2yo’s by taking out the Qld Derby. Gunsynd finished a brave third and went for a well-earned rest. Returning for the Autumn, Gunsynd won over 6 furlongs at Eagle Farm before heading to Sydney to win the Rawson Stakes. After a third to Gay Icarus in the Champion Stakes over 10 furlongs at Randwick, Gunsynd was back in Brisbane to win the Labour Day Cup before finishing fourth in the Moreton Handicap and another stint in the paddock.

unsynd returned as a 4yo with Bill Wehlow winning a Flying at Doomben with Larry Olsen again in the saddle. Another trip to Sydney followed and sensationally the grey was transferred to the stable of TJ Smith. Gunsynd ran second over 6 furlongs at Rosehill at his first start for the new stable. He then won the the Epsom with Kevin Langby on board. Gunsynd then went to Melbourne where he was joined by Roy Higgins to win the Toorak Handicap. George Moore rode him when he finished fourth in the Caulfield Cup, while Higgins was back on board for a similar placing in the Cox Plate behind Tauto. It was then back to a mile at Flemington to win the George Adams and a week later he finished off his Spring with a win over the mile and a half of the Sandown Cup. Autumn saw Gunsynd continue his winning ways in the Frederick Clissold in Sydney before heading back to Melbourne to win the Futurity, Queens Plate and Queen Elizabeth. Smith took him to his new home in Sydney to win the Doncaster for a clean sweep of the great mile races for the season. Two days later Gunsynd was beaten into fifth in the two-mile Sydney Cup on Easter Monday, and the following weekend he had a torrid battle with another great Qld champion in Tails to run second in the Queen Elizabeth over 14 furlongs (2800m). Another well-earned break followed as he prepared for his last year of racing.

unsynd returned as a five-year-old to be beaten first up for the first time in his career. He dead heated for second in the Warwick Stakes over 1400m with the introduction of the Metric system, and then ran third in the Chelmsford. A win in the Hill Stakes followed before Gunsynd suffered his first defeat over the metric equivalent of a mile when second to Triton in the Epsom. A win in the Colin Stephens at Randwick saw the champion back in Melbourne to win the Caulfield Stakes before running a gallant third in the Caulfield Cup behind Sobar who was getting 14.5kgs in weight from the grey. It was then to Moonee Valley for one of his finest wins in the Cox Plate beating All Shot. TJ Smith then rather controversially started Gunsynd in the Melbourne Cup of 1972, and the old champion gave it his all to finish a gallant third behind Piping Lane. The following Saturday he was to finish fourth behind Scotch And Dry in the CB Fisher Plate before going for a spell. Gunsynd returned for his final campaign on 17 February 1972, winning over 1600m in the Blamey Stakes at Flemington. He was beaten by Idolou in the 1400m of the Futurity before winning his last start in Melbourne in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2500m at Flemington. Jockey Roy Higgins was often quoted as saying that Gunsynd was by now past his best and had tried to convince connections to retire the horse. But he was to have his farewell in Sydney with his heart carrying him to a win in the Rawson Stakes before a second in the Chipping Norton behind Apollo Eleven. Gunsynd then won the Autumn Stakes and then it was his final start in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2400m at Randwick on 28 April 1973. Big crowds had followed Gunsynd for the season, and it was a letdown for his multitude of fans when he again finished second to Apollo Eleven.

TURF MONTHLY 25

t was perhaps as Australia’s greatest ever miler that Gunsynd will best be remembered on the track. He was to win seven of his stakes’ races over a mile, including the Epsom and two Doncasters. He was only once beaten over the distance, an epic tussle with Triton in the Epsom of 1972 where he battled valiantly carrying 62kgs under the handicap conditions. He was to retire with the highest prizemoney of any Australian racehorse,

unsynd was a crowd favourite, and his rather eccentric traits included refusing to go onto the track while there were flash photographers about, preferring it seemed to pose so as they may get a better shot. If ever there was a horse that could have been called a showman of the turf, it was Gunsynd whose presence ensured huge crowds would turn up at the course. Gunsynd traces to a mare called Elsie, by St Simon, one of the most influential of all stallions. Elsie was owned by a Mr WR Wilson and was one of the few of her sires’ progeny ever to race in Australia. While she did not perform at the level hoped, she more than made up for it at stud producing two stakes winners in Red Streak and Reliance. Her family though was to bring us not only Gunsynd, Dark Jewel and Baguette, but Baguette’s quality sibling in Cabachon, and Melbourne Cup winner, Dark Felt, Flight Stakes winner, Danglissa, two times Group 1 Manikato Stakes winner, Spinning Hill and Golden Slipper winner and top line sire, Sebring. Gunsynd went to stud with great fanfare but never lived up to expectations. His daughter Ammo Girl was to produce one of the greatest fillies Australian racing has ever seen in Emancipation who won 16 stakes races including seven of these over 1600m, including the 1983 Doncaster Handicap.

TURF MONTHLY 26

Gunsynd at 4.69% appears to have only limited inbreeding. Interestingly we see the stallion Chaucer appears in the same position in the pedigree of both sire and dam. We also see multiple lines of Sunstar, Orby, Swynford and Dark Ronald. Because we are only looking at six generations, it is easy to miss the presence of Spion Kop in the pedigree of Sunset Hue. He appears as the damsire of His Highness in the female line of that stallion. Spion Kop, who we will look at more next month, is another son of Spearmint. We rarely make comment on duplications within the sire and dam that do not extend into the other side of the pedigree. In this case though it might be important to note that Sunset Sue sees Hyperion duplicated in his pedigree, while Woodstand, the dam of Woodie Wonder has an even more interesting feature. In this case it is a duplication of the mare, Baroness La Fleche the dam of Spearhead. She also appears as the granddam of Mr Standfast, the damsire of Woodie Wonder.

VIN O’NEILL

A RACING CHARACTER

Doug Grant (l) and Vin O’Neill (r)

Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), Monday 26 April 1937, page 15

Taming The Wild 'Uns By VIN O'NEILL As Told to JM Rohan

TURF MONTHLY 28

our brothers and a sister comprise the O'Neill family, of Hatches Bay, New Zealand, and they have a record without a blemish in the business of breaking horses. No outlaw has entered their yard without leaving it a well-mannered, tractable and completely tamed horse. The four brothers were successful jockeys before they made horse taming a hobby. One of them was commanded by Queen Alexandra to appear at Marlborough House to show his skill.

Y brothers, Ern, Sid and Clarrie, like myself, were jockeys. When weight told its tale, Clarrie took out a jumping rider's licence, and Ern, Syd and myself became trainers. From early childhood we seemed to be able to succeed with horses with which other people could do no good. No matter where you go in New Zealand you will hear it said that no horse could best the O'Neills. My eldest brother Ern taught us all we knew about horses. Before he joined up with the Ormond Stud he rode many winners for Mr JD Ormond. So keen were we all on outlaws and buckjumpers that we staged a rodeo at Christchurch during the Exhibition year. Our show ran for six months to capacity houses. At that time the well-known Caulfield trainer, Dave Price, had just returned from a trip to America with LH Hewitt, one of the great jockeys of my time. Dave was asked to come and see the O'Neill buckjumping show, but he scouted the idea, saying that he had just returned from the States, where he had seen the last thing in rodeos and rough riding. However, he was prevailed on to have a look at the local lads, and he was astounded. After complimenting us on our show he promised to come again. I gave him a season ticket and told him we would be glad to see him any night he cared to come along. But Dave tore the ticket up. "This show is well worth paying to see," he said. To this day Dave is to be heard telling things that happened at the O'Neill rodeo. Others who came almost nightly to see the fun were George Price, Gold Rod's trainer, and Paddy McLaughlin, who brought Epigram to Melbourne some time ago.

— o-O-o— Rode Machine Gun -Carrying 11.3

rn was the best man with with buckjumpers that I have seen, but I would say that Sid was the best jockey of our family. Clarence was a good rider; he came to Australia with Dave Price and the great sprinter, Machine Gun. Clarrie rode Machine Gun in the Futurity Stakes and Newmarket Handicap of 1906 — the famous occasion when Machine Cun carried 11.3. Tenakoe was Clarrie's first mount in Melbourne, and he won races at successive starts at Williamstown, Caulfield and Moonee Valley, carrying in turn 11.7, 13.2, and 12.13. To give some idea of what the connections of Tenakoe thought of his prospects just look at these quotations: At Williamstown 6 to 4: at Caulfield, 5/4 on; at Moonee Valley, 5 to 4 on. Clarrie was the first rider in the world to adopt a crouch seat over obstacles. When a leading rider in New Zealand, Clarrie was sent by my mother on an errand to the butcher's. He heard a band playing and saw a number of young fellows lining up in two ranks; A sergeant in uniform was calling the roll. Inquiring what it was all about, Clarrie was told that they were enrolling soldiers for the South African war. He liked the idea and the sergeant liked the look of him, and that is how a leading jockey went for

TURF MONTHLY 29

a pound of sausages and came home a soldier. After the South African war, Clarrie returned to New Zealand. It was not long, however, before he set out again for the land of the Oom Paul Kruger will The Imp, a champion pony, and San Patricia, a speedy mare on whom he won a rich race at Durban.

—o-O-o— A Note of Good Cheer

O show the good fellowship that existed between jockeys in my day I must tell of an incident concerning LH Hewitt and my brother Clarrie. When Hewitt landed in Melbourne he called out to Caulfield to see Clarrie, but found that he had been taken to hospital with a broken thigh, sustained in a race fall off Mr "Tot" Murray's Debenture, Hewitt was on his way to Sydney to ride Solution in the Metropolitan, and in answer to Clarrie's good wishes, Hewitt said, "If I win the Metropolitan you are on £100." Dave Price duly brought the £100 back from Sydney to cheer up the hospital patient. The family is more proud of what it taught the pony Sandow than of its combined successes on the turf. That little midget was running wild in the hills near our home, and it took all the strategy in the world to catch him. He was the cheekiest bit of horseflesh we ever handled. However, between us we broke down his resistance and it was not long before Sandow was following us around the yard like a kitten. So intelligent was he that it was only a matter of minutes before he learned a new trick — and didn't he skite before an audience! Sandow appeared on the stage in Melbourne and Adelaide and then was taken to London, where he was commanded to appear at Marlborough House by Queen Alexandra. The Queen and Princess Victoria were thrilled at the pony's antics. They thought him most intelligent. Brother Ern, who was in charge of the little fellow, is proud of a letter received from the Royal household, which reads: "I have to convey Her Majesty's thanks and pleasure for the performance of your pony Sandow at Marlborough House yesterday afternoon."

W A

—o-o-o— Sandow Burst A Bloodvessel

HILE doing his buckjumping turn one night in England, Sandow burst a blood vessel and died. Ern stayed 15 years in England, and he declares that Australian trainers are the best in the world. t Napier, New Zealand, Hugh Telford drove with me to a race meeting in the beautiful little jinker drawn by Sandow. We were not members. I was not keen on leaving the valuable pony and jinker in the outer paddock, so I had the little chap standing on his hind legs and going through his tricks before members who drove up in their buggies. It was not long before we were inside, most of the members being more interested in Sandow than in the first race. One evening while our buckjumping show was on in Christchurch, I had just ridden an outlaw without saddle or bridle. I was called to the wire enclosure to see Sir George Clifford, who owned the best horse racing in New Zealand at that time. Signalman was his name and he was a brute at the post. He had developed the habit of bucking his jockeys

TURF MONTHLY 30

off. Sir George asked me if I would take the horse to the post for the Exhibition Handicap, a race all New Zealand sportsmen coveted. He said that he felt that I could teach Signalman manners after seeing what I had just done to the buckjumper. Vic Cotton was on Signalman, and he was amazed to find the horse going to the barrier like a sheep, to jump away and win comfortably. Going on to Palmerston North he again got rid of his rider, and Sir George retired him from the turf. Sir George was disappointed that I could not fit in that trip.

— o-O-o — How Real Savage Was Tamed

OSSIBLY the worst horse seen in Melbourne was Henry the Eighth, an imported gelding by Henry the First, owned by Eric Connolly. He was a vicious rogue; definitely the most venomous horse I have encountered. When Eric sent him along to me I must admit that for once I had doubts as to whether I would succeed. He was a devil; his four legs were charged with dynamite, and he used to bare his teeth like a savage dog. I tackled Henry the Eighth with the utmost care, giving him no chance to kick or savage me. By pampering him I was able to sit between his legs after a couple of days; and I could hop on his back without saddle or bridle. Within two weeks of getting the horse I took him to the Caulfield tracks one morning with Miss Gwen Johnson in the saddle. When Eric Connolly saw his horse cantering along with a girl in charge he could scarcely believe his eyes. "Do you want to get that girl killed?' he exclaimed, rushing over to me. I replied that Henry the Eighth hadn't an atom of vice in him. He behaved well for his young rider, who could do anything with him. And strange to say that if given £1,000 I could not explain how I manage to get horses to do my bidding. With some firmness must be the keynote from the outset; others have to be cajoled quietly. Like human beings, horses have their peculiarities; each one must be studied separately. Of course, patience plays a big part in horse-taming. Few are prepared to persevere if the horse is a bad one. But if you understand what you are trying to do your job is half done.

hings do not always go according to plan when handling fractious horses. One day I took Wirral to the post for Mr JD Ormond. He was a nasty brute. Fred Jones was the jockey. Wirral reared unexpectedly and made a dash for the inside rail with me clinging to him for all I was worth. Two of my fingers were broken in the scrimmage. To have let go would probably have meant that rider and horse would have been injured. After a wild exhibition of plunging and kicking Jones dismounted. 'I wouldn’t ride a cow Ilka that again,' he said. I was in pain, so I hopped on Wirral and rode him back to the enclosure.

TURF MONTHLY 31

— o-O-o— The Brilliance Of Limerick

HERE were few better judges of a horse than Fred Jones. I have good reason to respect his judgment. One day at Randwick I was having a cup of tea with him and Maurice McCarten. Fred asked me what I thought of the horses in the weight-for-age race. I told him Gothic was a marvel, and that no horse in Australia could live with him up to a mile. I cited Gothic's two Newmarket wins in support. Imagine my surprise when Fred said “You know I am not a betting man, but put this £100 on Limerick for me. My horse could carry shoes, give Gothic a stone and then run over the top of him.” I looked incredulous. Maurice McCarten then chipped in. “Vin, you don't know how good Limerick is," said he. I watched the race closely and I arrived at the conclusion that Limerick won with lengths in hand. Needless to say in putting Fred's £100 on I added a little of my own.

Limerick TURF MONTHLY 32

Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), Wednesday 7 April 1937, page 6

Vin O’Neill Lost A Champion Through A Game of Cards By VIN O'NEILL As Told To J. M. ROHAN

HERE is no golden rule to the acquisition of champion racehorses. The aristocrats of the yearling sales often belie their looks—and their prices. Phar Lap was an unwanted ugly duckling. Pamelus was sold for about £25. Bobrikoff, a New Zealand champion, could not elicit a bid when offered for sale. Vincent O'Neill, one of Australia's best known horse masters, missed getting Bobrikoff through a game of poker.

should imagine that the most interesting turf book that could be written would be one telling the stories of how our champion race horses have been acquired. Men with lifelong experience in racing have gone to the yearling sales with unlimited commissions and bought horses that were not worth as many shillings as the guineas paid for them. Accredited judges of blood lines and horseflesh have allowed champions to pass out of their stables while holding on to duffers. And if men of experience and maturity can make mistakes, some allowance can be made for my missing one of the finest gallopers and money spinners the turf in Australia and New Zealand has known.

obrikoff could have been mine for the trouble of getting out of bed and taking him. It was like this: I had a lucky run at racing and cards some years ago in New Zealand and was on the lookout for a horse or two. Mr McGrath and his son Maurice, the Caulfield trainer, told me one day they were leaving on the early morning train for Mr EJ Watt's property, Longlands, Hawkes Bay, to select a horse out of three that Mr Watt had for sale. They invited me to join them, saying that they heard the three were fair horses, of which they wanted only one.

Too Sleepy To Get Up

promised to be on the train. I gave instructions to the hotel porter to give me an early call, but unfortunately for me I had joined in a game of poker that did not finish until 3 am and the cocks were crowing as I went to bed. When I received a call, I turned to over in bed, and went to sleep again. The McGraths went to Longlands and brought two of the three horses, one being Osirus and the other Tumut. I think Tumut started favourite for a Doncaster Handicap, and later was well-known as a steeplechaser in Melbourne. The one they left behind was Bobrikoff, a black gelding by Finland out of Gossip. Had I been with them, I, no doubt, would have taken Bobrikoff as I was a great admirer of his sire. And at the time money was no object. Although Ieading trainers of the Dominion were at the ringside, Bobrikoff was passed in at 50 gns - no one thinking him worth that amount of money. Fred Davis, who trained Desert Gold. saw Mr Watt afterwards and asked him what was the lowest amount be would take for Bobrikoff. Mr Watt replied that he would not take less than £50. He added that if Davis paid that amount, and the horse did not turn out a winner, he would take him back and refund the money.

TURF MONTHLY 33

£5000 Was Refused By Mr Lowry

ill Stone, for whom Ben Cameron rode his first winner, took a liking to Bobrikoff and offered Davis £200 for him. Davis was prepared to pass the gelding on for a profit, but felt that he should give first refusal to Mr TH Lowry, for whom he was training a string of horses. When the matter was mentioned to him, Mr Lowry decided to keep Bobrikoff in the stable. It was a lucky purchase as Bobrikoff went on to win thousands. Mr Lowry refused £5000 for the horse.

fter a successful trip to Sydney, where he won wfa races, Bobrikoff returned to New Zealand to win an Auckland Cup and many other races. He raced until he had passed nine years. In my opinion, there would have been little between Gloaming, Phar Lap, Limerick and Bobrikoff at their best in a race up to eight or ten furlongs. It will be seen that a game of poker robbed me of one of the cheapest champions that ever raced. The story just goes to show the luck of racing. I missed the champion through not being keen; Bill Stone missed him through bad luck, and Fred Davis retained the horse because fate was on his side. There is not a racing man on either side of the Tasman who will dispute the fact that Dick Mason was a wizard with horses. He was remarkably successful with Gloaming, not to mention Multiform, Isolt, Sun Gold, Machine Gun and many others.

t is on record that Dick Mason paid 16000 or 17000 guineas for a relation to Cruciform, who was not worth a feather. At the same sale, a Salvation Army man bought California for a few pounds and won a fortune with him. There is an instance of luck winning out against judgment.

o greater and more experienced trainer ever put a bridle on a horse than James Scobie yet he allowed a champion to leave his care. He has always had the pick of Mr EED Clarke's yearlings, but Gloaming evidently did not impress him as a youngster and the veteran Flemington mentor had the chagrin of seeing Gloaming in some sizzling exhibitions of speed after allowing him to go. The story has been told how Phar Lap bought from the catalogue. When the owner saw him he was glad to lease him, and so obviate further expense. In the space of a few years the big chestnut was acclaimed the world's greatest racehorse.

o cite another instance of one man's bad luck and another's good luck, I must tell the story of how Waltzing Lily left the stable of Horrie Leek. One day a man came to Leek's stable to buy bags. While there he asked Leek if he had a horse he wanted to sell that could win a small race. Pointing to Waltzing Lily, Leek said “I’ll lease that filly to you.”

altzing Lily used to "dish" rather badly when galloping, and that was why Leek was anxious to get rid of her. He had a big string at the time. Telling the bag merchant (S. Smith), to take his load of bags and then come back for the filly, Leek was surprised when Smith replied. "I'll take the filly first and then come back for the bags." No trainer living could have got better results than Smith did with the mare. It shows that there is no rule to the sport of racing, and still less in acquiring good, bad and indifferent horses. From what I have already told I have justification for saying that an ounce of luck is worth a ton of judgment in racing. I have struck so many cases of men being made or broken by the swing of the pendulum that I can speak feelingly on the subject.

TURF MONTHLY 34

ome people play at racing for fun and do not look for a lucky break. One of that type was a Chinese named Sam who was well known to everyone in the Hawkes Bay district 40 years ago. He played billiards and cards with the boys of the village, and one day he joined the ranks of owners and jockeys by buying a horse for £2.10. When asked what he was going to call the horse, he said, "Fifty Bob." He rode him in open races, and was as serious as a judge, although a good laugh for the crowd. In those days in New Zealand there would be a race on the programme for 150 bags of oats. One day I bet Sam £1 that my mount would be in front of Fifty Bob at the first turn. I stipulated "all-in." Sam was not too clear on the "all-in" business, but he accepted the wager. He could not tuck his pigtail under his jockey cap and let it run down under his racing colours. In his preliminary his jacket worked out of his pants, and as he took up his position next to me at the start, I saw his pigtail sticking out. When the starter shouted "Go," I could not resist reaching out and giving it a good tug. Sam let out a roar, "Oh, Cli," and when we pulled up all the other rides wanted to know what had happened to Sam and Fifty Bob at the start.

told Sam that he should alter the horse's name to Seventy Bob, he had lost a pound on him. "Oh, no, Fifty Bob quite enough," was his naive reply. I could fill volumes with stories of how luck has played into the hands of some and not others.

A "Break" With Spearfelt

y dispensation from the fickle jade was when my racing partner, Doug Grant bought Spearfelt at the Sydney Yearling Sales for a comparative song. Spearfelt was a prolific stake winner, and before retiring from the turf he had won over £29,000 in stakes.

I I I

t will surprise many to know that the mighty Phar Lap's winnings at Flemington only exceeded Spearfelt's by a few hundred pounds. Their approximate winnings at Flemington were Phar Lap, £23,500 and Spearfelt, £22,900. have had other lucky breaks, but for every good luck story I can tell you I know 100 bad luck ones.

might mention that I had a horse until recently that showed me wonderful gallops on the track. I was disappointed with him after losing my cash in races that should have been within his reach. His name was Clever Son I had him for two years. I gave him to Horrie Leek, who has won six races with him in seven starts, including the rich Bourke Handicap. And I am supposed to know a racehorse when I see one. TURF MONTHLY 35

SPIKE ISLAND

SPEARMINT AND PRETTY POLLY

S S

pearmint had a special relationship with Pretty Polly that we discussed some time ago. One thing we did not mention was the sons that he had from daughters of that great mare that was also at the estate of Major Loder.

pike Island was born in 1919 by Spearmint out of a daughter of Pretty Polly in Molly Desmond by Desmond. He won the Irish Two Thousand Guineas and the Irish Derby and was to prove a fairly moderate sire apart from producing one champion for the great Federico Tesio. In fact, Spike Island was to end his career in Argentina, again failing to make a major impact. Instead it was left to the genius of Tesio, who mated his mare Delleana, herself an outstanding racehorse by Clarissmus out of Duccia di Buoninsegna, to the stallion to produce Dossi Dossi who won the Thousand Guineas and Italian Oaks. Delleana we should note is more famous for her son Donatello by Blenheim and daughter Donatella by Mahmoud but that is another story. Dossi Dossi was responsible for a line that was to leave an upset winner of the 1961 Epsom Derby starting at 66/1 in Psidium by Pardal. Psidium stood at the Cheveley Park Stud at Newmarket and achieved success as the leading British sire in 1966. This was achieved largely through the deeds of his son Sodium who won the Irish Derby and the St Leger. The stallion was also later to be exported to Argentina in 1970. He had success in Australia through a daughter called Push Along who was to leave a line in WA which produced Coal Pak and Beau Heed. Coal Pak by Haul Pak had won three stakes races in Perth including the Lee Steere Stakes before venturing to Melbourne where he had his greatest success in the 1986 VATC Oakleigh Plate. Beau Heed by Serheed won 15 races including five stakes races in WA in the CB Cox Plate, and two Bunbury and Pinjarra Cups. He ventured to Melbourne where he was placed in the Coongy Handicap in 1996 behind Circles Of Gold and Filante, the Queen Elizabeth behind Valance, and the Ballarat Cup behind Mcguane. He was also to run third behind Time Frame and Regimental Tattoo in the 1997 Perth Cup. Another daughter of Psilium was also to find success locally through a NZ bred mare called Society Bay by Zephyr Bay. The filly won the Veuve Cliquot Classic and Edward Manifold in Melbourne before returning to NZ to win a further three stakes races. At stud she produced two stakes winners in Sandblaster by Sandtrap (Timpson Family Trust Sprint) and Society Beau by Bigstone (Japan-NZ International Trophy and BTC Chairman’s Handicap). Her daughter Logical Lady by Sound Reason also produced a stakes winner in Final Destination by O’Reilly who won the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas and Beyer Classic.

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n Australia, it was a line of Dossa Dossi that was to have success for Spike Island. Stravaganza by Busted came to Australia for David Haynes of Kingston Park Stud fame and produced a daughter by Vice Regal who was to race under the name of Reganza. At her first start she ran second in the Listed Byron Moore Stakes at Flemington on VRC Oaks Day in 1988, a race won by Research. She returned in the Autumn to run second in the Listed Readymix Stakes before finishing fifth to Courtza in the Blue Diamond. Reganza did not earn a start in the Golden Slipper but went to Sydney where she won the Sires Produce and ran second behind Select Prince in the Champagne Stakes. She was to disappoint in the Spring but returned the following Autumn with some improved runs which included a second in the The Vanity at Flemington and a win in the Kewney Stakes. Reganza was retired after a poor run in the AJC Oaks but struck success at stud producing Kensington Palace by Kingston Rule. She was to win the Wakeful Stakes and VRC Oaks as well as dead heating with Champagne in the Moonee Valley Oaks in the Autumn. Like her dam, she was also to be placed in the Vanity and Kewney Stakes, but did not head to Sydney, instead retiring after running fifth behind Champagne in the G1 Ansett Australia Stakes. Another grandson of Stravaganza was a horse called Shenzhou Steeds by Ishiguru who won the Sunshine Coast Guineas, Ipswich Cup and Caloundra Cup before heading to Melbourne where he continued to race successfully including running third in the Kyneton Cup and wins at both Moonee Valley and Flemington.

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SPELTHORNE

ANOTHER OF THE LODER HORSES

Spelthorne Racehorse Card

pelthorne was another horse bred from Spearmint and a mating with a daughter of Pretty Polly. This time his dam was Dutch Mary who also the dam of Christopher Robin who won the Greenham Plate and St James Palace Stakes. He was brought to Australia to stand at Percy Miller’s Kia Ora Stud in NSW where he had limited success but did produce the Flemington Stakes winner, Halifax and VATC Debutant Stakes winner, Florin. Spelthorne was to win the Irish St Leger, St George Stakes and Duke Of York Plate. He had been bred by the son of Major Loder in Colonel Giles Loder and was also purchased by Percy Miller for stud duty at Kia Ora. He was to prove largely unsuccessful siring only three stakes winners in Pretzel (Hotham Handicap and AJC Summer Cup), Princess Shevah (TRC Doncaster) and Trithorne (Port Adelaide Cheltenham Stakes). Pretzel was also to win the Spring Handicap in Sydney and had been just behind the placegetters in both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1933. He was ultimately sold to South Africa to continue racing. Spelthorne was noted as a stamina influence in his progeny and his daughters were to have some success. One daughter, Amy’s Flight was mated with Chatham to ensure that the line continues although we have discussed this particular family in

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Pretzel

Pretty Polly

some depth when looking at that great champion. That line was to produce horses of the quality of Pharoah, Nothin’ Leica Dane, and Redding among others.

nother daughter of Spelthorne in Bonny Margaret was also to establishing an enduring influence through a stallion called Century who we talked about in our December edition. This line has included horses like Gamine (SA Oaks) and her son Royal Voyage (VATC St George Stakes), Spirit Of Westbury (Qld Tatt’s Cup), and Lucky Diva (MRC Hyderabad Stakes) and her daughter Ms Catherine (MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes) who look set to continue the influence of Spelthorne, along with Century of course.

Nothin’ Leica Dane

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ZIONIST

THE AGA KHAN’S HORSE

Vieux Manoir

ionist is the last of the Spearmint sons we will look at this month. He was born in 1922 out of the Roi Herode mare, Judeo. Zionist was owned by the Aga Khan and was a quality 2yo winning the Dewhurst Stakes. At three, Zionist was to run second to Manna in the Epsom Derby, but was to turn the tables on his rival in the Irish Derby. Rather than stand the colt at his own stud, the Aga Khan chose to sell Zionist to Baron Brugmann as a replacement for his deceased stallion Soranus. In France, Zionist had moderate success producing Pomme d’Api, Scolopax and Mas d’Antibes but his best runner was La Bourrasque, a filly who was to win the 1931 French Grand Criterium. A younger brother to Zionist in Money Maker was to also win the Dewhurst Stakes as a 2yo, and he was to end up at stud in Yugoslavia where he was to become a leading sire.

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a Bourrasque was to become a good broodmare and her line was to produce a daughter called Whirlwind who was sent to NZ in the early 1980’s. Mated with a stallion called Icelandic, she produced Reykjavik who won three stakes races in NZ in the Dunedin Gold Cup, Linwood City Pharmacy Gold Cup and Southland Guineas. A stallion from this family was also to make its way to WA in Statoblest by Ahonoora who stood with limited success producing three stakes winners in Amphritite (WATC Gimcrack Stakes), Blessed Sue (WATC Summer Scorcher Handicap) and Impressive Stats (WATC Australia Day Stakes, HG Bolton Sprint and RS Crawford Stakes). But it was a daughter called Vieille Canaille who was to cement the long-term influence of Zionist. She was bred by Baron Edouard de Rothschild but was to end up with Christian Weber in Germany during WWII. She was to return to the Rothschilds in France where she produced Vieille Maison by Finglas. Mated with Brantome she gave us the stakes winning Vieux Manoir who won three of his five career starts. He won the Grand Prix de Paris, Prix Louqsor, Prix de Justice and was second in the English St Leger. At stud he proved the sire of very even-tempered progeny and was a noted sire of sires. Importantly one of these was Val De Loir who was to win the 1962 French Derby. He was to become a good stallion producing runners like the full sisters La Lagune who won the 1968 Epsom Oaks, and Lagunette who won the 1976 Irish Oaks. However, it is another daughter of the stallion in Valderna that was to have the greatest impact on Australian breeding.

alderna was to have a daughter called Lady Giselle by Nureyev who was sent to New Zealand where she was covered by an emerging stallion called Sir Tristram.

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The resultant foal was Zabeel who had his first race start on 22 April 1989 at Victoria Park in South Australia. It was an inglorious start to his career as he finished last of 12 runners, beaten over 12 lengths over 1250m. He was taken to Flemington for his next start two weeks later over 1400m and put in a much-improved performance to finish sixth of seven runners but beaten only 2.5 lengths behind Tango Master. Zabeel then finished off his 2yo season with a win over the same course and distance eleven days later. He returned as a 3yo to run third over 1200m at Sandown before winning again at Flemington over 1400m. Zabeel then stepped up to the 1600m at Moonee Valley in the Moonee Valley Stakes, now the Bill Stutt Stakes, winning by a length from Dr Grace and Courtza. A fourth in the G1 Caulfield Guineas behind Procol Harum was next. An ambitious tilt at the Cox Plate followed, but the 3yo found the class rise too much finishing last to Almaarad. Returning in the Autumn, Zabeel won the Listed Debonair Stakes over 1200m at Flemington before winning the G1 Australian Guineas. He then was beaten by a flying Stylish Century in the Autumn Classic before turning the tables on that horse in the Adrian Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley. Taken to Sydney, Zabeel was third in the Rosehill Guineas behind Solar Circle before running fifth behind Dr Grace and Stylish Century in the AJC Derby.

eturning from another break, Zabeel disappointed in the Manikato over 1200m at Moonee Valley behind Street Ruffian before winning the Craiglee at Flemington over a mile. After a third in the Underwood Stakes behind The Phantom, Zabeel again went to the paddock. His last campaign saw him start only twice. First up he ran third in the Canterbury Stakes behind Show County and then he ran seventh in the George Ryder won by Bureaucracy. Zabeel was then retired to Cambridge Stud in NZ where he was to shape the future of the thoroughbred.

n all, Zabeel was to only top the Australian Sires Table twice with his wins sandwiched between the amazing results of Danehill. Many may not know that he won the Dewar Trophy for the combined results in Australia and New Zealand for 11 straight years from 1995-2006. In all Zabeel has sired over 150 stakes winners with almost 50 of these winning at G1 level. Among his best runners are legendary names like Octagonal, Mouawad, Might And Power, Efficient and international star, Vengeance Of Rain.

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THE 1995 GOLDEN SLIPPER

A MEASURING STICK FOR QUALITY The Golden Slipper holds a special place in Australian racing. The brainchild of noted racing administrator, George Ryder, the Slipper is one of the most important races we hold, and the richest 2yo race in the world. The first event laid the platform for what was to come with the victory of the great Todman who remains one of the best 2yo’s Australian racing has ever seen. With every year, the question is raised as to the depth of the field. We have seen a lot of our Golden Slipper winners struggle after their win and many do little racing as their stud value and future is already determined by their victory. There is no doubt we have seen some sensational winners, just as there is no doubt that some were simply lucky in substandard fields. With Fireburn winning this year, and then going on to win the Sires before just missing out in the Champagne Stakes, she looks set to race on to further glory. I am not sure we can say that for many that finished behind her, but it will interesting to watch. It started me wondering though as to the best Golden Slipper field that we have seen. While I admit that I could be biased, it would take a lot to beat the field that lined up for the 1995 Golden Slipper. Before we get to the horses, a brief word about the quality of the jockeys in the race. The only jockey who was not a household name was Richard Lines who retired from the saddle to become a trainer in Malaysia. Lines was British born and a son of the veteran Newmarket trainer Cliff Lines who was perhaps best known throughout the racing world as the work rider of the famed Shergar. Lines was apprenticed in Australia but later returned to the UK to ride successfully in the mid-80’s. Eventually Lines returned to Australia to ride with his best win probably on C’Est La Vie for Brian Mayfield Smith. Lines took out his trainer’s licence in Malaysia in 2002 and won the Trainer’s Title from 2011 to 2013. Another jockey for whom the 1995 Golden Slipper was important was Rodney Griffiths who sadly passed away in May. Griffiths had returned to Australia that season after around 12 years overseas and was having his first Golden Slipper mount. Since returning the Melbourne based jockey had won the G1 Blue Diamond on his Slipper mount Principality, Thousand Guineas on Northwood Plume, Underwood Stakes on Jeune and Victoria Derby on Blevic. But we aren’t here to talk about the jockeys, even though they included some of our best, but this is about the horses, and what a group of horses they were.

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THE FIELD IN FINISHING ORDER 1. FLYING SPUR was ridden by Glen Boss for trainer Lee Freedman and started at 25/1. He was a son of an emerging stallion called Danehill and was raced by Arrowfield Stud. He had run second to Principality in the Blue Diamond when ridden by Mick Dittman and third in the VRC Sires’ Produce with Damien Oliver on board, and had earlier won the Blue Diamond Prelude. Both jockeys took other mounts in the race to prove that sometimes they aren’t always the best judges. Flying Spur was to go on to win the AJC All-Aged Stakes, VRC Australian Guineas, and STC Peter Pan Stakes before going on to become a wonderful stallion. In all he sired 89 stakes winners including popular stallions in Magnus who had won the Galaxy, and Casino Prince who won the Chipping Norton,and the 2011 Caulfield Cup winner, Boom Time. 2. OCTAGONAL was an unlucky second in the race by another emerging stallion in Zabeel out of an unknown mare called Eight Carat. He was ridden by Grant Cooksley for John Hawkes who was in charge of the powerful stable of the Ingham brothers. Arguably, Octagonal was to become the best racehorse of the field retiring as an absolute champion. He won a total of 13 stakes races including the Champagne Stakes at his next start, and the Cox Plate as a 3yo. Prior to the Slipper, he had won his only two starts, in a 2yo Handicap and the Silver Slipper to start at 15/4. At stud, he was something of a disappointment although he ended up siring 23 stakes winners including one arguably better than himself in Lonhro who was to win 25 stakes races and then have a stellar stud career producing another champion in Pierro who was finally to win the 2012 Golden Slipper for the family. 3. MILLRICH started at 10/1 and was the first filly home in the Golden Slipper of 1995. She was ridden by Shane Dye for trainer Bob Thomsen. Millrich was a daughter of Rubiton who had won the Sweet Embrace before finishing second in the Magic Night Stakes which had been her first defeat in four starts. Millrich was to have six more starts after the Golden Slipper but was not win another race. She did finish third in the San Domenico and second in the Silver Shadow the following Autumn. At stud she produced two stakes winners in Danerich and Redzel who won 11 stakes races including the Concorde Stakes three years in succession. 4. OUR MAIZCAY was well fancied at 6/1 and had ran second in both the Skyline and Todman Slipper Trial. In all he had won seven of ten starts to date, and while he had the services of Mick Dittman on board, Our Maizcay drew barrier 18 before the emergencies came out. The colt had won his first three starts in NZ and was to go on to be a top galloper winning eleven stakes races in all. These included the Caulfield Guineas and the Vic Health Cup which is now run as the Sir Rupert Clarke. He went to stud where he died at only an 8yo, but not before siring four stakes winners including the Todman Slipper Trial winner of 2000 in Great Crusader. 5. STRATEGIC was the top pick of the John Hawkes stable and started the 3/1 favourite. He was ridden by Darren Beadman but was also unlucky in drawing barrier 17. The son of Zeditave had won five of his six starts having been disqualified at his first start in the Canonbury Stakes. He ran fourth in the Sires Produce at his next start and returned in the Spring to run second to Our Maizcay in the Roman Consul. His only win in the Spring came in the Listed Macdonald Stakes at Caulfield and he was spelled after running fifth in the Caulfield Guineas behind Our Maizcay. He came back as a 4yo to win the G1 Australia Stakes and run second in the Lighting. He was retired to stud where he had a long and successful career producing 25 stakes winners including G1 winners Meurice, Mistegic and Platelet. TURF MONTHLY 45

6. ZEDRICH was ridden by Damien Oliver for a young Anthony Cummings. He had finished seventh in the Blue Diamond before running second, beaten only a head behind Strategic in the Pago Pago. The son of Zeditave had won his first two starts in Melbourne in the Rancher Quality, where he beat Flying Spur, and Criterion Stakes. He ran sixth in the Sires after the Slipper, and had only two more unplaced runs in his brief career. He went to stud in WA where he produced seven stakes winners. 7. EXCLUSIVE HALO was a son of Don’t Say Halo who was trained by Gerald Ryan and ridden by Corey Brown. The colt had won his first three races in the Spring in Melbourne including the Maribyrnong Plate. His Autumn saw him run sixth in the Todman behind Octagonal when ridden by Damien Oliver. Exclusive Halo was later gelded and raced on until a 6yo but his form tapered off. He ended up racing at Wagga and broke down in the Town Plate of 1998. 8. PRINCIPALITY was the Blue Diamond winner with Rod Griffiths on board. He had finished sixth in the VRC Sires Produce and started at 20/1 in the Slipper. Principality went to the paddock after the race and won first up next season in the Vain Stakes. He was to win the Geelong Derby Trial but failed in the Derby behind Nothin’ Leica Dane and Octagonal. The son of Victory Prince was eventually to go to stud where he produced only one stakes winner in Count Ricardo who was to win the 2004 Sandown Classic. 9. KIDMAN’S COVE started at 150/1 for Brian Mayfield Smith and his jockey, Brian York. The son of Marscay had won three of his six starts and was fourth in the Pago Pago at his last start, after running third in the Skyline. He was another who was gelded and proved to be a consistent and enduring galloper, retiring with 16 wins from 51 starts. These included eight stakes wins in races like the Apollo, Expressway and Canterbury Stakes all at Group 2 level. 10. RAVARDA was the mount for the jockey/trainer combination of Larry Cassidy and Brian Guy. He had won the Breeders Plate at his first start, and in his run into the Golden Slipper, had finished second in the Black Opal before winning the Illawarra Classic. Ravarda went on the Winter in Qld where he won the G1 Castlemaine Stakes beating Isolda. The colt was later to win the G1 George Ryder Stakes and was retired to stud where he tragically died after covering only three mares, with only one live foal ever born. 11. FURACOA was Richard Lines’ mount in the race and trained by Liam Birchley. He started at 250/1. He had won his first two starts including the Kindergarten Stakes, but his form tapered off finishing eight in the Todman and fifth in the Pago Pago. He was gelded prior to racing and he raced until 2001 but could win only one more race in a career that saw him have 59 starts. 12. ZEPHYRZ was a son of Zephyr Zip, trained by Max Lees and ridden by Wayne Harris. He had won the Magic Millions but was relatively unwanted in the betting at 16/1. He had won the Coca Cola Classic at Newcastle after the Millions, but then finished fifth in the Todman. The colt was to have only three more runs after the Slipper, winning an open handicap at Randwick. Sadly, the stallion passed away before having an opportunity at stud.

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13. TUSCANY FLYER was a son of Rory’s Jester for Patrick Payne. He was a winner of two of his four starts including the Debutante Stakes and Blue Diamond Prelude. He had finished third in the Blue Diamond and third in the Todman and started at 25/1. The colt returned in the Spring with his best result being a sedond in the CS Hayes at Caulfield, and as a later 3yo he was also to run second in the Autumn Stakes at Sandown. He continued to race on winning two handicaps at Sandown before retiring to stud in NZ where he produced four stakes winners.

14. RUSTIC LADY was the other filly in the race and after drawing wide started at 100/1 for Chris Munce. She was a daughter of Sovereign Red and had won only one of her six starts, in a fillies’ race at Rosehill. She had run second in the Gosford Slipper but had run poorly in the Wellington Boot when ridden by Lester Piggott, and then fifth in the Sweet Embrace behind Millrich. She was never to perform up to this level again, and had only two more placings in her career, both in Class 1 races at Wyong and Gosford. At stud, she produced only two local foals before being sent to China. Both her runners were winners with Little Bit Lively winning eight races including a win at Doomben before finishing his career in Western Qld. 15. SHADED was another long priced runner starting at 200/1 for Kevin Moses and John Hawkes. The third of the Woodlands runners had won two of his six starts including the Merson Cooper at Sandown before placing in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude. After disappointing in the Blue Diamond he ran fourth in the Todman. After two runs in the Spring he was gelded and sent to Hong Kong where he raced under the name of Supreme Goliath, winning three races in that country. 16. DANEY BOY started at 25/1 for John Meagher and Gavin Eades. He was a gelded son of Danehill who had won his first two races in Perth including the G1 Karrakatta Plate. In Sydney he finished ninth in the Todman but improved to finish third in the Pago Pago to have some support. After finishing last in the Slipper, he was to also finish last of eleven runners in the Sires’ Produce before spelling. Daney Boy returned to WA where he won two more races and ran second in the G3 Strickland Stakes.

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