Turf Monthly April 2021

monthly

TURF

April 2021

THIS MONTH

WILLIAM INGLIS AND SONS INGLIS HALL OF FAME GRADUATES HEROIC - Champion on and off the track ANOTHER GREAT RACE IN HISTORY

Editor’s Letter The Golden Slipper will have been run and won, but not in time for our deadline. We will be looking at the race next month and maybe the future of some of the current season 2yo’s. The time-honoured Inglis Easter Sales are on this month, and it is always a great occasion. This edition looks at the remarkable Heroic, and one story we didn’t tell is about his sad death. He passed in a paddock accident, and although it was never confirmed, it was suspected the stallion slipped on grasshoppers while galloping around his paddock. Knowing this it is hard not to reflect on much of Queensland and NSW having recent issues with grasshopper plagues. These infestations are usually relatable to climate and this is a factor that we rarely consider in the thoroughbred industry. When discussing new stallions over the last few months I commented about fertility of stallions.

This was to draw attention to the numbers of foals that were going to be representing the stallion on the track in their first couple of seasons. The size of a stallion’s representation is one of the biggest predictors of early success. What I did not mention was whether this had much to do with the stallion. With drought conditions enduring over large parts of the nation for many years, it is not always the stallion’s fault that mares cannot get in foal. Nature has a great way of ensuring that large populations of native animals are not born during drought conditions, and there is little doubt that mares are harder to get in foal in poor seasons than in good seasons. If we extrapolate the climate connection even further, horses obviously must race on tracks that are subject to the weather. Technological advancements have seen tracks improve notably over the years and they are watered almost religiously by track managers. The managers would likely be without a job if they presented a track that was as hard as those that were called fast tracks in the 1960’s or 70’s. Improved drainage and advanced weather forecasting means that Australia will also probably never see some of the heavy tracks that we talk about in Turf Monthly in years gone by. There are stallions whose careers have no doubt been ended because their progeny never got to run on heavy tracks. Strawberry Road might have been viewed very differently if his 3yo season had not been one of the wettest in decades in the Eastern States. Would we even remember the name Van Der Hum if the deluge that Flemington received in 1976 had happened under modern conditions? The point that we need to think about is that the thoroughbred does not exist outside of real world. To me, this intrinsic connection is part of the romance of the breed.

CONTENTS 4 8 13 16

William Inglis

and

Black Caviar Heroic Purser -

the start

the controversy

22

Cecil Godby

25

Hugh Cairns

26

Sons

Heroic -

a new owner

36

Hall Mark

42

Hua

45

Nuffield

47

Rain Lover

50

Great Races

Cover image BLACK CAVIAR wiining the William Reid at Moonee Valley copyright

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

TURF MONTHLY 3

WILLIAM INGLIS AND SONS A HISTORY OF THE AUSTRALIAN THOROUGHBRED

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hat would this time of year be without the annual William Inglis and Sons world renowned Easter yearling sale? The name Inglis has been synonymous with thoroughbred yearling sales in Sydney for over a century, but sometimes the people that built these wonderful institutions that have contributed so much to the industry do not get the recognition they deserve. This month we will look at some of the history of the company together with some of the horses that have gone through their sales ring and shaped the modern thoroughbred.

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illiam Inglis formed the company in 1867, and members of the Inglis family remain with the company to the current day. Originally the company sold farm equipment from its headquarters in George Street in Sydney. William’s original partner Joseph Butler left the partnership after ten years. In 1882 William expanded the business to include livestock including his famed ‘horse bazaar’ that operated between Castlereagh and Pitt Streets.

They expanded to include a sale yard at Camperdown that was noted for the sale of other livestock, and by 1906 had started operating an annual sale from trainer Tom Payten’s stable at Newmarket. The business was now guided by managing director, Arthur Reginald ‘Reg’ Inglis. The Inglis company later purchased the Newmarket property in

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John T Inglis eldest son of William

1918 for 50,000 pounds. Payten’s sons continued to train racehorses in a property off Botany Road. William Inglis and Son became a limited company in 1921 and in 1934, bought out the other major sales company in Sydney in Messrs H Chisholm and Co. The directors at the time were Reg and Clive Inglis. The Newmarket stable was expanded and could later stable up to 600 horses. In 1952, a fire destroyed part of the stable, but it was rebuilt and expanded again.

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he company expanded their operations into Melbourne in January 1994 purchasing a 100 acre property at Oaklands which it refurbished and expanded into a world class sales centre.

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n 2009, William Inglis and Son purchased land adjacent to Warwick Farm racecourse and in 2016 commenced erecting a purpose-built sales and hotel facility at the location. Known as Riverside Stables, William Inglis and Son moved their operation to the new site in January 2018.

John (left) and Clive Inglis

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ome of Australia’s leading thoroughbreds have gone through the sales ring at Inglis. They have their share of Hall Of Fame racehorses, and few were any more popular than Heroic who was sold at the 1923 sale for a record price at the time of 16000 guineas. Other include Amounis, Flight, Shannon, Delta, Wenona Girl, Might And Power, Takeover Target, Choisir and Black Caviar. We will look at a some of these remarkable horses and their impact on breeding later in the magazine.

Inglis 1952 fire as horses race

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THE FOUNDER

Inglis, William (1832–1896)

by G. P. Walsh This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Supplementary Volume, (MUP), 2005

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illiam Inglis (1832-1896), auctioneer and stock agent, was born on 8 March 1832 in Sydney, eldest son of Scottish Presbyterian parents Thomas Inglis (1791-1874), merchant, and his wife Catherine, née Ross. Thomas had arrived in Sydney with his wife in 1830 as agent of the Australian Co. of Edinburgh and received a land grant, Craigend, at The Oaks in the Camden-Picton area. After five years in whaling pursuits and time on the Ovens goldfield in Victoria, William returned to Craigend, where on 3 March 1858 he married with Anglican rites Flora McKinnon from a neighbouring property, Montpelier.

Their eldest son John Thomas (1859-1914) was born on 22 March 1859.

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n 1867 William Inglis and Joseph, brother of Edward Butler, began an auctioneering and produce agency at 793 George Street, Sydney. Butler left the partnership after ten years, and in 1882 William began a 'horse bazaar' between Castlereagh and Pitt streets.

Horse sales were held on the ground floor and the vehicles and harness areas were above, accessible by a ramp. (The local test of a draught horse was to pull a one-ton load from Sussex Street up Druitt Street to Inglis's bazaar.)

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illiam Inglis always conducted auctions wearing a top hat, which became his trademark. A justice of the peace, he stood unsuccessfully as a protectionist candidate for Balmain in February 1899. In July 1895 he was banqueted in Sydney by a large number of his friends and customers and presented with a framed illuminated address. He died at his residence, Annesley, Balmain Road, Leichhardt, on 12 January 1896, survived by his wife, nine sons and three daughters, and was buried with Congregational forms in Rookwood cemetery. His estate was sworn for probate at under £38,724.

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is son John, who had been taken into the partnership in 1884 and had married Australia Renwick in Sydney in 1885, took control of William Inglis & Son. In 1905 the firm bought the goodwill of T. S. Clibborn's bloodstock business, carrying out its earliest yearling sales with that firm; in 1906 it first conducted its own sale at Tom Payten's property, Newmarket, at Randwick. John died on 26 September 1914. His son Arthur Reginald (1890-1957), known as Reg, who had been born on 10 February 1890 at Drummoyne, became managing director. Newmarket was purchased in 1918 and was gradually expanded to provide stable accommodation for about 600 horses.

In 1921 the firm became a limited company, and in 1934, after buying out a competitor, Henry Chisholm & Co. Pty Ltd, it became the undisputed leader in bloodstock auctioneering in Australia. Reg died on 10 December 1957.

The family auctioneering tradition continued: his son John (b.1917) followed, and a nephew Reginald Stewart Inglis (b.1952) succeeded him. The catalogue of William Inglis & Co. Pty Ltd became renowned for its detail and integrity, and its yearling sale at Randwick during Easter was one of the most important in Australasia.

Clive Inglis 1929

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illiam Inglis's second son William (1864-1935), born on 24 August 1864, worked for his father for ten years before starting business on his own in the 1890s as an auctioneer and produce merchant in Sydney. He married South African-born Annie Elizabeth Gavey in 1894; they were later divorced. He took over Craigend in 1920 and married Linda Annie Sharp that year. Predeceased by her, William junior died on 10 November 1935; a son by his first marriage and a son and daughter by his second survived him. Craigend was still farmed by his family 170 years after the original grant.

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BLACK CAVIAR

AN INGLIS HALL OF FAME ENTRANT

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lack Caviar is no doubt one the most identifiable thoroughbred in Australasia, if not the world, in recent times. Her victory in the Diamond Jubilee at Ascot was accompanied by international attention that was likely unrivalled by any Australian horse. Many claim her as the greatest ever, retiring as she did unbeaten from 25 starts. While this is truly a remarkable record, it speaks perhaps more about modern thoroughbred management, and dare we say, a lack in quality opposition, than it does about such claims. It is perhaps fair to suggest that her year was not the most outstanding crop of horses that Australia has produced. We can speculate whether the outbreak of Equine Influenza in the summer of 2007/08, when Black Caviar was a yearling had any influence on the crop. She was purcahsed for $210,000 from the Inglis 2008 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

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

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he great mare returned as a 4yo with three starts in the Spring, culminating with her win in the Patinack Stakes on the Saturday following the Melbourne Cup. After a short break, she returned for the Autumn, winning the Lightning, Newmarket and William Reid in Melbourne before travelling to Sydney for the TJ Smith, and Brisbane for the BTC Cup. By this stage, the mare had a huge following, and some of racing’s largest crowds came

TURF MONTHLY 8

“She Knows What I Am Thinking “ Black Caviar and Peter Moody: painting by Edward Hydo

out to share the excitement that surrounded Black Caviar. She returned again as a 5yo for victories in the same three races in the Melbourne Spring as she had won as a 4yo. After a brief let up, Black Caviar returned in January 2012 to win the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley. She then stepped out in the CF Orr, winning convincingly in her only start over 1400m. A drop back in distance to the 1000m of the Lightning did not bother her, as she racked up her 19th straight victory to tie the long standing Australasian record for consecutive victories that was held by New Zealanders Desert Gold and Gloaming.

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

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

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er career highlights a couple of interesting factors. Firstly, we note that the mare never raced on a rain affected track. All of her performances were on either a Good or Dead surface. She also never raced beyond 1400m, and in fact only attempted that journey once.

The heaviest weight she carried was 58kg when winning the 2011 Newmarket Handicap.

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

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he mare’s third dam is an unraced Vain mare called Song Of Norway. She was an outstanding broodmare, producing eleven winners from twelve foals including not only Scandinavia, but also other stakes winners in Frosty The Snowman, Midnight Sun TURF MONTHLY 9

Watch video in text view

and Russian Tea Room. She also produced the stakes placed Song Of The Sun, by Desert Sun who is a three quarter sister to Helsinge. The fourth dam of the mare is an imported Danish mare called Love Song, by Warpath. She produced the Bletchingly mare, Song Of Kingston who was to, in turn, produce the stakes winning Muirfield Village. While Love Song was foaled in Denmark, she was the product of the mating of the UK horses, Warpath and Folk Song. Warpath is an interesting stallion winning stakes races at both three and four years of age. He was a son of Sovereign Path, out of a mare by Right Royal. In turn, his second dam was by the wonderful stallion, Alycidon. Love Song’s female line traces to some wonderful influences with the most notable being the great stallion, Court Martial, by Fair Trial and another quality stallion in Hornbeam by Hyperion.

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

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

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

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The obvious feature of Black Caviar’s Pedigree is the duplication of one of Australia’s great sprinters in Vain who appears as the damsire of Bel Esprit and also the great grand damsire of Helsinge. What often goes unnoticed is the presence of Silly Season in both female lines. Silly Season was the sire of Adios and Lunchtime who is the sire of Snippets. He was a top sprinter in the UK but more importantly a leading sire of 2yo’s there in 1960’s. We also see three lines of Northern Dancer through very different types of sons in Danzig, Nijinsky and Grand Chaudiere. Another very interesting feature is the sex balanced duplication of Crepello who is something of a forgotten influence in the breed. Crepello won a Derby and Guineas and was a champion sire and broodmare sire in the UK.

HEROIC

SUPERSTAR ON THE TRACK AND AT STUD

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ven as a foal, Heroic made a huge impression. Legend has it that leading vet TG Doyle inspected the son of Valais from Cheronese to make sure that he did not have wings on his feet. Bred by the Moses brothers at Arrowfield Stud, Heroic was an outstanding yearling and was purchased at the William Inglis and Sons sale at Newmarket for 1,300 guineas. The yearling was purchased by leading Victorian trainer, Cecil Godby who was a regular at the sales. He would inspect every yearling along with his secretary who would make copious notes on each. Godby would then add a valuation to every horse, and was expert at buying quality stock for relatively low prices. The Valais colt was different and it was anticipated that bidding would be keen. As we will see later, it was rather fateful that three days before the sale Godby trained The Monk for George Tye to win the AJC Sires’ Produce. The stable had backed the colt heavily and Godby received a commission to buy the colt from one Jack Corteen who was the proprietor of Zander’s Bond Stores in King Street, Melbourne.

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eroic showed promise from the minute he set foot on the track, but things did not always go as planned for the potential champion. His career was almost ended before it started. Heroic suffered an eye affliction that was persistent and causing concern for his owner and trainer. Vet Doyle was called in again to look at the colt, and he noted that there was an odd discharge from the eye. Jack Corteen admitted that he had engaged another vet to look at the issue, and the colt was being treated unknown to the others. Doyle ordered that the eye be cleaned thoroughly and diagnosed the issue as recurring ophthalmia.

He undertook a revolutionary program that was later adopted by all other vets for the treatment of the condition, but it remains that Doyle was responsible in no small way for saving Heroic from blindness.

Heroic winning the Champage Stakes TURF MONTHLY 13

Heroic winning the Maribyrnong Plate

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eroic had his first race start in the 5 furlong Breeders’ Plate at Randwick on 1 October 1923. He was victorious in a field of 24 when the 5/4 on favourite and ridden by George Harrison. He led around the turn and kicked clear to win comfortably by two lengths.

Harrison is something of a forgotten jockey although was rated among the best of his time.

He rode horses like Artilleryman, Blue Cross, Sunburst and he won the AJC Sires’ Produce on The Monk, a horse that was to become intrinsically linked to Heroic a little later in our story. Like many jockeys, Harrison was to become a trainer after he retired. Harrison was replaced by the popular Hugh Cairns for his next start over the 4-furlong Debutante Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight later. It was clear that Heroic was something special and his owner, Jack Corteen had backed the horse heavily. Five days later Heroic returned to the winner’s list in the Gwynn Nursery. This victory was notable in that the great Spearfelt was to run second and the two were to forge a long rivalry throughout their careers. Two weeks later a victory in the Maribyrnong Plate rounded off his first campaign.

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fter a brief spell, Heroic was back at the races in February and started favourite in the Oakleigh Plate despite the fact that it had been almost 30 years since a 2yo had won the race. Heroic performed poorly with Harrison back in the saddle, not finishing in the first ten in a field of 31 which was the second largest field in the races’ history. This proved little but a hiccup as, with Cairns back on board, the colt lumped 10.2 (65kg) to win the Alma Stakes at Caulfield a week later. It was then off to Flemington for the VRC Sires’ Produce over 7 furlongs, but the colt was to be beaten after missing the start. This was to become a habit of Heroic who was to become known for his barrier waywardness, a habit believed to be inherited from his dam. Heroic had no problems less than a week later romping in in the Ascot Vale Stakes before returning to Sydney. His barrier manners were at their worst in the AJC Sires Produce where Heroic was left at the start. Less than a week later, he blitzed a

TURF MONTHLY 14

similar field in the Champagne Stakes even with a 10lb penalty at his final 2yo start. There was little doubt that the colt was Australia’s best 2yo and his return as a 3yo was eagerly anticipated.

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eroic returned in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on 6 September, but his barrier manners again saw him left at the start and take no part in the race. Only a week later, Heroic took on the best wfa horses in Australasia in the 9-furlong Chelmsford Stakes.

On his best behaviour for stand in jockey, Ashley Reed, he stunned champion Gloaming winning comfortably and beating the Australasian record for the trip in the process. Heroic had quietened the doubters who said he would not run the distance. On to the AJC Derby over 12 furlongs, Heroic with Hugh Cairns riding, was to start odds-on favourite. He was up against top NZ colt, Nigger Minstrel and Spearfelt. It was closely fought affair, but Heroic was a worthy winner of the richest Derby to have been run in Australia at the time. Rumours however circulated that interference suffered by both the second and third horses was more than coincidental. Connections of Heroic had again backed the horse sensationally and the regular plunges of the stable were starting to concern the racing establishment and the racing public more importantly.

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eroic then went to Melbourne with high hopes and underlined his position as the best 3yo in the country by comfortably winning the Caufield Guineas over a mile only a week after his Derby win. He was almost left at the start on the heavy track but that was the only moment of danger as Heroic quickly got into stride and won the race easily. Spearfelt was to finish out of a place although the track conditions and distance may have been against him. The glamour 3yo was a heavily supported favourite for his two main targets of the Spring, the VRC Derby and the Melbourne Cup when fate intervened.

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PURSER

THE CONTROVERSY

Purser winning the Cauflield Cup

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his story starts on Wednesday 15 October 1924 and the running of the Coongy Handicap, a well-respected lead up for the Caulfield Cup. A field of 20 faced the starter, with Accarak the 9/2 favourite in a wide-open betting race. Feathernest was the second favourite at 8/1 with four horses including the eventual winner, Graculus rated at 10/1.

Purser, owned by John Ramsay (Jack) Corteen and George Tye, trained by Cecil Temple Godby and ridden by Hugh Harold Cairns was a 20/1 chance.

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he first race of the day at Caulfield was run in heavy rain and the track was sodden.

The meeting looked to be in some danger of not progressing, but fortunately a break in the weather saw the day proceed albeit on a heavy track. The fifth race of the day was the Coongy over 11 furlongs and we will let the following week’s Melbourne Age take up their report on the race:

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raculus was the first to move, from Spearage, Intriguer and Beeline. Going out of the straight King of Mirth had charge from Seremite, Beeline. Artamus, San Antonio and Spearage. King of Mirth still led at the nine-furlong post, closely attended by Artamus, Seremite and Beeline, and then, after a gap, San Antonio, Graculus and Spearage with Accarak at the head of the following bunch. At the seven furlongs post King of Mirth was a length ahead of Artamus, a length away following Beeline and Seremite together slightly in front of San Antonio and Graculus. Prominent at the head of a well bunched division were Spearage, Accarak, Feathernest, Heir Apparent, while Penshurst was last. Beeline ran into second position behind King of Mirth at the six furlongs with Accarak, Graculus, Spearage and Feathernest handy.

King of Mirth and Beeline were together at the head of the field half a mile from home, the closest of the others being Artamus, Graculus, San Antonio, Spearage and Feathernest. King of Mirth was first into the straight from Beeline who was closely pursued by San Antonio, on the outside; Graculus, Accarak and Artamus. At the distance King of Mirth was showing slightly ahead of Beeline, with Graculus and Accarak next. In a stirring finish, Graculus defeated San Antonio by a neck, with Beeline a length and a half away third. Accarak was close up fourth, King of Mirth next, and then followed by Backwood, Artamus, Spearage, Feathernest, Our Prince, Prince Splendour, and Heir Apparent, with Risendo a bad last. It might be noticeable that Purser was not mentioned at all in the report.

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hen discussing the Caulfield Cup prospects of some of the runners that day, The Melbourne Age reported “Purser began slowly and was third last in a strung-out field going along the back, but he finished full of running, although still behind half the field. It was subsequently explained that shortly after the start, a lump of mud found a billet

TURF MONTHLY 16

Connections arriving at the appeal

in one of H Cairns’ eyes, temporarily blinding Purser’s pilot, and rendering him incapable, until much too late to do his mount justice.”

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urser carried 9.9 (61 kg) in the Coongy and dropped to 9.5 (59.5 kg) in the Caulfield Cup. It was that gelding’s third attempt at the race. Two years earlier he had run second to Violoncello while 12 months earlier he was third behind Whittier and Tangalooma. With that form it might have been expected that he would have had support in the 1924 Caulfield Cup, but his win was an unpopular one with the crowd. Even at the “call of the card” the day before the race, trainer Godby insisted that Purser was an unlikely starter in the race and they had still had the favourite, The Monk engaged in the race. His statement was published and at the calling of the card on the Friday evening it was taken on what was thought to be official capacity that Purser was to be a non-runner. Especially as Purser had run badly in the Coongy it was accepted that either something had gone wrong with the horse, or that the stable thought he had no chance in the race. The bookmakers were convinced that he was not to start and told most who wanted to back him that “it was no use quoting or wasting a betting ticket on him.”

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ye and Corteen however accepted with Purser in the Cup but not with the favoured The Monk. They declared that The Monk had been sold to connections in India and that the sale did not finalise until the day before the Cup. The new owners had contacted them to tell them that they did not want the horse to run in the race. On the morning of the Cup, Purser was heavily backed at prices as long as 33/1 to win over £50,000 but the majority of the money had come from the stable. Earlier the stable had secured the services of champion NZ jockey George Young for the race. Young had been the jockey TURF MONTHLY 17

of the great Gloaming. The appointment had apparently occurred through Hugh Cairns, himself a NZer, and Young was whisked away from the public to stay at a unit near Flinders Street Station by the connections. Cairns had earlier taken a booking to ride King Carnival in the Cup, a horse owned by VRC Chairman Mr Mackinnon. It was suggested that Young was told by the stable that he would be riding either The Monk or Purser in the Cup. Godby explained that seeing as The Monk could not run because of the sale, that they would avail themselves of the services of Young by accepting with Purser. The bookmakers in particular were not convinced by the story and, it seemed, neither were the public.

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n the race, Purser jumped well from near the inside but settled towards the rear as was his normal pattern. He was last as the field left the straight. Sir Dighlock led the field and he had been used in the role of a pacemaker in the Sydney Cup earlier in the year. By the home turn, The Night Patrol had established a long lead, but was tiring. Purser had still been toward the rear at the seven furlongs, but with Young’s urging started making ground quickly. He got what was described as a “remarkably clear run on the inside” and quickly took control of the race. Purser gave no others a chance despite carrying the highest weight ever at the time for a Caulfield Cup winner. Feathernest who had run well in the Coongy ran second narrowly in front of All Sunshine. King Carnival finished among the tailenders.

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he Thursday following the Cup, the VRC Stewards opened an inquiry into the handling of Purser in the Coongy Handicap. All four men in Godby, Tye, Corteen and Cairns were charged with not allowing Purser to run on his merits. Their defence relied on Cairns’ claim that he had been stuck by mud and was incapacitated for a time. William Kennedy, a well-known owner, took the stand to say that he watched the race with a friend from the flat and noticed that, around the five-furlong mark, Cairns took hold of his horse and appeared to sit quietly for some time without control of the horse. Kennedy and his friend discussed this and agreed that they should wager on Purser in the Cup. He claimed to have approached Corteen at settling day on the Monday telling him of his intention and what he saw. When the story was relayed to Godby, he said that Bill (Kennedy) must have seen the incident with Cairns. This was the first time Kennedy claimed to have heard of this.

Kennedy later decided against backing the horse after Corteen told him that they were yet to secure a jockey for the race. The VATC club doctor, Dr A Fleming Joyce also testified that he attended Cairns around 30 minutes after the race. By that time, Cairns had bathed his eye although there was evidence of some swelling. The Doctor told the hearing that Cairns claimed the incident happened around half-way in the race.

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he official statement issued by the stewards read: 'After hearing the evidence of the parties concerned the stewards came to the conclusion that Purser was not allowed to

Purser

do his best in the Coongv Handicap, and disqualified George Tye and JR Corteen (owners), CT Godby (trainer) and H Cairns (jockey), together with the horse Purser, for 12 months from this date, the 23 October 1924.'

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he verdict was immediately appealed, and the hearing was held within days due to the impact it had on their horses. The appeal was denied and the VRC refused the nominations of any of the horses belonging to the group. Corteen made no secret of the fact that he had backed Heroic to win £10,000 in a treble to win the two Derbies and the Melbourne Cup.

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he quartet later lodged a High Court writ against the VRC regarding the disqualification.

It made headlines for a time but was eventually dropped by March the following year.

Reporting on the entire event was relatively limited, and the VRC were steadfast in not disclosing anything about their decision. To some, it may appear that the quartet were harshly dealt with but there were some newspapers of the time that were very forthright in their opinions. What has not been conveyed is that the trio, excluding Cairns, had a reputation for heavy gambling on their own runners often in contentious circumstances.

Cairns however was considered by many to be the “brains and sinew” of the betting operations of the group. The public outcry following Purser’s victory was the instrumental factor it seems in the VRC taking action. There are also a few interesting points that were also reported at the time but let us go back for a moment to the partnership.

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ye and Corteen had both been important owners in their own right and were the main backers of trainer Godby. In January of 1924, the two formed a partnership which was arguably the largest and most influential in Australia. Tye put 17 horses into the partnership while Corteen contributed seven, with Heroic being the only horse that was kept separate to the partnership. The intention was to increase these numbers even further. Tye’s horses in the original partnership were The Monk, Pale Light, Gadfly, Sand Lily, Coolah, Grotesque, Jollity, Sultry, Iceland, Bonaparte, Recluse, Mirthful Queen, Three Kings, Darjling, The Cypher's brother, Nobility, Prevaricator, lrish Rhythm and Lion Isle. The horses owned by Mr Corteen concerned were Eudasia, Ephrates, Flaviol, Witness Box, King's Trumpeter, Automatic and Purser. The partners raced as Messrs Tye and Corteen and used Tye's colours of pink and black stripes, white sleeves, and pink cap. All the horses were located at Allendale Stock Farm, which belonged to George and Allen Tye. Some time before, George Tye’s brother had dropped out of the ownership of horses, but he retained his interest in the Allandale Farm. That establishment, which had originally been developed to race and breed trotters and located adjacent to the Mentone racetrack, was rented by Tye and Corteen.

Previously Godby had supervised the work of Corteen's horses on the Mentone track, and

TURF MONTHLY 19

those of Tye at Allendale. The farm covered 91 acres. They developed a mile and a quarter track, planted with buffalo grass, as an addition to an existing exercise track.

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he stable was widely regarded as the biggest betting stable in Australian racing. Oddly they did not invest anything on Purser in the Coongy Handicap. It was claimed that this was because of the heavy track, but Purser had won in similar conditions at Randwick only a week or so before the race. It was reported that the reserved and quiet Cairns said to Godby that “they could not take the Cup off him” when he dismounted from Purser in the Coongy. He also apparently made no mention of being hit by a clod of dirt which Godby was later to say hit him in both eyes, not only one eye that was stated in the hearing. There was a suggestion that stewards had been advised of the comment and had started to ask some questions. We must remember that it was around 30 minutes later that Cairns called for the doctor. Stewards felt they had little evidence to work on so did not pursue the matter.

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t was also reported by more than one jockey that King Carnival, Cairn’s mount in the Caulfield Cup interfered with their horses in the running of that race. King Carnival was owned by LKS Mackinnon, the VRC Chairman who noted that he thought it quite strange that the Godby stable approached him earlier in the week leading up to the Cup to release Cairns from his booking on the horse in order to ride Purser. Mackinnon was reportedly glad that he had refused especially when considering that Purser at this stage was supposedly intended to be scratched. Another interesting feature of the case was that the stable did not attend any of the pre-race betting functions. Noted as such a large betting stable, they had not missed any of these functions up until the Caulfield Cup. Considering that much of the argument was that they considered The Monk to be the likely winner, this seems odd in hindsight. In fact, the big betting stable wagered only £300 on that horse despite largely disclosing him as a certainty. Corteen sent telegrams to his racing friends across Australia on the morning of the Caufield Cup advising them of this fact and encouraging them to back the horse.

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nother key factor to the story was the sale of The Monk to Indian connections. This was done via telegram through an intermediary. None of the telegrams were ever produced in evidence. The claim was that the sale was only confirmed the Friday before the Cup when a physical inspection took place. It was then questioned whether the horse was to start in the race and what arrangements were to be made regarding prizemoney. Corteen stated that he had offered to wager £2000 on the horse to ensure that the new owner would be well compensated. The defence stated that advice was not received until 12.30pm on Cup day that the new owners did not want the horse to run. The agent said this was advised

TURF MONTHLY 20

by telegram to Godby at his stable, but that he had already left for the races. Both The Monk and Purser were to arrive at the track. The agent then stated that he had told Godby personally at the track around 1.00pm that The Monk would not be allowed to start. The Monk was not scratched from the race until after 2.00pm.

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he wagering on Purser is a factor that cannot be discounted. The defendants claimed that reports of their winnings were largely exaggerated and that they only invested modest amounts on the horse at Caulfield racetrack on the day. Commission agents though were in place in Sydney and the money, according to bookmakers, started to arrive in force for Purser around 12.30pm which is coincidentally the time that the telegram saying that The Monk was not to run was alleged to have arrived.

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eorge Tye was to pass away in 1934. He had been born in Toronto Canada and came to Australia with his brother Allen where they founded Tye and Co Home Furnishings that were based in Bourke St, Melbourne. They made their fortune from allowing time payments for their furniture, and it was widely held that the respectable businessman had fallen in with bad company in his time in racing. The property Allendale Stud was sold to Mr AT Creswick at the same time as the dispersal of all of horses of Tye and Corteen on 5 November 1924, the day following the Melbourne Cup. Heroic was passed in at the sale with Corteen saying that the horse failed to meet his reserve of £20,000 having attracted a bid of £16000. Jack Corteen said: “I have a sentimental regard for Heroic that makes me loathe to part with him. I have had several tempting offers from would-be buyers, but their prices do not reach my reserve.” A few weeks later, Corteen advised that the colt had been sold to Martin Wenke, a Sydney hotelkeeper for £14000 and was put in the stable of Jack Holt. When he was entered to race, the VRC refused to accept the nomination questioning the legitimacy of the sale. Eventually Heroic was to be sold to Mr Kellow at a further public auction in February 1925.

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t would seem George Tye did not pursue horse ownership after his disqualification.

Corteen though remained a regular on racetracks for the rest of his life, albeit on a much smaller scale. In a tragic follow up to the story, Jack Corteen died in a car accident in 1941.

The leviathan punter was found to be £15,726 in debt at the time of his death.

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oth Hugh Cairns and Cecil Godby successfully returned to racing following their 12 month bans and both were to go on to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame.

TURF MONTHLY 21

CECIL GODBY THE TRAINER

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ecil Temple (CT) Godby was born in Armidale in 1879. His father had been a newspaper writer in the town, but Cecil and his three brothers, Charlie, Frank and Norman took an interest in horse racing. They learned to ride at a local stable and all three went on to become jockeys of some note. Later the brothers were to join the stable of J Gough at Randwick. Cecil went on to ride in West Australia for a time but returned to Melbourne for the biggest victory of his career in the saddle on Ibex in the Maribyrnong Plate in 1900.

Godby was forced to retire from riding due to increasing weight and took up training early in the 20th century. Brother Norman was to go on to become one of the finest jockeys in Australia and rode Lord Cardigan to beat the great Wakeful in both the Randwick Stakes and Melbourne Cup of 1903 at the age of only fifteen.

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ecil Godby kicked off his training career with a horse called Witham which he kept in a stable off Barmsby’s Hotel in Flemington. His first yearling purchase of note was Lord Dudley who became a great money spinner for the trainer. He had bought the horse for a client who was unimpressed by the animal when shown by Godby who gladly accepted the option of retaining him. It was reported that when the horse narrowly won a race at Moonee Valley, he commented to an associate that he had won enough to pay off the new house he was building at Caulfield. . convent and was pulled down in 1975 although there were attempts made to save it due to its historical significance.

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odby’s best success early in his career came with Confide who won the Grand National Steeple in 1911. His best horse was Wedge who won numerous races but also ran second to Satin Bird in the Epsom in 1917, and third in the Newmarket to Cetigne and Poitrina in 1918. Godby certainly was not afraid of hard work, and he even rode one of his own steeplechasers when a jockey could not be found. When questioned as to why he would put himself in such danger, his reply was simple, “I needed the losing fee.”

TURF MONTHLY 22

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y 1920 Godby had make a huge impact on racing, but not necessarily as a trainer. He was regarded by then as the biggest punter in Australia, rivalling the legendary Eric Connolly. Godby had been a moderate gambler until the Spring of 1919 when he started wagering in thousands of pounds in a single bet and would have a number of bets of this size in an afternoon. His gambling went quiet until the following Autumn when he again returned to his leviathan level.

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y early in 1924, Godby had linked up with Corteen and Tye and formed the largest private stable in Australia. He was able to purchase a string of expensive yearlings and his success on the track was unparalleled at the time. His career was brought to a halt by his disqualification and when he returned, Godby thought of moving to Sydney.

The AJC were hesitant to licence him as a Number 1 trainer, so he moved back into his stables at Mentone. He was later to purhase the historic Cambria House which overlooked the Caulfied racecourse. It had been built in the 1880’s by Mr G Davis whose son was to become the VRC handicapper. Davis developed a quality stable of horses that included The Swiveller, David, Camerine, Day Star, Summerlea and Emmalea. The house was later to become rather ironically a convent and was pulled down in 1975 although there were attempts made to save it due to its historical significance.

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here Godby won his second Caulfield Cup in 1933 with the former New Zealand champion, Gaine Carrington for the Victorian bookmaker, Jack Phillips. A week later Godby also trained Gaine Carrington’s half-brother, Peter Jackson, to win the Moonee Valley Cup for the same owner. Godby was to purchase the historic Cambria House which overlooked the Caulfied racecourse. It had been built in the 1880’s by Mr G Davis whose son was to become the VRC handicapper

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fter Heroic the wins came less regularly but Godby continued to make the headlines.

In 1934 the trainer landed another plunge when Prismatic easily won the Grand TURF MONTHLY 23

Watch video in text view

National Hurdle. The following year, Godby pulled off another coup from the Randwick ring when Synagogue, also owned Jack Phillips, won the Epsom Handicap, surviving a protest.

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n 1936 Cecil Godby trained his third Caulfield Cup winner when Northwind won the race for Colonel Harold Cohen, the local MLA who wanted a horse to win the Cup. Godby purchased the horse for 1100 guineas after seeing him flash home from the rear of the field to be narrowly beaten in the Gainsborough Handicap at Ascot in late September.

At his first start in his new owner’s colours, Northwind could only finish twelfth in the VATC Herbert Power Handicap. The following Monday saw another of the legendary Godby plunges when Northwind was backed by commission agents from 200/1 into 33/1.

Famed lightweight jockey, and fellow Hall of Famer, Harold Badger brought Northwind from the rear of the field at the half-mile to win the Cup running away from Silver Standard and Talking.

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ut a few short years later with the outbreak of the Second World War, Cecil Godby’s star had begun to wane. Although he continued to train until the close of the 1956-1957 racing season, his days of big race wins and big bets were over. Perhaps his last big race winner was Murray Glen in the 1952 Australian Cup.

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ecil Godby died in November 1963 at the age of 79, outliving his two younger brother Frank and Norman. We mentioned Norman as an outstanding jockey, but Frank was also to become a reasonably successful trainer, best known for his horse Maikai who ran second to Rivette in both the 1939 Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cups. The eldest Godby brother Charlie passed away in 1969, and although he had ridden as a youngster, had made more of a success as a bookmaker. All four brothers had their share of financial success collectively owning five of the six hotels in Dandenong at one point. But the Godby tale is certainly a cautionary one, as all died in relative poverty just as Jack Corteen had done.

TURF MONTHLY 24

HUGH CAIRNS THE JOCKEY

thrown clear. The horse somersaulted and his hindquarters landed across the jockey’s head and chest. Cairns died shortly after being admitted to the casualty room.

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ate played its part in the demise of Cairns. Quick Deal had been ridden by RN Harris at his last start win at Geelong, but he was unable to make the weight allocated in this race. The mount was offered to G May but he had been booked to ride Rakwood. He had thought of being asked to be relieved of his engagement but decided to stick with Rakwood. It was then that Cairns was offered the mount that he readily and tragically accepted.

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ugh Harold Cairns was born in Palmerston North in New Zealand in 1888. He had no interest in racing, but his first job was as a cadet steward on a ship that would occasionally take racehorses from one town to another. A chance discussion with a trainer saw Cairns give up the sea and take a position in the stables of F Highett from Otaki.

Cairns had an auspicious start to his career, falling at his first nine rides over the steeples, but he was to persevere and master his craft. He rode successfully in NZ for around seven years before moving to Australia to join up with another former NZer in Caulfield based trainer DJ Price in April 1910. Cairns met with early success over the jumps winning both the Grand National Hurdle and the Australian Hurdle twice. He gradually made the move to riding on the flat, and his first major success came in the Adelaide Birthday Cup on Swagger in 1912. From then he took fewer jumps mounts and by 1921 had retired from jumps riding. In 1918 Cairns had the distinction of riding the winner of the Australian Hurdle as well as the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield on Wedge who he rode for CT Godby. Cairn’s association with Godby was to become a very successful one for both. Apart from Heroic, Cairns also rode stakes winners for other trainers including Amounis, Tangalooma, Spearfelt and Lanius.

here is little doubt that Hughie Cairns was among the most naturally talented and versatile jockeys that the Australian turf has ever seen. He was considered by many to be a rather quiet and morose type of character, but those that knew him said he was warm and genuine in nature.

Apart from being inducted into the Hall of Fame, a statue of Cairns stands at Moonee Valley racecourse.

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airns married the famous actress Mollie Maguire and they lived at ‘Merunqua’ at Brighton, named after Cairn’s 1917 Grand National winner that he rode for Mr LKS Mackinnon. He was a proficient sportsman accomplished in billiards, golf, shooting and motor cycling.

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airns made a return to riding over the jumps on Urbani at Aspendale Park on May 5, 1928. His steeplechase mounts were comparatively few, and he did not have many successes after his return. He was to be killed in a race fall in July 1929 when riding Quick Deal in the Gellibrand Hurdle.

They fell at the very last hurdle and Cairns appeared to be

TURF MONTHLY 25

HEROIC

A NEW OWNER

Heroic finishing fifth in the Futurity

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eroic returned to racing for his new connections of owner Charles Kellow and trainer Jack Holt on 21 February 1925. He lined up in the wfa Futurity Stakes against a quality field that included The Hawk and The Night Patrol. He again showed poor barrier manners, holding up the start for some time before finishing fifth behind the upset winner, Father’s Voice who won by a head from The Hawk and Mercian Prince. These two were separated by an even smaller margin with The Night Patrol fourth. A week later Heroic lined up in the Essendon Stakes over 10 furlongs at Flemington. He was in a bad mood yet again, refusing to face the barrier for a considerable time. Heroic took the lead in the straight and looked to have the race won before a strong finish by The Hawk relegated him to second place. Heroic again finished second to The Hawk over a mile in the CM Lloyd Stakes a week later with The Night Patrol in third. The champion NZ galloper, The Hawk broke the Australasian record in his comfortable win. The Hawk was to win 20 stakes races in a long career, that also included the CM Lloyd Stakes the following year. Six weeks later the pair met again in Sydney, this time in the All Aged Stakes at Randwick with The Hawk winning.

Favourite Heroic was in an even worse mood that day, missing the start hopelessly and finishing a long last of the five runners. Heroic then finished last of five behind Windbag in the Cumberland Stakes. He jumped on terms this time, but quickly dropped out to the tail and made no impression in the run. Considering that Heroic had started close to favourite in each of his runs that season, he was an expensive failure for his new owner and for the myriad of punters that supported him.

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fter the disappointing end to his 3yo season, Heroic next stepped out in the 8f Williamstown Stakes on 22 August. It was a strong field with The Night Patrol being heavily backed along with Heroic who started at 4/1. The break had done little for Heroic’s barrier manners and the race was delayed as the stallion refused to face the tapes. When the starter finally got them away, Heroic missed the start by a couple of lengths. As the field approached the 5f mark, The Night Patrol and Heroic made their moves towards the lead.

By the time they had reached the furlong mark, both horses were tiring and lugging out allowing Whittier a run on the inside which he quickly accepted and moved clear. Whittier was no slouch in a career that saw him win 20 stakes races including being one of only a handful of horses to win two Caulfield Cups. The Night Patrol hang on to second in front of Heroic who notably was a little above himself in condition that day. A week later Heroic lined up in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield over 9 furlongs and again was well backed to start the 5/4 favourite. Trainer Holt accompanied the starter over to the 9 furlong mark in an attempt to settle the unpredictable Heroic who had drawn barrier position one. When the strands were put in place, Heroic propped and put his ears back. Drawn in position two was his stablemate, Royal Charter, and Heroic seemed to settle down when he came

TURF MONTHLY 26

Heroic winning the 1926 Newmarket

up alongside him, consenting to walk forward with his mate. Heroic jumped cleanly and settled behind the leaders. Into the straight, The Night Patrol led, but Heroic quickly took over with Whittier poised behind him. Whittier drew alongside the champion who responded to Harrison’s riding to boot clear again and win comfortably by two lengths in race record time. Spearfelt ran on strongly from second last on the turn to run third, some four lengths behind Whittier. Almost three weeks later, and with plenty of barrier practice behind him, Heroic was well behaved, certainly for him at least, in the September Stakes at Moonee Valley over 8 furlongs. Unfortunately, The Night Patrol was a little too good, having established a commanding lead coming into the short straight. Heroic hung badly on the turn but battled strongly for second without ever looking like hauling in the winner who ran another track record in his win. The Night Patrol was another top racehorse of the era winning 13 stakes races in all including two William Reid Stakes’ and a Cox Plate. Next up came the October Stakes at Flemington over 8 furlongs and again the race appeared to be between The Night Patrol and Heroic who was sent out the 10/9 on favourite. The Night Patrol again lead, but this time Harrison did not allow him to get too far in front of Heroic. The champion joined The Night Patrol at the turn but, as at Moonee Valley, Heroic again started to hang badly. The Night Patrol dropped out, but the 20/1 outsider, Fujisan who had earlier won the Doncaster came through on the inside to cause an upset. Whittier and the other three horses met in the October Stakes next, with Heroic finally getting the result in a comfortable victory over 9 furlongs. Heroic though had struck himself in the race and connections battled to get him to the start of the Herbert Power only four days later. Heroic was unsettled at the start but jumped away alright in a muddling affair. He led for much of the race but he again hung badly in the straight, finishing under the judges box which allowed his stable mate, Royal Charter to come through on the inside to claim victory in the 11 furlong event. This was to be George Harrison’s last ride on the champion as he retired from the saddle due to ill-health not much later. He was replaced by Jim Pike who rode him for the first time in the Melbourne Stakes over 10 furlongs. It was a strong field featuring Sydney champions Windbag and Pilliewinkie. Owner Kellow only allowed Heroic to start at the last minute, but he performed poorly running fifth in the five-horse field behind Pilliewinkie. Heroic then finished third to The Night Patrol in the Linlithgow over 8 furlongs and fourth to Pilliewinkie in the CB Fisher Plate over 12 furlongs two days later before going for a spell.

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he following Autumn Heroic returned with Billy Duncan in the saddle to finish in the placings behind Whittier in the CF Orr Stakes and St George Stakes. Duncan was replaced by original jockey Hugh Cairns who had returned from his suspension in the Futurity over 7 furlongs at Caulfield. A top class field that included The Hawk and Manfred were no match for the imported Top Gallant who was having only his second Australian start. Heroic finished a moderate fifth. His next start in the Newmarket was a return to the Heroic of old and was the first big for Cairns since his suspension. Mr Kellow who reportedly had spent around £24,000 up to this stage on Heroic wagered heavily on his champion and many of the time suggested that he had squared the ledger on this race.

Heroic started at the generous odds of 10/1 as Top Gallant had been a strong favourite TURF MONTHLY 27

Heroic winning the 1925 AJC Autumn Stakes

but found his weight too much. Heroic settled just off the lead and kicked clear inside the last few furlongs to record a dominant win. Another second in the CM Lloyd to The Night Patrol saw Heroic head to Sydney where he faced up to Windbag over the 12 furlong Autumn Stakes at Randwick, finishing third. Two days later Heroic lined up for the first time over 2 miles in the Sydney Cup in a field of 21 runners. He was again heavily backed but it was a case of what might have been. The winner of the Cup was Murray King who officially started at 200/1 although 500/1 was available at times. Murray King beat Caserta and Naos with Heroic an unlucky fourth but still less than half a length from the winner.

Many on course thought that he had run either second or third such was the closeness of the finish. Heroic was travelling well through the race but was behind Valbee who fell three furlongs from the finish. Heroic had to hurdle the fallen horse and lost at least three lengths.

Cairns attempted to take Heroic to the outside to get clear running but was blocked. He then switched back to the inside to try to force through on the inside of Murray King late and finishing stronger than any other horse in the race. Only two days later Heroic again lined up in the Cumberland Stakes at Randwick over 14 furlongs. In a field of only four, with Windbag, Pilliewinkie and David being the other runners, connections were able to secure a generous price of 3/1 about Heroic with Windbag being the favourite. Heroic was taken to the lead as they came into the straight and won by three quarters of a length although never fully extended to beat Windbag. Again, only three days later the pair faced off again over 18 furlongs in the AJC Plate, this time with Windbag turning the tables.

The same four horses faced the starter as had in the Cumberland, but this time Windbag and Heroic shared favouritism at even money. It turned into a farcical event as it became something of a match race between the two favoured runners. On the turn, Heroic strolled to the lead with Windbag challenging strongly on the outside. Windbag gained the lead, but Heroic was not asked for an effort by Cairns. Windbag, with Jim Munro on board, moved in sharply causing Cairns to check Heroic who lost at least two lengths in the incident.

Heroic balanced up and went to the outside to chase the errant Windbag, reducing the margin to less than a half-length when they crossed the finish. A protest was immediately lodged but surprisingly to most on course was quickly dismissed.

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eroic returned as a 5yo in August 1926 and what was arguably to be his best year on the track. He started off in the mile of the Underwood Stakes at Williamstown where he beat Spearer. Heroic was always travelling well and had seemingly gotten over his aversion to the starts. According to jockey Hugh Cairns, Heroic was going to win a long way from home and he cruised in to a comfortable victory. A week later he beat Manfred in the Memsie Stakes, winning that race for the second year in a row. It was a thrilling race with Heroic and stablemate Royal Charger sharing the lead. Cairns gave Heroic more rein and he dropped off Royal Charger. Heroic was then challenged by Manfred and the two had a stirring battle down the straight with Heroic managing to hold his younger rival off in a narrow finish. It was then to Moonee Valley when a field of four raced for the Cox

TURF MONTHLY 28

Heroic beating Pantheon in the St George

Plate. Heroic delayed the start by backing into the starting strands, and later missed the start slightly, but this was the last cause for concern for the favourite. He travelled strongly behind the leaders and cruised to the front coming into the straight going on to win by three lengths and shortening to a clear favourite for the Melbourne Cup. Sadly, he was to suffer a foreleg injury and was withdrawn from his Cups engagements. He went to the paddock missing the rest of the Spring.

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eroic returned in fine form in January to win the William Reid over 6 furlongs around Moonee Valley. He jumped well and lead for most of the race, winning relatively untroubled from Quintus, having started an even money favourite in the eight horse field.

Two weeks later Heroic started at the shortest price of his career, 7/1 on in the CF Orr Stakes at Williamstown. His barrier antics seemed a thing of the past as he behaved well at the start and sat just behind the leader in the run. He took the lead before entering the home straight and, in what looked more like a training gallop, went away to win by four lengths from Metellus, with old rival Spearfelt running on well at the end of the 8 furlongs.

Heroic continued his winning run with a victory in the St George Stakes over 9 furlongs at Caulfield a week later. This was expected to be a big test for the champion as he lined up against Manfred for the first time that Autumn. Both Manfred and Heroic decided to show their worst behaviour at the start with Manfred for a time even refusing to leave the mounting yard. After a lengthy delay the starter raised the strands but by then Heroic was standing side on to the start and as far away from the rest of the field as he could get. Still, Heroic jumped well unlike Manfred who resolutely decided he wanted nothing to do with racing that day, refusing to leave the start despite the urgings of his jockey. Heroic trailed the imported horse Pantheon throughout the race, and quickly went level as they turned into the straight. Heroic had the other horse’s measure although Pantheon stuck on gamely to only be three-quarters of a length adrift of the champion at the end. Again, Spearfelt was doing his best work at the end of the race to run third. Two weeks later Heroic’s winning run came to an end over the 6 furlongs of the Newmarket on the first day of the VRC carnival. He had started 4/1 favourite in a strong field of 28 that included the wonderful Valicare. Heroic jumped well and was with the leaders early on. He started to give ground before the field went 2 furlongs and finished a disappointing twelfth behind winner Gothic.

Less than a week later, Heroic lined up against only two other horses in the Governor’s Plate over 12 furlongs. He was a dominant 13/8 on favourite with old rival Spearfelt at 6/4.

Spearfelt’s jockey surprised everyone by leading and at one stage was in front by over six lengths. Despite Heroic’s efforts, he was unable to make up the leeway with Spearfelt finally recording his only win over the champion by a length and a half. Two days later Heroic was to have his last victory in the King’s Plate over 2 miles. He faced a field of only four with Naos being well backed to beat the favourite given his performance against Spearfelt a few days earlier. Three Kings was a stablemate of Naos and made the pace in the race with Heroic biding his time back in last place. At the 5 furlong mark, Cairns let Heroic TURF MONTHLY 29

Heroic winning the William Reid 1927

stride forward, and although Naos tried hard to go with him, Heroic cruised away to a comfortable two and a half length win. Six weeks later Heroic was back in Sydney for the Autumn Cup over 12 furlongs. Heroic had clearly proven a better horse with racing, and although Heroic hit the lead as the field of seven entered the straight, he was no match for the fitter horses finishing a disappointing fifth behind Pantheon. A week later Heroic lined up in the two mile Sydney Cup needing a victory to overtake Gloaming as the highest stakes winner in Australasian racing. It was a good field of 18 who many observers regarded the strongest Cup field since Kennaquhair had beaten Poitrel in 1920. On the heavy track Heroic carried 9.13 (63 kg) and was just behind the leaders but to failed to run on in the conditions, tiring for tenth behind the lightly weighted Queensland star, Piastoon who carried 7.12 (50 kg). Three days later Heroic was against a field of five in the Cumberland Stakes over 14 furlongs. In a slowly run race Heroic was well placed but again did little at the end to finish a disappointing fourth behind Limerick. Only four days later Heroic was to have his last race start. He carried 10 stone in a field of 16 over 11 furlongs in the Tattersall’s Cup again at Randwick. Again, Heroic was well placed into the straight but put in a poor performance dropping out to finish near the tail. It was a sad end to his wonderful career, and many pundits decried the fact that he even started in the race given how badly his form had dropped off in Sydney. Others suggested that similar to another long-gone champion in David, Heroic had simply become roguish in his old age. This was certainly a possibility given that Heroic showed that he had his own ideas when it came to barrier manners. Of course, he had suffered recurring injuries so may also have been that these could have impacted the champion’s performances late in his career. He retired with 21 wins from 51 starts and £38,062 in stakes, behind only Gloaming at the time.

Heroic remains a true champion on the track and he was inducted in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2003.

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Heroic was the pin-up for close inbreeding (23.83%) in the Australian thoroughbred for generations. This was also blamed for the barrier antics of the stallion, although it is noted that his dam suffered the same phobia. What is important is that both Cicero, his grandsire and his dam, Chersonese were close relations. This is further impacted by the fact that Bend Or’s grand dam, Ellen Horne is also the fifth dam of Illuminata. Remarkably, Bend Or appears also through two full brothers in blood in Martagon and Ormonde. It is quite a unique pedigree and there is much to be learned from it and one of the most important lessons is the value of close relations in a pedigree rather than a single ancestor.

HEROIC AT STUD

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eroic was one of the most regally bred of Australia’s early thoroughbreds. His sire Valais had won the 15 furlong Windsor Stakes in 1916 as a 3yo, and had ran fourth in the Derby run at Newmarket due to the war behind the filly, Fifinella. He stood one season in the UK before being purchased by William and Frederick Moses for their famed Arrowfield Stud. His first crop in Australia were born in 1920, but by April 1924, the Moses had dispersed their stock and Valais was sold to the Thompsons of Widden Stud for 14000 guineas, then an Australian record. The stallion was to tragically die in October 1927 but in this short time established himself as the greatest sire Australia had ever seen.

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is first crop included Quintus who won the Newmarket and Standish Handicaps, Valiant who won the Railway Handicap which was to become the George Ryder much later, Valdoona who won an Adrian Knox and Coongy Handicap winner, Valwyne. His second crop included not only Heroic but also Fujisan, Metellus who won the Toorak and Epsom Handicaps, and Newmarket winner, Valiard. Possibly his third crop was even better including Manfred and Valicare.

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alais was a son of Cicero out of Lily Of The Valley who traced back to the excellent mare Beeswing. The dam of Heroic was Cheronese, a daughter of Cylgad out of one of the best broodmares of her day in Chelandry who had won the One Thousand Guineas.

Chelandry was also to produce Popinjay by St Frusquin who was to become the dam of Magpie. Chelandry herself was a daughter of the outstanding mare, Illuminata who had also produced the English Derby winner, Ladas.

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his family has continued to play an important role in the Australian thoroughbred and is the Bruce Lowe number one family. This includes some of the most important thoroughbreds in history and in Australia alone count horses like Todman and Star Kingdom in their number. If we look at only the legacy of Cheronese, we see that she has continued her own dynasty. But as we see with many of these older lines in Australia, their influence now seems to be waning. Chersonese also produced Cimbrian by Devizes who won the Williamstown Cup, Hotham Handicap, Caulfield Stakes and Bagot Handicap. He stood at stud where he produced only one stakes winner in Sir Grey, winner of the Werribee Cup in 1939. Cheronese also produced a full brother to Heroic called Thracian who ran second in the Caulfield Guineas and VRC Derby where he separated favourites Rampion and Limerick, and third in the AJC St Leger as a 3yo. Thracian did not win his first race until his

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16th start which coincidentally was a handicap at Caulfield on the very day that Heroic was having his last run in Sydney. Owned by Mr AT Creswick, Mr AG Hunter of Northwood Park at Seymour wanted to stand Thracian there. However, Mr Creswick did not think he was worthy of the opportunity and instead stood originally at Creswick’s Leiwah Station near Moulamein in NSW. Thracian was later transferred to The Nook Stud where Creswick stood some stallions including a son of Thracian in The Greek and Full Charge. He was sold some years later at a dispersal sale of their stock to Mr A Williams to stand at his property at Lismore for the modest sum of 70 guineas. Thracian did achieve some success, not least by winning the champion thoroughbred at the Royal Brisbane Show in 1941. He was sold again the following January for 62.5 guineas as the first lot at the Brisbane Thoroughbred sale to Mr DC McWilliam. With such a chequered history one may be forgiven for thinking that Thracian was a poor stallion. Despite his lack of opportunity Thracian produced four stakes winners in Damalis (VRC Essendon Stakes), Illyrian (VATC Heatherlie Handicap), Kingdom (VATC Coongy Handicap) and his best, Feldspar who won the Caulfield Stakes and VRC Derby in 1935. Surprisingly he has popped up in some more recent pedigrees in horses like Turaga (2005 STC Civic Stakes), Wild Side (WATC Sires’ Produce and both the 1982 and 1983 Roma Cup), Aunty Mary (1994 AJC Villiers) and Arctic Coast (1968 VRC Australian Cup and Duke Of Norfolk Stakes).

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heronese’s direct descendants include 1958 Melbourne Cup winner, Baystone, 1996 JJ Liston winner Delsole, and the outstanding full brothers Jetball and Marwina. Jetball won five stakes races including the G1 AJC The Galaxy in 1994. He went on to become a good stallion producing 13 stakes winners. His stud career started in NZ where he had his greatest success producing horses like Vapour Trail, winner of the 2002 NZ Oaks and Global News who raced in South Africa winning the G1 Mondi Stakes. Marwina had won the Breeders Plate, Stan Fox and Roman Consul before going to stud where he produced five stakes winners.

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eroic was retired to Mr HS Thompson’s Tarwyn Park Stud at Rylstone in NSW on lease from his owner, Charles Kellow. Within five seasons he had won Australia’s Leading Sire title and he held that position for the following seven years. In total Heroic produced 29 stakes winners and among them were some of the country’s best horses in Ajax, Hua, Nuffield and Hall Mark all of which deserve more to be written about them and they appear later. Ajax was featured at length in an earlier magazine. Eighteen of Heroic’s sons were to stand at stud which is indicative of his importance to breeding during the 1930’s and 1940’s.

One who deserves a special mention is Royal Step who sired the legendary Flight, winner of two Cox Plates among her seventeen stakes wins.

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aughters of Heroic did their bit to keep his influence strong, and these daughters have some of the most enduring lines of Heroic that we find in the modern thoroughbred.

Perhaps one of the most influential daughters of Heroic was Sequoia who had three stakes winners. Peter by Peter Pan was the first and he won five stakes races including the Bagot Handicap, Eclipse Stakes and Williamstown Cup. Her last stakes winner was Redfield

by Enfield who won the 1956 Grand National Hurdle. Between those was her daughter Rainbird by The Buzzard who won six stakes races culminating in the 1945 Melbourne Cup. At stud she produced Raindear by Orgoglio who won the VRC Wakeful Stakes and SA Oaks. In turn she produced Werribee Cup winner, Latin Reign and Edward Manifold Stakes winner Rainburst. This continues to be a remarkable line with more recent stakes winners including Centaine, Been There, Time Thief, Centennial Park, Allez Wonder, Nina Haraka, Tennessee Jack and his full sister, Tennessee Vain and her daughter, Tennessee Morn and her son, Malaguerra.

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nother daughter of Heroic in Golden Dust was mated with Rivoli to produce a stallion called Maytown. He had won the 1946 Queensland Guineas, and was a moderate stallion producing only one stakes winner in Chez Dior who won the CE McDougall Stakes in 1951. She was to produce three stakes winners, all by Melbourne Cup winner Dalray, in Dalento (Coongy Handicap), Ton (Qld Oaks) and Refulgent who won five stakes races including the Moreton Handicap and Qld Sires’ Produce. Chez Dior also produced another daughter by Katanga, a son of The Buzzard, in Dolled Up who gave us perhaps one of Queensland’s greatest ever stayers in Tails. Tails was to win 23 races including 16 stakes events in a stellar career. He raced in three successive Melbourne Cups with his best result a third in 1971. He twice won the AJC Metropolitan, Rosehill Cup and STC Cup as well as winning the Qld Derby, Doomben Cup, AJC Queen Elizabeth, VATC Coongy Handicap and VRC Hotham Handicap. At stud he was a disappointment at a time when stayers were losing their importance in the marketplace.

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nother daughter of Heroic in La Joconde produced La Patrice who was the dam of Matrice, a very good racehorse and stallion in South Australia that we have discussed at length recently, and most notable as the sire of the great Manikato. Cereza, another of Heroic’s daughters was the dam of the NZ bred Baroda who won the 1941 Canonbury Stakes. While he did little at stud, his daughter Baraganda produced Roya Suite by Rego who produced the champion stallion Century by Better Boy. Century won seven stakes races including the VRC Sires’ Produce, Newmarket and Lightning Stakes. At stud he was outstanding producing 44 stakes winners including such notable horses as Rubiton, Double Century, Euclase, Stage Hit and Centaine who all went on to become good stallions in their own rights.

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eroic slipped and fell in his paddock in December 1939 tragically breaking his near foreleg. By that stage, Heroic had been infertile for a few seasons in another intriguing twist to his remarkable life.

There is every likelihood that the enduring influence of Heroic will be playing its part in the Australian thoroughbred for a long time to come.

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HALL MARK

THE OTHER GREAT SONS

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all Mark is the champion son of Heroic who also went on to be inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame. In many ways, Hall Mark was the superior of the two on the track, although he did not match his sire in the breeding barn. That is not to say that he was a bad stallion, but his record was not a patch on his illustrious father.

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eroic’s owner, CB ‘Charlie’ Kellow bred, owned and raced Hall Mark who was also trained by Jack Holt. Unlike the intrigue around Heroic’s first owners, Kellow had an outstanding record of character despite being a heavy gambler. He was only too happy though to tell everyone when he thought that one of his horses could win, and equally up front as to when they had their issues. Kellow was a well-known sportsman in his younger days, winning the Austral Wheel Race which was considered akin to the Melbourne Cup of cycling at the time. He was at the forefront of the introduction of the automobile into Australia distributing Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Packard and Wolseley cars. He also owned Gundaline Station on the Murrumbidgee. Hall Mark was out of the mare, Herowinkie.

Her history is interesting in that Kellow won a large wager combining his colt Heroic in the Newmarket coupled with the good galloper, Periwinkie in the Australian Cup. Kellow purchased a filly from the sale that took place and the same time and combined the names of the two winners. To have produced a champion by a mating with Heroic is certainly an interesting coincidence. Hall Mark first started on the 8 October 1932 in a field of 20 in the 4 furlong Debutante Stakes at Caulfield. His debut was rather inglorious finishing eighth,

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Hall Mark after the Cup

and he did not win a race until his fifth start, also at Caulfield, in the Orrong Stakes the following March. A trip to Sydney for the Autumn riches followed and he won his three starts there in the Fairfield Handicap, the Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes to earn his place among the countries best 2yo’s.

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all Mark returned for the Spring in a 3yo handicap at Flemington over a mile. He was expected to win easily and was backed from 5/1 into 9/4 favourite but was upset by the Windbag colt, Brutus with the two having a good battle down the straight. Brutus had a weight advantage of some 27lbs or just over 12kg but no excuses were made for the champion. At his next start Hall Mark won the Underwood Stakes against the older horses beating Waltzing Lily who was to turn the tables only a week later in the Memsies.

Four weeks later, Hall Mark was in Sydney to face the starter in the AJC Derby, one of his main aims for the Spring. Ridden this time by Darby Munro, Hall Mark trounced his rivals winning impressively. Back in Melbourne for the Caulfield Guineas, he found the outsider Palphar who led all of the way a little too good. It was a different story in the VRC Derby with Hall Mark showing his class and again trouncing the field with Palphar running second. It was the off to the Melbourne Cup with Hall Mark well supported.

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he 3yo was only confirmed a starter in the Cup at 1pm. This time though it was concern for the horse’s well-being that saw Kellow and Holt consider not starting the colt. Hall Mark became lame with a hoof issue over the weekend and was treated almost hourly. He was noticeably lame on the morning of the race, and Holt suggested that the colt be scratched.

Kellow however was swayed by the support of the general public who had backed the horse into second favourite behind Rogilla. Four vets inspected the horse and determined that little damage would result from running him. Hall Mark came back to scale with blood flowing freely after the infection in his heel burst during the race. The colt had been given an ovation by the crowd when he appeared on the track, and they cheered a close finish

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when four horses went over the line in close order. There was no doubt that Hall Mark had a margin over his rivals that included the luckless Shadow King who was contesting his fifth Melbourne Cup, having twice been placed third and once second. Shadow King finished second behind Hall Mark with Topical and Gaine Carrington dead heating for third.

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fter a spell he returned in the Autumn to win the VRC St Leger in a dead-heat with Limarch before beating that horse in the King’s Plate. He ran a little disappointingly in his two runs in Sydney before having a break. The following Spring he resumed again in the Underwood beating Waltzing Lily before he ran second to that mare in the Memsie. He won the October Stakes and Caulfield Stakes beating Chatham before running second to that horse in the Cox Plate. Chatham had won the Cox Plate in 1932 and was allowed an easy lead in 1934. He got out by around five to six lengths and while Hall Mark tried valiantly to close the margin to 2.5 lengths at the end, Chatham was never in danger. Third was Rogilla who had missed the start badly and made a lot of ground to almost claim second.

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all Mark was then beaten by Peter Pan and then finished sixth to that great champion in the Melbourne Cup. Two days later he was surprisingly beaten in a field of three in the CB Fisher Plate by Nightly when the odds-on favourite. In the Autumn he was unplaced only once in ten starts, this being the CF Orr. That season he won the Williamstown Stakes,

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King’s Plate and Doncaster in Sydney to round out his 4yo campaign.

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s a 5yo, Hall Mark started off again in the Underwood Stakes, this time running second to Young Idea who had a good lead into the short straight at Williamstown and Hall Mark failing to haul him in by only a half-length. He bounced back to win the Memsie this time beating the very good horse Feldspar who had sensationally won the VRC Derby with the glamour colt, Peter Pan missing a place. Hall Mark was then third in the October Stakes behind Cardinal before stepping out in the Cox Plate. He ran second to Garrio who was one of the most unpopular winners of the race in its history. Garrio was a consistent if unspectacular galloper who was later to win the Williamstown Cup over 12 furlongs.

Garrio was a stablemate of Feldspar who ended up running third in the Cox Plate for Aspendale trainer Lon Robertson. He led into the straight but was joined by Hall Mark, the short-priced favourite at 2/1 in what was considered one of the strongest WFA fields of the season. The 3yo kicked away again to win comfortably by a length. The crowd made their displeasure known in no uncertain terms as the runners returned to the enclosure.

Garrio had been heavily backed in the Windsor Handicap the following Saturday but had performed poorly leading to him starting at 14/1 in the Cox Plate.

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third in the Melbourne Stakes was followed by a disappointing thirteenth behind Marabou in the Melbourne Cup. The following Saturday Hall Mark was to record his last win in the CB Fisher Plate. He had one more start in the Spring, a third to Burlesque in the Consolation Stakes. He returned in the Autumn in Sydney with a second to Queensland champion Lough Neagh in the Chipping Norton. He was unplaced in the Epsom and All

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Hall Mark Melbourne Cup finish

Aged Stakes before going to Adelaide for an unplaced swansong in the King’s Plate. Hall Mark retired to Woodland’s Stud in NSW that had recently been purchased by Charlie Kellow. He also transferred Heroic to his new stud but by now the older stallion was almost infertile.

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all Mark was a son of Herowinkie by Cyklon. Her history is interesting in that Kellow won a large wager on his colt Heroic in the Newmarket coupled with the good galloper, Periwinkie in the Australian Cup. She also produced a full brother to Hall Mark called Pure Gold who won the Moonee Valley Stakes and Alister Clarke. He also went to stud producing Amused (STC Rosehill Cup), Laroette (WA Champion Fillies Stakes) and Trunnion (VATC One Thousand Guineas). The family has remained a prolific source of winners over the years, but few have made an impact in the major races. Almost certainly the best runner from the family in recent times has been the precocious 2yo and winner of the Magic Millions, Black Opal and Todman Slipper Trial in 1992, Clan O’Sullivan.

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all Mark sadly did not repeat his sire’s success in the breeding barn. He produced only five stakes winners. He lived to the ripe old age of 22 and died at the Burnside property on the Herbert River near Ingham in Queensland. Frank Frazer had purchased Hall Mark from the Inglis Easter Sale in 1944 for 475 guineas. Two of his stakes-winners were to be

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Hall Mark beaten by Garrio in the Cox Plate

Hall Mark winning the VRC Derby

sired in Queensland in Bulbarra and Hall Master who both won the Tatts WJ Healy Stakes.

He had earlier sired Buzzmark who won the STC Railway Quality and Tramway Stakes, Haddon Hall winner of the AJC Kirkham Stakes and his best, Hall Stand who won the Hobartville Stakes, Rosehill Guineas and AJC Sires’ Produce. Hall Stand also was given his chance at stud but produced only one stakes winner in Blond Val who won the VATC Burwood and STC Festival Handicaps.

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all Mark’s descendants are few in the modern thoroughbred as they tended to produce horses that did not perform at the highest level. Few of his stakes winners will be all that well remembered although they do include the likes of 1986 Adelaide Guineas winner, Light Action and her Darwin Cup winning son, Ventilago, 2009 WA Australia Day Stakes winner, Dante’s Volonte, and the multiple NZ stakes winner, The Red Express. Perhaps the best of all has been The Trench Digger by Steel Pulse who was a popular Sydney horse in the early 1980’s winning the Phar Lap, Expressway, Royal Sovereign and Tatt’s Lightning Stakes’, as well as the AJC The Shorts and STC Civic Handicap. Perhaps the only to have succeeded at the top level in recent times is Turridu who won the Qld Guineas and Derby, and the George Main Stakes in 1995. Hall Mark appears in his pedigree through the female line of his sire Cenchire.

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HUA

THE OTHER GREAT SONS

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ua was among the best of Heroic’s sons and would have been considered a champion most likely in any other period. He was unlucky to face the great Ajax and another good colt in Avenger in his 3yo season in what was widely regarded as one of the best crops of that age.

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ua was a good 2yo beating Caesar in the VRC Sires’ Produce with Sydney horse Ajax unplaced. On to Sydney and Ajax proved his class by downing Caesar in record time.

Hua suffered interference in the run and was a tiring fifth. Ajax won the Champagne Stakes at their next start, with Hua finishing a good second underlying his bad luck in the Sires. Caesar this time was disappointing and finished out of the placings. By the time they came to their 3yo season, the good colts were challenged by Avenger who had finished an impressive second in the Hill Stakes against the older horses in the lead up to the Derby.

Ajax led and was stalked by Hua in a race with the two battling each other for the length of the straight finishing with only a half head between them. Avenger swept past the two in the last furlong but moved in and interfered badly with Hua which likely cost him second place.

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Hua winning the VRC Derby

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he three lined up again in the VRC Derby with Avenger the odds-on favourite. In an epic race, Hua proved his quality by narrowly beating Ajax and Avenger with the margin only a half-head after Ajax got an easy lead through the race. Hua started the equal favourite at 11/2 in the Melbourne Cup but finished well back in the race won by The Trump after he lost his chance when he ran off on the home turn.

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eturning for the Autumn as a 3yo, Hua was to win the William Reid over 6 furlongs, the CF Orr over 8 furlong, the St George over 9 furlong and the VRC St Leger over 14 furlong. Hua won the St Leger against only one other runner in Pantoon who was outclassed badly. In fact, bookmakers refused to take bets on the race. Owned by Mr EED Clarke and trained by the renowned James Scobie who was 77 at the time, Scobie rated Hua as equal to any 3yo that he had ever handled which was remarkable praise. Hua was to break down in training for his 4yo season and was retired. He was sold to Mr WJ Smith of St Aubins Stud at Scone for 2300 guineas in September 1938. It was announced that he would only cover six mares in his first season and there was keen competition for places. In the end he covered 18 mares that year.

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ua was to become perhaps the most successful of Heroic’s sons at stud. In all he sired 16 stakes winners that included San Domenico who was to win coincidentally 16 stakes races in his career. His victories included twice winning the Warwick Stakes, Canterbury

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Stakes and Challenge Stakes as well as the All Aged and George Main, and the Futurity and Oakleigh Plate in Melbourne.

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ua alone has ensured that Heroic’s influence will endure. His daughter Huala produced a son called Sunset Hue by Star Kingdom who was to produce Australia’s leading stakes winner at the time in Gunsynd who needs little introduction. He won 22 stakes races and is rated among our best ever milers. He was also to win a Cox Plate and was adored by large crowds across the country. While Gunsynd was also a disappointment at stud, his daughter Ammo Girl did produce the great mare, Emancipation who also won 16 stakes races including seven of these at 1600m.

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nother daughter of Hua in Bedlam was to produce a line that gave us a good stallion called Proud Knight who won the San Domenico Stakes in Sydney and produced stakes winners like Clay Hero, Justice Prevails and Pride Of Ingenue.

granddaughter of Hua in Miss Copely was mated with Smokey Eyes to produce a multiple Queensland Horse of the Year in Charlton Boy who was a local hero in the 1970’s. Charlton Boy had 57 starts for 20 wins, 12 placings, and a little over $150,000 in prize money. He won the Qld Sires’ Produce and Guineas, He also won the Doomben 10000 in 1974 having run second in that race in the two preceding years. Charlton Boy also ran second in the Stradbroke the same year.

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ua also played an important part in WA breeding through a stallion called Zvornik

by Todman who grand-damsire was Hua. Zvornik produced 18 stakes winners during the 1970’s and 1980’s and continues to play a role in the local bloodstock. Hua is certainly another of Heroic’s sons who have ensured that the champion will continue to be remembered well into the future.

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NUFFIELD

THE OTHER GREAT SONS

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uffield was another champion son of Heroic who deserves at least some acknowledgement. He started only sixteen times in his career, winning eight times with one second and one third. Nuffield was unplaced in his first start as a 2yo over 4 furlongs in the VATC Debutant Stakes but won his next four races culminating in the VRC Sires’ Produce. He was beaten in the Ascot Vale at his next start, and again was unplaced at his first start in Sydney.

He proved his quality though winning the AJC Sires’ Produce before finishing second in the Champagne Stakes.

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s a 3yo he had his first start in the AJC Derby winning comfortably. Nuffield returned to Melbourne to win the Caulfield Guineas and VRC Derby before failing in the 1938 Melbourne Cup behind Catalogue. He had a history of suspensory injuries and he was in doubt for the Cup. He had three months off after the race and returned to finish out of the placings in the Williamstown Cup. A recurrence of his leg problems saw him sit out his entire 4yo season, and he did not race again until August in 1940. He had only two runs before being retired.

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uffield was also owned by Charlie Kellow and trained Alister never recaptured his Spring form but did win two

by Jack Holt. He stood at Tarwyn Stud alongside Hall more races in his career and finished second in the VRC St Mark but he too proved only a moderate sire. He sired only Leger behind Midway who he had beaten in the VRC Derby, two stakes winners in Grafton Cup winner, Coalition, and and third in the AJC St Leger.

Field Boy who won the AJC Sires’ Produce and Villiers ew Flower was to have another daughter called Stakes. His daughter New Flower produced Alister by Bintali

by Burhan Ali who produced Edelweiss who Whirlaway to win the AJC and VRC Derbies and Cox Plate in 1950. He was also second in the Caulfield Guineas prior won the Adrian Knox and Princess Stakes in Sydney. In to the Cox Plate. He was to start the 3/1 favourite in the turn Edelweiss was to become the granddam of the good Melbourne Cup when ridden by Jack Purtell who had the Qld galloper El Laurena who won the Tattersalls Cup and choice of riding him or eventual winner, Comic Court. Exhibition Handicap in 1981.

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Nuffield winning the VRC Derby

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RAIN LOVER

TWO MELBOURNE CUP WINS

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ain Lover is best known for his wins in the 1968 and 1969 Melbourne Cups. A quick look at his stakes wins proves that he was much more than a Melbourne Cup winner, and his record rates among the top horses in terms of versatility and longevity. In spite of a pedigree that is strongly influenced by stamina factors, the South Australian based horse won his first race at his fifth start as a 2yo, over the distance of a mile (1600m) at Morphettville. He really did not show his true potential until three, when he placed in the SA St Leger, and then won the Adelaide Cup at the same age. It was this win that underlined his quality, and he reinforced this later that same calendar year with his first Melbourne Cup success. He had a promising lead up to the Cup that year, with placings in the Craiglee, Underwood, and Caulfield Stakes before winning the traditional lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup in the Mackinnon Stakes. No-one though was prepared for his dominance in the Cup, and his eight length demolition of his rivals in a record time of 3.19.1 matched the winning margin in the iconic race.

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he horse won his second Melbourne Cup the following year, in a race that will always be shrouded in controversy with the doping scandal of Bart Cumming’s entrant Big Philou who was scratched only 39 minutes before the race. Rain Lover had a long rivalry with Big Philou with the pair meeting three times in small fields in March of 1970. While Rain Lover won two of these, perhaps the most remembered was the Queen Elizabeth Stakes where these two great horses were the only starters. Going head to head, the two staged an amazing battle, with Big Philou winning by a nose in what many consider one of Australia’s greatest races.

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ain Lover though will always be linked with the Melbourne Cup, and it is only fitting as the personal story behind the horse sees that race as a recurrent theme. He was bred and raced by Mr Clifford Reid who was Chairman of the Adelaide Race Club. He was renowned in the industry for owning another great racehorse in Rainbird, winner of the 1945 Melbourne Cup and a mare whose family continues to this day to play an important role in the Australian thoroughbred.

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r Reid went to England in 1949 where he purchased a mare called Nineteenth Hole from the sales at Newmarket. The mare was lucky to reach Australia, sailing on “The TURF MONTHLY 47

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Planana” which struck a ferocious storm in the Bay of Biscay that led to at least one mare on the voyage being killed. Another was lucky to survive when her box was cartwheeled three times. The box of Nineteenth Hole was so badly damaged in the storm that the journey was delayed while a new box was made for her in Genoa, Italy. Nature could so easily have ended the story of Rain Lover a long time before he was born.

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ineteenth Hole arrived in Adelaide without any further drama. She was well related, being by the top stallion, Epigram by Son-In-Law. Her dam, Joyce W by Fairway had won the Yorkshire Oaks in 1938. She traces back to the renowned mare, Canterbury Pilgrim who was dam of champion sire Swynford. The recorded family traces back to one of the original daughters of the Darley Arabian. Canterbury Pilgrim can be found in the direct female line of a number of top stallions, including the legendary Australian chef Star Kingdom and Silly Season, the grandsire of Snippets.

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he direct line of Nineteenth Hole did not see another horse come close to the performances of Rain Lover, but it does continue to this day. Perhaps the best from this line in recent times has been the popular grey, Rain Gauge who stood at stud with little success.

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ain Lover also was to stand at stud, but his career did not meet with any great success producing only four stakes winners with his best being Princess Veronica who was the only one to win a stakes race in the Eastern States. The stallion can still be found in modern pedigrees, with the best performed of those carrying his bloodlines in recent years have been the full brothers, Mr Prudent and Zamination who both won Group 1 races in the Sydney Cup and Metropolitan respectively. More recently we have seen Affair To Remember by Toronado winning the Matriarch Stakes at Flemington in 2020 as another who traces to a daughter of Rain Lover.

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ain Lover was ridden in both of his Melbourne Cup wins by Hall Of Fame jockey, Jim Johnson who sadly passed away in February 2021 aged 92. He also rode Gatum Gatum to victory in the 1963 Cup.

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Rain Lover was a son of Latin Lover who was the first son of Ribot to stand at stud in Australia. Because those lines were not readily available locally, we see only a moderately inbred pedigree (6.64%). It features a sex-balanced cross of Hurry On, a champion sire who raced only at three and standing at 17 hands when mature. This is the only cross within the first five generations of the pedigree. We see the presence of full siblings Pharos and Fairway in the fifth and sixth generations, notably through the pedigree of Ribot and the tail female line of Nineteenth Hole. While we see Chaucer and St Simon also reinforced in the sixth generation, perhaps one of the real keys to Rain Lover’s success was the presence of such remarkable stallions as Hyperion, Teddy, Spearmint and Dark Ronald usually in key areas in the pedigree.

BIG PHILOU VS RAIN LOVER QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES 1970

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ith our story this month on what might have been had Heroic been able to start in the VRC Derby and Melbourne Cup, we are also reminded of what happened with Tulloch when he was scratched from the Cup as a 3yo. There is certainly a strong argument that both horses would have won the Cup and we can take a line through the horses that they beat. In the case of Heroic, he dominated Spearfelt over his career, and Spearfelt was to finish third in the Melbourne Cup that year. He was later to go on and win in 1926.

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n the case of Tulloch, again arch rival Prince Darius was to run second in the Melbourne Cup having not been able to get within eight lengths of the champ a few days earlier in the Derby. To further underline Tulloch’s dominance, he was to win the CB Fisher Plate on the Saturday after the Cup downing Sailor’s Guide.

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ur feature this month is a little different as we go to the year 19xx and one of the great scandals of the Australian turf. Ruling Melbourne Cup favourite Big Philou was a shock scratching at the course only 39 minutes before the race. He was found to be scouring badly and it was confirmed that he had been nobbled by being given a drug called Danthron. A stable hand was later convicted of the crime having been tracked down in his native NZ. Big Philou was quite possibly going to be a young Bart Cummings’ second winner of the race. As we know the race was won by Rain Lover who won the race for the second year in succession.

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ate was to play a part in the discussion as to which horse was the better stayer. The following Autumn, there were 20 nominations for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 12 furlongs at Flemington. Only two horses were to accept and these were Rain Lover and Big Philou. It was to be the first two horse race in metropolitan Melbourne since Rising Fast (5/2 on ) beat Electro (2/1) in the Carbine Stakes at Flemington on 26 March 1955. Before that, it had been 26 February 1938 when Hua beat Pantoon in the VRC St Leger. On that

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occasion there was no betting on the race, and Hua simply toyed with the outclassed Pantoon winning officially by two and a half lengths. The margins hardly reflect the dominance of Hua who went to the front and was never seriously challenged. The fact that the time for the race was over 15 seconds outside of the track record and was held on perfect surface suggests that it was something of a farce. Fast forward some 32 years and the notion that match races proved uncompetitive was put to rest.

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n 14 March 1970, Rain Lover was sent out the favourite at 6/4 on while Big Philou was at 5/4. Rain Lover was ridden by Pat Hyland while Roy Higgins was on board Big Philou. A week earlier the two had met in a field of five over 10 furlongs in the Queen’s Plate at Flemington with Rain Lover winning on that occasion.

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hat did it prove? At the end of the day very little. Only two weeks later the pair again faced off in the Autumn Stakes with Rain Lover turning the tables over his rival. The two met only a couple of weeks later in the Sydney Cup which was the Autumn goal for both horses all along. On a heavy track Rain Lover started the 7/4 favourite and was ridden this time by George Moore. He had a good run but failed to settle early in the race and pulled quite badly. Rain Lover was well placed at the 600m, but by that stage he had had enough and dropped out to finish near the tail. Big Philou was also disappointing although looking a chance until the half mile when he started to flounder and he too finished with the tail enders. The winner was Arctic Symbol ridden by Neville Voight and started at 9/1 and landed a number of very good bets. Rain Lover was later inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame so perhaps the argument as to which horse was best has been determined. But there was one day in November that remains an enigma.

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