Turf Monthly April 2024

turf monthly

April 2024

THIS MONTH

MR BRIGHTSIDE

MUTABLE

GURNER’S LANE FLYING FOX

Editor’s Letter By the time this magazine is out, we will have seen the running of the 2024 Golden Slipper. Next month of course we will be having a good look at the winner and maybe a couple of others to see if we can find one that will continue as a 3yo. With our piece last month on the ongoing results of the Slipper runners, it may make an interesting exercise. I am sure that you will have your own opinions on which runners, if any, you think will train on. Wrote about Storm Boy after his Magic Millions win, and to date have seen nothing to detract from our confidence in his future, at least in the short term until he goes to stud. Just how early that will be might be a question that the Golden Slipper result will play a big role in.

This month we look at Mr Brightside and it is always wise to stop and appreciate these top horses when they come along. As we see even in his family, there have been some great runners who are now almost forgotten memories in the world of the thoroughbred.

Unfortunately it seems as if the instant gratification that modern society seems to crave leaves little room for the memories of these. We also sadly note the passing of Billy Cramer, a great jockey who deserves to be rated right up there with some of the greats. He had remarkable success over a long period, and you don’t do that in racing without the talent to back it up.

CONTENTS 4

Mr Brightside

10

Mutable

12

Lindbergh

16

More Family Lines

20

Sovereign Red

23

Gurner’s Lane

28

Flying Fox

32

Bill Camer

34

C F Orr

Until next month

Ross Prowd

COVER PHOTO Mr Brightside winning the 2024 CF Orr Stakes

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au 2 Swan Street PARKSIDE Q 4825

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MR BRIGHTSIDE FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

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r Brightside is rightly claimed to be the best miler in Australia but his origins were far from the lofty heights that his racing career has taken him. He was sold as a yearling for $22000 but later passed in at the Ready To Run sales in NZ. He was later being sold for only $7750 on the online NZ sales platform Gavelhouse.

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he gelding had his first race start at Matamata in NZ over 1400m in a midweek maiden on 10 February 2021, finishing fifth behind a Complacent mare in Comme Bella Fille. The winner was to later make her way to Australia where she won two races in NSW. Mr Brightside’s debut was watched in Bangkok by punter and bloodstock agent Wayne Ormond who was impressed by the run. Immediately he was on the phone to connections asking if they would sell the horse. Although met with a steadfast refusal from original trainer, Ralph Manning, Ormond was persistent and eventually raised the offer to a point where Manning succumbed.

Things did not run smoothly for Ormond in trying to on-sell the gelding with plenty turning him down once they knew his breeding. Eventually, he convinced David Hayes in Hong Kong, to take a 40% stake in the horse on the proviso that it went to Lindsay Park.

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r Brightside was duly sent to the Hayes’ stable in Australia and had his first start locally on 1 July 2021 in a 1400m maiden at Bendigo. Just over two weeks later, the gelding was to chalk up his first win at Geelong with Craig Williams on board. He extended his winning streak to five with wins at Sandown, Moonee Valley, Flemington, and Ballarat in the Listed Ballarat Cup over 1600m. In his last start that campaign he was to run fourth in the Group 3 Cantala Stakes over the same distance at Flemington, beaten by only 0.3 lengths by Superstorm. A spell saw Mr Brightside return over 1400m, running third in the Listed The Elms at Flemington behind Corner Pocket. A fourth over a mile at Flemington in the Group 2 Blamey behind Inspirational Girl followed. He went to Sydney to run in the All-Star Mile, finishing fourth behind Zaaki but still picking up the biggest cheque of his career to that time, pocketing $210,000. His last start in the Autumn was the time-honoured Doncaster Handicap, and despite not being well fancied in the betting starting at $20, he was able to win by over half a length from I’m Thunderstruck.

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or his next campaign in the Spring, Mr Brightside returned by winning the Group 2 Lawrence Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield. He followed that with a win in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes over 1600m at Moonee Valley beating Inspirational Girl by 4.5 lengths. He the stepped up to the 1800m of the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Sandown, finishing fifth behind Alligator Blood. Next it was the 2000m of the Caulfield Stakes where he finished fourth behind the star colt, Anamoe.

Mr Brightside was then to run seventh behind that same horse in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, before going back in distance to the mile of the Cantala Stakes at Flemington where he finished third behind Alligator Blood and Tuvalu. The following Autumn saw Mr Brightside kick off his campaign by running fifth in the CF Orr behind Jacquinot beaten less than a length. Over the same track and distance, the gelding then ran second to Alligator Blood in the Futurity. He then went to Moonee Valley to win the All-Star Mile, picking up a cool $2.25 million for his efforts. Mr Brightside then returned to Sydney to join an elite group of horses to win two Doncasters, beating My Oberon narrowly. He joined horses like Sacred Falls, Sunline, Pharoah and Super Impose in winning the race twice.

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oming back as a 6yo in the Autumn of 2023, it seems that Mr Brightside continued to improve with age. He started his campaign by winning the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield over 1400m beating Pinstriped. Over the same course and distance, he then won the Group 1 Memsie Stakes beating the US bred Princess Grace and I Wish I Win. Mr Brightside then made it three in a row by winning the Makybe Diva over a mile at Flemington. He was to start at a short-priced favourite at $1.85 and he triumphed over his long time rival, Alligator Blood who was 1.5 lengths away in second. Again heading to Sydney, Mr Brightside finished second behind Fangirl in the Group 1 King Charles III when the odds on favourite. He then lined up back in Melbourne in the Cox Plate finishing an unlucky and narrow second to Romantic Warrior in the Cox Plate. Alligator Blood was in third and it was the only time that Mr Brightside has been placed past 1600m. Two weeks later he was back over the 1600m of the Cantala Stakes at Flemington, running second to Pride Of Jenni. Mr Brightside’s first run of 2024 was his impressive win in the CF Orr. Two weeks later he was dominant in winning the Group 1 Futurity Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield. The true test of how far he has come will be when he lines up past 1600m.

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r Brightside is a son of Bullbars, a little known stallion who originally stood in NZ. He is by Elusive Quality, and was the first foal out of Accessories by Singspiel, making him the older brother of four other stakes winners in Epaulette, Helmet, Pearls and Pericles. As the names might indicate, all were bred and raced by the Darley organisation, and Bullbars was purchased from that group to stand at Highview Stud. Before we get to his stud career, we should reflect on his own racing career having won the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington. His first start came as a 2yo in April 2010 winning a 2yo Handicap at Caulfield. Returning as a 3yo, he was placed in the Listed Mackenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley behind Anacheeva. He then finished fourth behind Hollowlea in the Listed Henry Bucks Stakes at Flemington before running third behind that horse in the Group 3 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley. He was sent for another spell after running eighth in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas behind Anacheeva. The Autumn saw him run second in the Listed Manfred Stakes at Sandown before winning the CS Hayes at Flemington over 1400m. He then finished a strong second behind Shamrocker in the Group 1 Australian Guineas before heading to Sydney where he disappointed by finishing ninth in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill. Another spell followed, but the Spring was to prove his final campaign, and he did not live up to expectations. His best run was a fourth in the Listed Sofitel Stakes at Flemington in his second run that season, but he was retired after only four starts in the Spring of 2011 with his last run a tenth in a 1400m handicap at Caulfield.

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t stud, Bullbars was never all that well supported. In his first five seasons he covered between 40 and 60 mares each season before the numbers reduced.

He entered stud in 2012 and his first stakes winner came in 2017 with Contessa Vanessa who was from the stallion’s second crop. She won the Group 2 ARC Eight Carat Classic, and the following year won the Listed Sunline Vase. His second stakes winner was Beauden who won the Listed Marton Cup in 2020. He was to win this race again in 2021 when he was also victorious in the Canterbury Gold Cup. By then it was too late for the stallion in NZ, because after the 2019 season, he was put in the Inglis Online sale in April 2020 where he was sold to Gavin Hurley for $22500. He was sent to Orange Court Stud outside of Adelaide owned by Mark Conlon where he has served largely home bred mares since 2020 despite the success of Mr Brightside.

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r Brightside was the second foal of the unraced Tavistock mare, Lilahjay. Her first foal, Will Power by Power raced in Hong Kong winning three races. Her other foals have not quite performed to that level with Tickford by He’s Remarkable winning three races in NZ and The Number One Son by Power winning once to date. Surprisingly the mare never returned to Bullbars despite the success of Mr Brightside. His second dam is Keepable by Keepers who was unplaced. She was to have four foals with only one winner, Cool Luke who was to win in Singapore.

His third dam though was the Sir Tristram mare, Delia’s Choice who had been a winner from 1575m to 2000m. She was to produce Foxood by Centaine who won the NZ Two Thousand Guineas and Captain Cook Stakes at Group 1 level and was second in the Levin Bayer Classic. What may be more important though is that Delia’s Choice was a half-sister to two wonderful racehorses in Gurner’s Lane and Sovereign Red. We will discuss each of those individually a little later.

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he family traces back to a mare called Lady Wayward II who was sent to NZ in the early 1900’s. The family is among the most revered in NZ and produced the wonderful galloper Prince Cortauld who we have discussed previously in Turf Monthly. However, this article on that galloper gives an interesting insight into the family.

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Daily Telegraph (Sydney, NSW : 1931 - 1954), Sunday 22 August 1954, page 36 Stud and Track

By John Schofield Wisely, trainer M. McCarten is not forcing the pace too much with the handy galloper, Prince Cortauld.

The horse is to be tried as a miler in the Epsom Handicap; later on, he might be given a chance over longer distances. Prince Cortauld is by Sun King from Capricious,

by Night Raid from Egotism, by Demosthenes from Conceit, by Boniform from the imported mare Lady Wayward II. It is a branch of the No. 7 family, the one founded by Jeu d'Esprit and one that has played a very big part indeed in Australian breeding. Moreover, it is one that is noted for the great stayers it has produced, and for the successful sires that have come along from time to time. The French stallions Mieuxce, Chateau Bouscat, and Rodosto, the great English stallion Flying Fox, and the stud success in Australia, Comedy King, all trace back to Jeu d'Esprit. New Zealand studmasters have used mares from the line with considerable success. They got one particularly good family through Eleusis. from which descended winners of the New Zealand Derby. Oaks, Wellington Cup, Auckland Cup. and New Zealand Cup. An A.J.C. Epsom winner, Synagogue, and the history - maker, Waterline, which beat Phar Lap at weight-for-age in the C. M. Lloyd Stakes, were among winners from this branch. -Then from Lady Wayward II, foaled 20 years after Eleusis, New Zealand breeders had almost equal success. Lady Wayward was by Ladas from Vane, a full sister to Flying Fox. Most of Lady Wayward's success came through Conceit. but through another daughter, Lady Sentinel (by Kilbroney) the Wellington Cup winner The Joker was bred. Conceit produced Oddity from which was bred the Wellington Cup winner Royal Artist. Egotism probably was Conceit's best daughter because she became dam of eight winners. Her winners included the New Zealand Oaks winner, Pride, and the smart performer. Autobiography, which raced in Sydney at one stage of his career. Egotism's daughters also included Hauteur, which bred five winners, including the New Zealand Cup winner, Calibrate. Strangely enough the same success did not attend ventures using male members of the family. Lady Wayward's half-sister, Vain Air, became dam of Weathervane (by Lemberg). which was imported to New Zealand and scarcely left a horse worth noting. To Hurry On, Vain Air produced Wireless, which to Foxlaw produced Fox-earth. Fox-earth stood at Lyndhurst Stud in Queensland, made famous for the stayers it has produced. But Fox-earth had little to do with Lyndhurst's success. His name crops up occasionally in a pedigree, but there is very little by which to remember him. Ruthless, son of Hyperion and Corea, headed the winning sires' list in New Zealand for the season just ended. In six seasons of racing his stock have won £150,000 for 220 wins and many minor placings. In his first season Ruthless was credited with the winners of only £3870. Admiral's Luck, which died three years ago, is second on the list, and three New Zealand- bred stallions take the next places in order. They are Golden Souvenir, Royal Chief, and Beau Vite. Golden Souvenir is by Lang Bian (imp.) and is half-brother to an outstanding galloper Kindergarten. Golden Souvenir, himself, won the New Zealand and the Wellington Cups. He is the sire of Golden Tan and Gold Scheme, the latter the winner of the last Sydney Cup. TURF MONTHLY 8

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t is interesting to note that Mr Brightside traces to a full sister to Flying Fox who was an impressive stallion and again, one that we will talk about a little more later. It is also the family that was to give us the great Comedy King who we also wrote about in an earlier edition. Lady Wayward II, like many of the great imported lines, met with almost immediate success with her son, Emperador by Charlemagne II winning five stakes races in NZ. Emperador came to Australia to race and was entered in races like the Epsom and Metropolitan. His best result locally was winning the Canterbury Middle Park Plate beating Nightwatch, while he also ran third in the Great Easter Handicap behind Ventura who had won both the AJC Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes. It was the 1930’s though that saw the family make its first big mark in Australia. This was through Mutable who won the 1937 Australian Cup.

Emperador TURF MONTHLY 9

MUTABLE

AN INTERNATIONAL CUP STAR Australasian (Melbourne, Vic.: 1864 - 1946), Saturday 20 March 1937, page 21 Stud Notes by Sterling MUTABLE WHEN Mutable won the Australian Cup brilliantly on Saturday, March 6, most people were surprised that a son of Drake would be able to stay out a soundly run two miles and a quarter. Drake has been better known as a sire of sprinters rather than stayers, but in this case Mutable has proved the exception. He really is a soundly bred horse, and no doubt he obtains his staying blood from his dam, Varium. Bred

by Mr. “S. A. Rawdon” at Toolamba, in the Goulburn Valley of Victoria, Mutable was sold as a yearling to W. J. Smart for 80 guineas. His dam, Varium, was bred in New Zealand, and raced by Mr. "Rawdon." For him she won, among other races, the Williamstown Two-year-old Handicap, ran second in the V.A.T.C. Mona Nursery, and third in the V.A.T.C. Debutante Stakes, Adelaide Guineas, V.R.C. Mimosa Stakes, S.A.J.C. South Australian Stakes, and Nursery Handicap. She was by Boniform, a great racehorse and sire of the dams of such stayers as Count Cavour, The Banker, and others.

Varium's dam, Lady Wayward II., was bred in England, and was imported to New Zealand, and in that country produced several good winners, among them being Emperador. He won the Middle Park Plate, the Manawatu Stakes (twice). the Palmerston North Stakes, the Jackson Stakes (twice), the C.J.C. Challenge Stakes, the Great Easter Stakes, the Egmont Cup, and the Egmont Stakes. Lady Wayward II was an attractively bred mare, as she was by the Derby winner Ladas from the Orme mare Vane. The last named was a sister to Flying Fox, who proved himself to be an outstanding racehorse, and sire of Ajax and The Welkin. Vane's dam, Vampire, was

by Galopin from Irony, by Rosebery from Sarcasm, half-sister to the Oaks winner Feu de Joie.

Sarcasm was by Breadalbane from Jeu d'Esprit, the ancestress of Artilleryman, Valicare, Wisdom, Comedy King, and Crowdennis. The Welkin's deeds we all know well, as he gave us Gloaming. who was rightly named "the wonder horse."

The Welkin proved himself a great sire of brood mares, as his daughters Kanooka, Myosotis, Trey, and others have given the Turf outstanding racehorses. Kanooka herself was a brilliant galloper, and became -the dam of Winooka, while Myosotis produced the great Chatham. Trey was the dam of the dual Derby and Melbourne Cup winner Trivalve. Trey was also a sister to Thrice (a successful racehorse j and sire), Three, Elkin, Isa, and Deneb, the granddam of Hall Mark. Arachne is well known as a particularly brilliant sprinter and winner of the Oakleigh Plate of 1935.

Glancing. through the lists of the winners of the important races one is struck by the success of The Welkin's progeny. These are some of his winners: V.A.T.C. Debutant

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Stakes: Versine, Thrice, Angelica. V.R.C. Sires' Produce Stakes: Thrice. Isa. V.R.C. Ascotvale Stakes: Thrice. Two, Deneb, Isa, Rosina. V.A.T.C. Oakleigh Plate: Poitrina, Cielo, Perspective. V.A.T.C. Caulfield Guineas: Thrice. V.R.C. Maribyrnong Plate: Trey. Victoria Derby: Furious. V.R.C. St. Leger: Furious. V.R.C. Oaks Stakes: Furious.

Hyades.; V.A.T.C. Futurity Stakes: Wedge. V.R.C. Newmarket Handicap: Red Dome. A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes: Thrice. Outlook, Furious. A.J.C. Champagne Stakes: Two, Thrice, Outlook, Furious, Rosina. AJ.C. Gimcrack Stakes: Starland, Kanooka, Furious. A.J.C. Derby: Gloaming. AJ.C. Epsom Handicap: Greenstead and Blackadder. What an imposing record!

But let us get back to Drake, the sire of Mutable. He was a racehorse of the highest class, winning the Ascot Coventry Stakes, the Doncaster Champagne Stakes, Newmarket Rous Memorial Stakes, Middle Park Plate, Newmarket July Cup (defeating Top Gallant, who afterwards came to Australia and won the V.A.T.C. Futurity Stakes), Newmarket Challenge Stakes (defeating Caravel), and the Ascot All-aged Stakes. Drake won £ 12,012 (firsts only) in stakes. He is by Sir Eager, a half-brother to Stardrift and Bay d'Or. Stardrift sired Aurie's Star and Madstar (winner, among other races, of the Australian Cup), while Bay d'Or was the sire of a good performer in Sailing Home. Sir Eager's dam. Dame d'Or, was a sister to Fairy Gold, the dam of Fair Play, a great stud success in America, and sire of Man o' War. a famous racehorse and sire. Drake is from Lady Burghley, the dam of good winners in Lord Burghley and Philosophy. She was by the St. Simon horse St. Serf from Perugia, a half-sister to Lady Chancellor, the dam of Challacombe, winner of the St. Leger, and granddam of Chantrey and Belsize. Perugia is also a half-sister to the dam of Cornimont, an excellent performer in Belgium. Perugia was by the Bend Or horse Orvieto. Besides Mutable, Drake is the sire of another good stayer in Ruach, a fine performer, who just failed to reach top class. It will be remembered that Peter Jackson, a half-brother to those good performers Gaine Carrington and Wotan, narrowly defeated Ruach in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup a few years ago.

Variance, a sister to Mutable, was a fair stayer a few years ago, while Chauchat and Last End are jumpers above the ordinary. Mutable has now won £ 4.222 in stakes, a wonderful return for an outlay of 80 guineas.

Mutable winning the Australian Cup

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f we jump forward to the 1950’s we see that the great Prince Cortauld also hails back to Lady Wayward II. Prince Cortauld won eighteen Principal races, including coincidentally, the 1955 CF Orr Stakes. In the 1954 Chelmsford Stakes, he beat a horse called Lindbergh who had been an outstanding 2yo winning the AJC Breeders Plate, Champagne Stakes and Sires Produce.

LINDBERGH STAR 2YO

Sun-Herald (Sydney, NSW: 1953 - 1954), Sunday 25 April 1954, page 24 LINDBERGH MADE BY TRAINER Messrs. H. W. and N. H, Bishop's b c LINDBERGH 2y, Transatlantic (imp) - Dare (H. Darwon).

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"FULL credit for Lindbergh's development to become the two-year-old of the season must go to Randwick trainer Harry Barron.

Lindbergh earned the title when he won the Champagne Stakes at Randwick last Wednesday, adding this race to his Sires' Produce Stakes win of the previous Saturday.

He became the third two-year-old in history to take the three semi-classic races conducted by the A.J.C., the first of them being the Breeders' Plate last October.

At that time, Darwon decided that Lindbergh would be set essentially for the Sires' Produce Stakes, no matter what happened in intervening races.

He resisted the suggestion of the owners, Messrs. H W. and N. H. Bishop, that he should run at the Royal meeting at Randwick, because this would have interfered with his training programme.

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Staying Power Suggested Naturally, the future of every two-year-old is something that only time can disclose, but Lindbergh's finishing effort in the Sires' Produce suggests definite staying potentialities.

Lindbergh is one of the very limited first season's produce of the imported sire Transatlantic, and, at 350 guineas, he proved a remarkably cheap buy.

With four wins and three seconds to his credit in his seven starts he has earned £11,520, a magnificent performance for a two-year-old.

On both sides of the family Lindbergh, who is a very handsome colt, is splendidly bred.

Transatlantic, winner of the Newmarket Exeter Stakes and second in the Newmarket Stakes (1 ¼ m) and Irish Two Thousand Guineas, was by Colombo, unbeaten as a two-year-old, from Water Rose.

Water Rose was half-sister to Water Trial, Edwards (imp.) and Roussel Water (imp.),

by Bosworth, a successful sire from Cattewater.

Through Cattewater, Transatlantic claims close relationship to Pennycomequick, winner of the Oaks, Court Martial, winner of the Two Thousand Guineas and to Pensive, Kentucky Derby winner.

Colombo was by the Phalaris horse Manna, from Lady Nairne, daughter of Chaucer.

Dare, dam of Lindbergh, was by Heroic, one of the most prolific and successful goal-getters ever to stand in Australia.

Her dam was Our Dell, a mare by Boniform, son of Multiform, from Lady Wayward li (imp.), daughter of Ladas.

Lindbergh thus comes of staying stock, because Our Dell was sister to Vanum, dam of Australian Cup winner Mutable.

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MORE FAMILY

CONTINUING LINES IN AUSTRALIA

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t seems though that the author of the article got the future for Lindbergh wrong. His Derby aspirations were essentially over when he resumed as a 3yo to be unplaced as an odds-on favourite in the Hobartville Stakes behind Pride of Egypt. Lindbergh continued on to the AJC Derby, in a campaign that saw him finish second behind Prince Cortauld in the Chelmsford, but could only finish a well-beaten seventh behind Prince Delville in the Derby. It is interesting that he continued racing, for in the modern era his 2yo campaigns would have seen him bundled off to stud as the next big 2yo sire. Lindbergh though was to race until a 7yo, winning the George Main Stakes over a mile that season. He had also The Shorts and Carrington Stakes over 1200m as a 3yo, and at six won the James Barnes Plate over 2000m. He was eventually to go to stud but had little success.

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ther lines of the family continue to ensure it is still in the spotlight. Arguably one of the best ever to come from the family was the 1990’s superstar, Veandercross, who won 14 stakes races but is often best remembered for his defeat in the 1992 Caulfield Cup behind Mannerism when jockey, Shane Dye, was roundly criticised on both sides of the Tasman for his ride. Veandercross was one of a small group of horses who went on that year to also run second in the Melbourne Cup behind Subzero. Veandercross came to Australia as a 3yo, winning the Canterbury Guineas defeating Naturalism before running second to that star in both the Rosehill and AJC Derby at his next two starts. The following Spring he came to Melbourne after winning the famed NZ Kelt Stakes to run second in the Caulfield Cup, win the MacKinnon Stakes and then finish runner up in the Melbourne Cup. The following Autumn saw Veandercross win the Australian Cup at Flemington, the Ranvet at

Veandercross QEII TURF MONTHLY 16

Rosehill again beating Naturalism, and the Queen Elizabeth at Randwick. He was retired as an 8yo with 15 wins from 40 starts and over $2.6 million in prizemoney.

Like Mr Birightside, Veandercross was also a cheap purchase, being part of a threein-one package, that Wanganui teacher Chris Turner and his father Basil paid only NZ$1400 for. Veandercross lived a long and contented life, passing away at 26 on Caulfield Cup Day 2014 only three weeks after the death of Basil Turner.

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anted (Fastnet Rock x Fragmentation) is another who traces to the same family. He was a quality 2yo winning the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes before

Wanted Newmarket

going on to run tenth in the Golden Slipper behind Phelan Ready. He had earlier won a 2yo handicap at Rosehill and was to win only one more race. He won the Group 1 Lighting at his second last race start beating Eagle Falls. Wanted was also to run second three more times at Group 1 level, in the Patinack Classic behind All Silent, the Lightning at Flemington behind Nicconi, and the William Reid at Moonee Valley behind Turffontein. All of these placings were less than a length behind the winner. Wanted went to stud in 2010 but despite some good books of mares, his career has been less than spectacular with only four stakes winners to date. His best was Leicester who won the 2018 SA Derby.

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he mid-90’s saw another good NZ gelding have success in Australia. His name was Linesman by Touching Wood who won eight of 43 starts and a little over $1.1 million in stakes. He raced mostly in Sydney, and the highlight of his career was winning the 1997 Sydney Cup where he beat Nothin’ Leica Dane and Ebony Grosve.

He had earlier won the 1996 AJC St Leger and 1997 Chairman’s Handicap. The

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following season saw him win the 1997 Summer Cup also at Randwick. Linesman’s trips outside of NSW makes for interesting reading. After winning a 3yo Handicap at Canterbury in the Autumn, he was taken to Launceston to have one run, winning an Open Handicap and earning just over $5,000 in the process. In contrast, his previous win, in which he was ridden by Shane Dye, he had earned over $13,000 in Sydney. It was a year later, and after he had won the St Leger and run third in the Chairman Stakes, that connections took Linesman to Adelaide in May 1996.

He ran tenth in the Adelaide Cup behind French Resort and fifth in the St Leger behind Seto Bridge. It wasn’t until Spring of 1997 that Linesman again ventured interstate, this time to Melbourne where he was second behind Court Of Honour in the Moonee Valley Cup before running fifth, beaten only 1.2 lengths behind Might And Power in the Melbourne Cup. Linesman was to have his final race start in NZ, in January 1998 when he ran sixth behind Jezabeel in the Auckland Cup. As an aside to his career, Seto Bridge who beat him in the SA St Leger could also be traced to the same female family. While the family does not look like it is going to be a real force in the sales ring, they certainly make their presence felt on the racetrack. No doubt there will be plenty more stars from the family in years to come. We also have not seen the end of Mr Brightside, and it will be exciting to see where he may end over the next couple of seasons, and whether he can get over ground like some of his predecessors.

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SOVEREIGN RED THE STAR OLDER BROTHER

The story of the two brothers started when Geoff Murphy trained a Sovereign Edition mare called Taiona who won a maiden at Yarra Glen but was placed at both Caulfield and Flemington. Although not highly rated by Murphy, the connection was enough that when her first yearling went to market at the Waikato sales in 1979, it sparked his interest. The colt by Patrick Hogan’s new stallion Sir Tristram was purchased by Murphy for a meagre $5000 and even then, he had trouble finding potential owners. In time, Tom Maltby, Geoff Tobias, and Barry Wicks purchased equal shares in the colt.

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Trainer Geoff Murphy was born in 1926 in Bacchus Marsh, just outside Melbourne.

With designs on a career as a jockey, Murphy became a stable hand for Ron Sweetenham, a former hurdle rider who trained out of Caulfield. It was not long though before Murphy became too tall and heavy for race riding but he continued at the stable until 1948 when he moved to a position of stable foreman for Basil Conaghan who trained on Station Street adjacent to Caulfield racecourse. With Conaghan, they had success with horses like The Orb who won the 1956 Futurity and Prince Lea who won the 1959 Caulfield Guineas. In 1960, Murphy took out his own licence and purchased a stable in consisting of seven boxes in Booran Road, Caulfield that had been owned by Conaghan. Murphy had considerable success almost from the outset and in 1961 lost the AJC Derby on protest with the famous Blue Era “leg-pull” incident. Despite his loss in the Derby, Blue Era was a top shelf galloper winning the Flemington Stakes and Ascot Vale Stakes as a 2yo, the Geelong Derby Trial and the VATC Stanley (now the Autumn Classic) at three, and later the AJC Villiers in Sydney. He was also second to New Statesman in the 1961 VRC Derby. He also had Welkin Prince who won the Australian Cup in both 1962 and 1963, and Hansie who won the 1962 VRC St Leger having earlier run second behind Blue Era in the Stanley Plate. Murphy was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2005 with a list of wins that included five Caulfield Guineas, two One Thousand Guineas, five C.F. Orr Stakes, three Rosehill Guineas, two Queensland Derbies, the Metropolitan, Doomben 10,000, Adelaide Cup, Blue Diamond Stakes, WATC Railway Stakes and Fruit ‘N Veg Stakes, and the Hobart Cup. Mention of Murphy cannot be made without acknowledging him as the trainer of the great filly Surround.

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Sovereign Red showed his potential at his first start, winning at Flemington as a 2yo and landing some good bets. From there he progressed quickly and, as a Spring 3yo he won the Caulfield Guineas and VRC Derby before heading to Perth to win the Western Mail Classic and WATC Australian Derby. In the Autumn, he struggled a little in Sydney before heading to Brisbane to add the Rothman’s 100,000 to his tally.

As a 4yo he was to win the Underwood, JJ Liston and Craiglee Stakes in Melbourne.

Media personality, Mike Willesee brought into the stallion which was to stand at his Transmedia Stud in the Hunter Valley. He was to retire from racing with 10 wins from 35 starts for $566,350 in prizemoney. At stud, he was a solid performer producing 11 stakes winners with his only Group 1 winner being the 1989 STC Orlando Wines Classic (now the Coolmore Classic) winner, Red Express. Red Express was to prove a valuable broodmare producing nine time Group winner, Dane Ripper. Another daughter in Ice Cream Sunday was to produce Flavour who won 12 stakes races including the Group 1 VRC Salinger Stakes. Ice Cream Sundae’s daughter, Parfait by Strategic was to produce was to produce the 2014 Qld Derby winner, Sonntag. Loyal Lyric was yet another of Sovereign Red’s daughters to excel in the breeding barn. She produced Anthems who won six stakes races including the Group 1 QTC Classic and Sires Produce. This line has also given us the likes of Sung, Yell, and Holler. If you were a NZ fan, it is likely that you would argue that the most important daughter of Sovereign Red was Stoneyfell Road who won three Listed races in Sydney but went on to produce Princess Coup, a NZ favourite who won nine stakes races including the NZ Oaks, two Kelt Capital Stakes as well as the Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield, a race incidentally won by Dane Ripper.

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GURNER’S LANE A MELBOURNE CUP WINNER

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urner's Lane is the older brother of Sovereign Red who was also sent to Geoff Murphy to train. He had been gelded after a paddock accident seemingly threatened his racing future. Named after a street in Melbourne, Gurner’s Lane was sold by Murphy to long time client, Andrew Ramsden, a future chairman of the VRC for a syndicate that he and his friend Tom Borthwick were organising along with forty members of the Australia Club in Melbourne. The syndicate paid $7500 for the gelding who was a windsucker still carrying the scar on his injured coronet.

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he gelding has his first race start as a 2yo on 17 February 1981 over 1000m at Moonee Calley, surprising a few by running second. After running third at Caulfield at his next start he finished a disappointing ninth at the same track before being sent to Brisbane for the Winter. After running fourth at two starts over 1200m, Gurner’s Lane broke through for his first win over 1400m at Eagle Farm on 27 June before heading for a well-deserved spell. It is interesting to note that Mick Dittman rode the gelding in his Brisbane win.

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e returned in the Spring with two moderate performances over 1200m before running ninth behind Binbinga in the Caulfield Guineas. A fifth in the Derby Trial at Geelong followed, and then he again went to the paddock after a disappointing twelfth in the VRC Derby behind Brewery Boy. Gurner’s Lane was quite long in the back, and Murphy engaged the services of a chiropractor who identified spinal issues and went to work to remedy them. So it was that Gurner’s Lane stepped out in February 1982 to run third over 1600m at Moonee Valley before impressively winning the 2000m Stanley Plate at Caulfield. Back in Sydney, Gurner’s Lane was well in the market in the Derby with Rose Of Kingston, the glamour filly owned by David Haines, a firm favourite. The filly was too good, but Gurner’s Lane settled at the tail of the field and finished stoutly to run into third place. He then won the AJC St Leger and then followed that up with a win in the VRC St Leger to round off his 3yo season.

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urner’s Lane resumed as a 4yo in the Spring to run seventh of ten in the Warwick Stakes over 1400m at Randwick at WFA. The winner was the champion Kingston Town who had missed the Autumn through injury. Next up it was an excellent second to Rare Form in the 1800m Chelmsford with Kingston Town a worrying fourth. Gurner’s Lane then beat Port Carling in the 2300m Newcastle Cup as the 2/1 favourite. Next it was a third in the Colin Stephens Handicap at Randwick over 2400m behind Nicholas John who may have been the unlucky horse of the Spring.

He was to win five consecutive races, but connections had failed to nominate him for any of the Spring features. His next win was in the 2600m Metropolitan with Gurner’s Lane in fourth. With the preliminaries completed, it was off to Melbourne for the main event in Melbourne. First up in Melbourne for the gelding was the Caulfield Cup, and when the day turned sour with persistent rain from the morning, Gurner’s Lane was to start at a generous 20/1 but led home his stablemate Gala Mascot by five lengths, which was the biggest winning margin in the race since Lady medallist in 1911. Murphy’s joy though was tempered somewhat later on when the VRC handicapper Jim Bowler penalised the gelding three kilograms for the Melbourne Cup. Next it was a start in the Cox Plate, but star Kingston Town proved far too good with Gurner’s Lane settling for seventh in the fourteen-horse field. He then ran a terrific Melbourne Cup trial in the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, finishing strongly to run second behind My Axeman, a quality galloper who was not entered for the Cup. Gurner’s Lane was a well-backed third favourite for the race behind Just

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A Dash and Kingston Town. We probably do not need to recall the race as so much has been written about it in the following years, and Malcolm Johnston who rode Kingston town must be sick of answering questions about his ride on the champion.

Nevertheless, Gurner’s Lane came through inside Kingston Town under a quality ride by champion jockey Mick Dittman to spoil the fairytale ending. Dittman was outed for his ride for a month having been found to have taken the running of Port Carling within the last 100m.

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urner’s Lane never quite reached the same heights for the rest of his career.

The following Autumn saw him run third in the Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield over 1600m behind Getting Closer. It was to be his only placing of the season although he did finish fourth in both the TS Carlyon Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield and in the Group 1 Sydney Cup behind Veloso. He missed the Spring of his 5yo season, and the following Autumn was placed only once in six starts, again in the St George Stakes finishing second behind Penny Edition. Gurner’s Lane returned for one run as a 6yo but was retired after finishing ninth of eleven runners in the Memsie Stakes in August 1984. In all he was to win seven of his 41 starts and earn $558,400 in prizemoney.

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e have mentioned that Gurner’s Lane and Sovereign Red are sons of the champion stallion, Sir Tristram. Their dam was Taoina by Sovereign Edition.

Sovereign Edition by Sovereign Path was himself a quality stallion who had produced two of Geoff Murphy’s best runners in champion mare, Surround and Abdul who won the 1970 Cox Plate. He was to become a top class broodmare sire, with the likes of another champion filly in Bounding Away, star 3yo colt and AJC Derby winner, Beau Zam and the Melbourne Cup winner, Empire Rose all being out of daughters of this fine stallion. As we have mentioned, Taoina traces to the mare, Lady Wayward II. Among the stakes winners in the direct female line are 1928 NZ Oaks winner, Pride, 1950 NZ Cup winner, Calibrate, 1968 Wanganui Cup winner, Avro, and 1984 WATC Winter’s Cup winner, Tristram’s Gold

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he pedigree of the brothers deserves at least some mention. Sir Tristram traces to the great mare, Selene who was also the dam of the immortal Hyperion. In the pedigree of Sir Tristram we see a son of Selene in Pharamond also appear. This is especially important when we see that Taiona also has a line of Selene who is the second dam of her damsire, Sabaen. Further to this we see that the sires of the offspring of Selene are also duplicated in the pedigree of the brothers. We see that three lines of Phalaris, the sire of All Moonshine in the damline of Sir Tristram, appear in the pedigree with the other two being through Fairway. The sire of All Moonshine was Bobsleigh who also appears again in the brothers’ pedigree through his presence as the damsire of Sovereign Path, the sire of Sovereign Edition. In the pedigree we also see duplications of Nearco through both major sire lines, as well as Blenheim.

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FLYING FOX

THE CHAMPION STALLION

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lying Fox was a full sister to Vane whose daughter, Lady Wayward II came to Australia to found a line that was to produce our feature horse this month in Mr Brightside. The stallion was raced and bred by Hugh Lupus Grosvenor, the first Duke of Westminster. Flying Fox was to be the last champion owned by the Duke as he died at the end of 1899, coinciding with the close of the racing career of the colt.

The Duke owned Eaton Stud and had remarkable success, with Flying Fox being the fourth in a great sire line developed at Eaton starting with the Derby winner, Bend Or, his son, the Triple Crown winner, Ormonde, dual Eclipse winner, Orme and ending with Flying Fox.

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lying Fox was a son of Vampire, an ill-tempered mare who had been bred by JG Hodgson and sold to Noel Fenwick for whom she won two races with a value of £875. Perhaps it was the fact that she was a daughter of the great champion stallion, Galopin, but there was something in her that the Duke liked and he paid 1000 guineas to add her to his broodmare band. The Duke may have had cause to regret his decision according to a piece in the Bloodstock Breeders Review as detailed in www.tbheritage.com:

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"The first time he [the Duke] went to look at her in her box after she had reached Eaton, she backed towards him and tried to kick him. This caused his Grace to take a great dislike to her, and he seriously contemplated the idea of at once getting rid of her. Fortunately, however, he finally decided to let her remain. The first season we had her she was put to Gonsalvo. When carrying her foal we sent her to the Kremlin Stud, Newmarket, to be covered by Prince Soltykoff 's Sheen. The foal was born in due course, but Vampire, in a fit of temper, killed it and injured the man who was looking after her. After that we never sent her away again when she was in foal or had a foal at foot."

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lthough the Duke did not fancy the thought of covering the mare with Orme as the resultant pedigree saw three lines of Galopin, he was nonetheless forced into the mating due to the unwillingness to transport the mare. The result of course was Flying Fox who was an attractive bay colt with a broad white blaze. He quickly became the Duke’s favourite especially after his long time trainer, John Porter immediately remarked up on seeing the colt, “Here is the winner of the Derby.”

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lying Fox commenced his career by winning the New Stakes at Ascot. He then won the Stockbridge Foal Stakes before being beaten a head in the Imperial Produce Stakes by St Gris who was a half-brother to St Frusquin. At his next run, he was second behind Caiman, a US bred colt, but his final race at two saw him win the Criterion Stakes. Flying Fox was undefeated at three, and in his return he easily beat Caiman in the Middle Park Stakes. He was to win a tragic Derby at his next start, when Holocauste who looked liked taking the race from the colt, broke down and had to be destroyed, leaving Flying Fox to claim victory. Flying Fox then won the Prince Of Wales Stakes and Eclipse Stakes before finishing off his brief but exciting career on the track taking the Triple Crown by winning the St Leger.

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ithin a couple of months, the Duke had passed away aged 75, and the majority of his horses were sold. Eaton Stud , taken over by the Duke’s grandson, retained the 23yo Bend Or as well as Orme and Vampire who are buried at Eaton. Flying Fox was sold to the French breeder, Edmund Blanc, who paid a record 37,500 guineas for the stallion. Blanc had intended to race the colt as a 4yo, but Porter refused to train him. Whether it was out of reverence for the old Duke, or whether Flying Fox had started to show some signs of his dam’s sour disposition, we will never know. But Blanc instead stood the stallion at his Haras de Jardy, in France with good success. Flying Fox made an immediate impact with his first crop that produced Ajax who was to win the French Derby and go on to become a very influential stallion. He was to produce a host of good horses, but history will tell us that his most enduring legacy comes through his son Teddy who was a quality stallion in France who was to eventually be sent to the USA in his later years. A French bred son of Teddy in Bull Dog was also to go to the USA where he continues an important legacy. His son Bull Lea was the sire of the Triple Crown winner, Citation. In Australian terms, it was The Welkin by Flying Fox who had the most immediate impact. Sent to stud here, The Welkin was to win the Australian Sires Title on three occasions and was the sire of horses like champion Gloaming as well as VRC Oaks and Derby winner, Furious and, out of the mare, Teppo, and amazing seven stakes winning siblings that include Thrice and Isa. Flying Fox appears in the female line of that great stallion Nearco who was the grandsire of the immortal Northern Dancer, thereby ensuring his presence in most thoroughbred pedigrees in the modern era.

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BILL CAMER

THE PASSING OF A TOP JOCKEY

We were saddened to hear of the passing of Billy Camer, a top jockey of the 50’s and 60’s. While he was a master in the saddle, he never really got the recognition he deserved as he rode in what can only be described as a true golden era of Australian jockeys. Camer held his own against the likes of George Moore, Neville Sellwood, Athol Mulley and Ray Selkrig to name a few. Camer was considered one of the lightest jockeys ever to ride, starting off at 4 stone 2 pounds or roughly 26.2kg. He was the stable jockey for Jack Green in Sydney and rode his champion 2yo Kingster who won the AJC Breeders Plate and Sires Produce at that age. He was a son of Star Kingdom and was to go on to win a host of good races including the 1955 Cox Plate as a 3yo, and later the 1957 Stradbroke. Camer was also to win the Stradbroke in 1954 on perhaps his favourite horse in Karendi as well as the 2yo Wiggle in 1958 and Divide And Rule in 1970. His last group 1 win was on the outsider Authentic Heir in the 1975 Epsom Handicap. Camer importantly was an instrumental figure in founding the Australian Jockeys Association in the 1960s. He is survived by his wife Barbara, son Bradley and daughter Tina.

Kingster - start of the Breeders Plate

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Sunday Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1926 - 1954), Sunday 13 June 1954, page 1 'MIDGET' IS NOW TOP RIDER

BY NEV DAVIDSON Bill Camer was almost too tiny to ride in races five years ago. But yesterday he rode Karendi brilliantly to win the Stradbroke. Camer came to Brisbane in 1948 as an apprentice jockey weighing 4.2, and 4ft 1in tall. He is now 22, weighs 7.2, and is 5ft 1in tall.

He has a strong big pair of hands, and has a knack of jumping horses quickly. He jumped Karendi out yesterday and always had the race won. 'It was as good as won three weeks ago,' he said. Camer's father, Tom Camer, served in the 1914-18 Light Horse, and was a capable horseman. Little Billy was evidently cut out for a jockey. Trainer Johnny Hughes brought him to Brisbane after he won 10 races in Townsville and Toowoomba. Camer went to Sydney with Hughes in 1949, and was apprenticed there to Tom Murray. When Murray died, Camer went over to his son, Pat Murray, who had just taken in a good-looking colt called Karendi. Camer was appointed to strap Karendi. The two have been nearly inseparable. Camer has never been out of a place while riding Karendi. The pair transferred together when Karendi went over to Jack Green's stable and Camer quickly became No. 1 stable rider.

Camer's mount in tomorrow's Brisbane Cup is Lord Saunders, also trained by Jack Green. 'I'm hoping His Lordship will land the big double for me.' said Billy.

A crowd of 36,000 saw Karendi become the first favourite to win the Stradbroke in 19 years. Punters bet £17,231 or the tote on the Stradbroke — a tote record for a single race at Eagle Farm. The day's betting on the tote yielded £55,808 for seven races. Record amount is £82,714 (for nine races) on 1953 Brisbane Cup day.

Bill Camer winning the Werribee Cup on Casa TURF MONTHLY 33

CF ORR

THE MAN BEHIND THE RACE Williamstown Advertiser (Vic. : 1875 - 1954), Saturday 17 February 1917, page 2

The Racing Club MR C. F. ORR RETIRES FROM THE SECRETARYSHIP On Wednesday the committee of the Williamstown Racing Club accepted with regret the resignation of Mr C. F. Orr as secretary of the club. Mr Orr has been secretary since July 26, 1911. Prior to that he was 40 years a member of the committee and, for 18 of those years he was chairman. His unfailing courtesy and tact have made him a very popular official. His association with the club is to continue, as the committee elected him to fill the vacancy on the committee caused by the death of Dr Fetherstonhaugh. The resignation dates from January31, but Mr Orr has undertaken to carry on the duties in an honorary capacity until his successor has been appointed. The club is now advertising for applications for the position, which carries a salary of £5oo per annum.

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Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954), Wednesday 18 November 1931, page 5

Death of Mr C. F. Orr One of the oldest members of the Williamstown Racing Club, Mr C. F. Orr, died at his Toorak home on Thursday last at the age of 85. He became a member of the Williamstown club in 1871, was elected to the Committee a year later, and succeeded the late Mr H. P. Sutton as secretary.

Williamstown Chronicle (Vic. : 1856 - 1954), Saturday 14 November 1931, page 3 Death of Mr. C. F. Orr. FOUNDER OF ORR'S DOCK. One of the pioneers of the shipwright and docking industry in Victoria, Mr. Charles F. Orr, died on Thursday at his home in Toorak Road, Toorak, at the age of 85 years.

He was chairman of directors of Duke and Orr's Amalgamated Dry Dock Ltd., and up to three months ago had taken an active part in the direction of the firm. After spending his boyhood in Hawthorn district, Mr. Orr settled in Williamstown, and became associated with Wright's slip works there. It was still in the time of sailing ships, and business in the docking of small sailing craft was brisk. He went into partnership with Mr. Wright, and the business, in the name of Wright and Orr, was extended to Melbourne. Besides directing the firm, Mr. Orr for a considerable time represented the deep-sea pilots on the Marine Board. In racing circles Mr. Orr was highly esteemed. He became a member of Williamstown Racing Club in 1871, and the following year was elected a member of the club's committee. During the troublous times the club went through some years later, Mr. Orr, in conjunction with the secretary, the late Mr. H. P. Sutton, rendered valuable service, and there are those who affirm that but for his whole-hearted assistance then there would be no Williamstown Racing Club to-day. He was chairman for years, and on the death of Mr. H. P. Sutton accepted the post of secretary, which he held until the late Mr. H. L. Hosier was appointed to the post, when Mr. Orr became treasurer. The late Mr. Orr was a member of both the V.R.C. and V.A.T.C., and until the last year or so derived keen enjoyment from his association with the turf. The late Mr. Orr has left a son (Mr. Rupert Orr), a married daughter and a single daughter. His wife died some years ago, and his elder son, Mr. Frank Orr, died recently.

Comic Court winning the 1951 CF Orr Stakes

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