Turf Monthly January 2021

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TURF

January 2021

THIS MONTH

SNIPPETS - A MAGIC MILLIONS DYNASTY GHUZNEE AND HER INFLUENCE TRANQUIL STAR ANOTHER GREAT RACE IN HISTORY

Editor’s Letter The New Year brings a lot of hope to many as we say a rather hasty farewell to 2020. For me, the Summer and the New Year always means that it is Magic Millions time. The festival has become something that transcends the thoroughbred, but it could look a little different this year. A lot of restrictions are coming down that may see the festival bypass much of the pain. There is no doubt that Magic Millions has been a phenomenal success but, and there is always a but, its influence on the breed might not be quite what was to be expected. The notion of a race restricted to graduates of one sale was a novel idea for the original Golden Nugget concept, but it has taken hold over the years. The idea of one race though has expanded and it is no longer critical to have a yearling that will develop into an early 2yo to take advantage of the Magic Millions race day and prizemoney. It is interesting that Magic Millions does not supply all of the prizemoney for the day, despite restricting the meeting to graduates. Most sales companies quickly followed suit with a race specific to graduates, although none of course have taken the imagination like Magic Millions. Maybe it is the combination of marketing, and summer on the Gold Coast that creates an atmosphere that appeals to so many more than just the racing industry. Not long after the Magic Millions established itself as one of the major events on the racing calendar, we saw the rise of breeding incentive schemes like BOBS, VOBIS and QTIS. All of these events helped move the Australian thoroughbred in a different direction.

Clearly, there was a need in the industry to boost prizemoney and these models have now become entrenched. I cannot help but wonder if the time has come for the industry as a whole to look at better ways of doing things. It seems that the industry has a way of evolving with the driving forces being relatively small interest groups. We have always seen self interest groups pushing their own barrows when it comes to what they see as best for the industry, and the current position reflects this in my opinion. This month we are looking at Snippets and his family. I find it distressing that a different line of his family arrived here with incredible success but is no longer apparently viable. Many of the wonderful old colonial families in fact are struggling to say the least and the idea of the homebred has declined along with these great families. I cannot help but think that Australians always look at our own product as inferior to the rest of the world, and this is not always the case, especially in the thoroughbred. The world will always change, but just maybe we should look at whether these changes are always beneficial. Racing, as we have seen during COVID, has to make sure that it is still relevant to a modern world.

Until next month

CONTENTS 4

Snippets - the magic millions legend

10

Ghuznee - where it all started

12

Tantieme - the french connection

18

Mahogany - mr versatility

20 Our Native and Zoffany -

the us mainstay

22

Ticino -

germany’s war hero

25

Pharis -

europe at his feet

28

Blue Peter -

31

Masthead -

blue peter in australia

34

Manikato -

the man

36

Blakeney -

38

Lady Vivian -

40

The Hon. James White

43

Tranquil Star -

50

Great Races - Lonhro

britannia rules

the epsom derby winner

the ghuznee family in australia

the first star for the family

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

SNIPPETS

THE MAGIC MILLIONS LEGEND

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nippets was by Lunchtime out of the Grand Chaudiere mare, Easy Date. He was the winner of the inaugural Magic Millions in 1987, and it was his successful career on both the track and in the breeding barn that legitimised the concept of the Magic Millions. Had he been a one race wonder, it would have been so much harder for the Magic Millions to gain credibility. Many were predicting that it was going to be another sale that would disappear almost as quickly as it arrived. After all, the height of Summer on the Gold Coast hardly seemed the ideal setting for thoroughbreds.

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he colt had his first start in the Listed Meynink Stakes, which was then the first main 2yo race in Queensland. On 18 October 1986 he won that race running the 1000m at Eagle Farm in a time of 58.5. After a let up, his next start was at the Gold Coast on 27 December, this time winning over 1110m. Snippets had his third start, and many would argue his most important, in the Magic Millions beating Prince Anton over the 1200m earning him in excess of $500,000 in prizemoney. He was originally trained by Sally Rogers but was transferred to Max Lees in Newcastle as he became hot property. Originally a $22,000 purchase, major owners like Mike Willesee and his Transmedia Stud later bought into the colt. Another let up saw him head to NSW where he was surprisingly beaten in the now defunct Penfolds Classic at Newcastle finishing two lengths behind what was to prove an exceptional colt in the NZ bred Marauding. Snippets then returned to the winner’s circle two weeks later in the Brambles Classic, this time beating another NZ colt in Beau

Zam who was later to prove among the best 3yo’s of his season. It was then on to the Golden Slipper where Snippets had his first unplaced run, finishing fifth to Marauding. He then stepped out to prove his quality by winning the Group 1 Sires Produce over 1400m.

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nippets enjoyed a lengthy break, returning for his first run as a 3yo on New Year’s Day 1988 to win the Listed Carrington Stakes at Randwick. He then won the Challenge Stakes before finishing second in the Lightning Handicap at Flemington beaten by Special.

Again, Snippets bounced back by winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield over 1100m at his next start, before finishing unplaced at Flemington in the Newmarket also behind Special. He returned to Sydney to win the G1 Galaxy at Randwick and then it was on to Brisbane for a tilt at the Rothmans, one of the short-lived reincarnations of the Stradbroke.

He drew barrier 19 and finished sixth to the top galloper Campaign King in what was to be the colt’s last run before going to stud. He was named Australia’s joint Champion 2yo of 1987 and the 1988 Champion 3yo sprinter.

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t stud, Snippets proved a top-quality stallion. He originally stood at Transmedia but moved to Arrowfield in 1993. Snippets produced 55 stakes winners in total, of which nine were G1 winners. Rather surprisingly, Spartacus won the most G1’s for his sire by winning the 1997 Manikato Stakes and Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley and the 1997 Oakleigh Plate. His other G1 winners were Akhenaton (2000 BTC Doomben Cup), Casual Pass (2003 VRC Mackinnon Stakes, 2006 MRC Yalumba Stakes), Hasna (2003 AJC Champagne Stakes and Sires' Produce Stakes), Pins (2000 VRC Australian Guineas), Sky Cuddle (2004 VRC Emirates Stakes), Snowland (2003 AJC The Galaxy), Sublimate (1993 AJC The Galaxy) and Suntain (1996 BTC Doomben 10 000).

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he stallion had six sons go to stud with varying success. Akhenaton stood in WA where he produced only one stakes winner in Akhedasset who won the WATC Prince Of Wales Stakes. Picknicker was a regular source of winners in Victoria but only left three stakes winners with his best being Intelligent Star who was to win the MRC Rubiton Stakes.

Snippetson was another prolific sire of winners siring almost 500 individual winners with 14 of these successful at stakes level including G2 winners Fast Clip and My Poppette. His full brother Snowland had limited success but produced G1 winner, Absolut Glam (Tatt's QLD Winter Stakes) and G2 winner Wild And Proud (ATC Hobartville Stakes). Spartacus was also a regular source of winners who produced stakes winners Miss Terrain and Mondano.

But as we so often see, it was one son that ensured the success of the Snippets line and that was Pins who was to stand at stud in NZ and become one of that country’s leading stallions.

He was a grandson of Humour, a mare who produced four stakes winners in Joy Love

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(Expressway Stakes and NJC Northern Classic), Marceau (Rawson Stakes twice, TS Carlyon Cup, AJC Fernhill Handicap, Doomben Cup, WATC Caris Diamond Quality Stakes, Pinjarra Guineas, STC Hill Stakes), Runyon (WATC Tattersall's Cup, December Handicap, Perth Cup, Imperial Stakes) and Zasu (BATC Labour Day Cup, SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes, Queensland Oaks, AJC Champagne Stakes). Pins produced over 80 stakes winners including horses like Cox Plate winner, El Segundo, Madison County, Legs, Econsul and even Japanese and Hong Kong stakes winner, Aerovelocity. His daughters have produced almost 500 winners to date including G1 winners like Probabeel and Savvy Coup.

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nippets was a son of the imported Lunchtime by Silly Season. The US bred Silly Season, a son of Tom Fool, raced in the UK winning seven stakes races from 6f to 10f including the Dewhurst, Champion, Coventry and St James Palace Stakes. Lunchtime had won three races as a two-year-old in the UK including the Dewhurst Stakes but failed to win in three starts the following season. He was sold for stud duties to Widden Stud in the Hunter Valley where he produced over 31 stakes winners including Lauriat, Breakfast Creek, Integra, Chipolata, Street Café and Pre Catalan.

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he dam of Snippets was Easy Date by Grand Chaudiere out of Scampering by Misty Day. Grand Chaudiere was a Canadian bred stallion who stood at Lyndhurst Stud near Warwick in Qld, alongside another of their great stallions in Smokey Eyes. The stallion produced numerous winners but only eight stakes winners. What was remarkable is that two of them were the full brothers Pacific Prince (BATC Doomben Stakes) and Pacific Ruler (STC George Ryder Stakes and Todman Slipper Trial) whose dam was Eye Liner by Smokey Eyes who won the Champagne Stakes in Sydney but was one of Qld’s most popular fillies. She is honoured by a black type race at Ipswich named after her. Easy Date was a remarkable mare producing sixteen named foals. These included four stakes-winners with Snippets no doubt the standout. Her other stakes-winners were Asawir by Last Tycoon (MVRC William Crockett Stakes), Quick Score by Pag-Asa (AJC Apollo Stakes and NJC Cameron Handicap) and True Blonde by Naturalism (VRC Vichealth 1000).

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wo other sons of Easy Date ended up at stud in Quick Score and Chatline by Royal Academy, although both had limited success. Another son Swigger by Palace Music ended up being sold to China in 1999, but he is unlikely to have impacted any breeding at that point.

Quick Score had moderate success at stud, producing only one stakes winner in Trousers who won the Listed Alcohol Go Easy Stakes in Adelaide. Daughters of Easy Date though have continued the family’s remarkable success.

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he first of these to have a major impact was Asawir who produced Ghareeb by At Talaq to win the Listed Hill Smith Stakes in Adelaide. She was also to become the granddam of Rewaaya by Singspiel who won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke and G3 Let’s Elope in Melbourne, Thimaar by Zabeel who won the G2 Director’s Cup in Macau and Ertijaal by Hard Spun who

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Akhenaton

Snippets under guard.before Magic Millions

Spartacus

won the G1 South African Cape Derby Stakes.

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rue Blonde also has been an important influence producing Regrowth by Unbridled's Song who won the VRC Waltzing Lily Handicap and SAJC Queen Adelaide Stakes as well as being placed in the G2 SA Breeders' Stakes. In turn, Regrowth has gone on to produce Colour by More Than Ready, also a winner of the SA Breeders' Stakes. At stud Colour has produced the stakes placed Chamarel by Exceed and Excel and stakes placed Dathanna by Dubawi who raced in the UK and France. Another of True Blonde’s daughters was Munhro who became the dam of Derryn by Hinchinbrook who won the G2 ATC Arrowfield 3YO Sprint and was placed in the Doomben Ten Thousand. True Blonde also produced another three stakes placed horses in Sharp Aunty by Flying Spur, Golden Mane

by More Than Ready and Kalash by Exceed and Excel. Another daughter of the mare was Prove It by Dehere who became the dam of Forensics by Flying Spur, Australia’s Champion 2YO filly in 2006-07 and winner of races like the G1 Golden Slipper, VRC Myer Classic, and STC Queen of the Turf Stakes.

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he most influential daughter of Easy Date was the stakes placed Singles Bar by Rory's Jester. She produced another important stallion in Not A Single Doubt who, on the track, had won four stakes races including the Listed AJC Canonbury and MRC Zeditave Stakes, and been runner up in the 2004 Magic Millions behind Dance Hero when a shortpriced favourite. Arguably Not A Single Doubt has had more stud success than Snippets by producing 70 stakes winners including multiple G1 winners, Extreme Choice, Kenedna, Miracles Of Life, Scales Of Justice and Shout The Bar, as well as 2020 Everest winner, Classique Legend, 2019 Golden Slipper winner, Farnan and 2011 Magic Millions winner, Karuta Queen.

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ingles Bar also produced the stakes placed Hanky Panky by Anabaa who in turn produced Listed winner Come Hither by Redoute's Choice who herself has given us Cohesion

by Lonhro to win the Blue Diamond. Another daughter of Singles Bar was Natural is My Name by Naturalism who is the grandam of Lady Jivago by Beneteau who won the Inglis 2YO Classic.

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espite the success of Snippets as a sire, it is through his daughters that his legacy is ensured. The list of successful horses is too long to go through but there are two that deserve special mention. Scandinavia by Snippets out of Song Of Norway not only gave us four stakes winners in Arctic Flight, Magnus, Scandiva and Wilander, but also Helsinge

by Desert Sun was the dam of arguably our greatest ever racehorse in the unbeaten Black Caviar. The other daughter who will ensure that Snippets will forever be revered in Australian breeding was Snippets’ Lass who won the Listed 1999 AJC Sapphire Stakes and VATC Cranbourne Daihatsu Stakes. She was to produce six named foals, of which three were stakes winners. These were Hinchinbrook, Viennese and her best son who was to win seven of his 15 starts. The colt, named Snitzel won his first three starts in the AJC Breeders’ TURF MONTHLY 7

Plate, the Strawberry Hill Slipper at Wyong and the Tommy Smith Slipper in Brisbane.

He then ran third to Bradbury’s Luck in the 2005 Magic Millions. Snitzel returned from a freshen up to win the Skyline Stakes beating Stratum before finishing twelfth to that colt in the Golden Slipper a few weeks later. A spell ensued and he returned in the Spring to run third to Media and Written Tycoon in the San Domenico before winning the G3 Up And Coming beating Stratum, and then fourth in the G1 Manikato at Moonee Valley behind Spark Of Life. Snitzel had another break and returned in the New Year to run seventh in the Lightning at Flemington behind Takeover Target before winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield at his next run. Here he beat Virage De Fortune and Takeover Target on a heavy 10 leading all the way. A second again to Takeover Target in the Newmarket saw the colt return to NSW to win the G2 Challenge Stakes beating Spark Of Life and Media. He rounded off his campaign with a third to Red Oog in the TJ Smith and a fourth to Paratroopers in the All Aged Stakes before retiring to stud at Arrowfield. The stallion has proven to be among the best of his generation winning the Champion Sires Title for the last four seasons, now topping 100 individual stakes winners. Snitzel has also made a big impact on the Magic Millions, and not just through the price of his yearlings going through the sale. This success has also translated to the track and last year he became only the fourth stallion to sire two Magic Millions winners. The others were Zoffany, General Nediym and More Than Ready.

Despite Snippets missing out on siring even one winner of the race, it would be fitting if he played a role in history should Snitzel become the first sire to leave three winners.

SNITZEL at Arrowfield photo by Bronwen Healy

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Snippets has a relatively moderately inbred pedigree at 7.81%. This is interesting given that we know that his sire, Lunchtime, was imported and the female family is very much a US one. The closest duplication is that of Nasrullah who we see appearing three times in the fifth and sixth generations interestingly through a daughter in the pedigree of Lunchtime. We also see Nasrullah’s sire, Nearco five times in the fifth and sixth generations and these all appear through sons, perhaps making the daughter of Nasrullah even more important. The other duplication we see is that of Hyperion who played such an important role in Australian breeding commonly through his grandson, Star Kingdom.

GHUZNEE

WHERE IT ALL STARTED

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huznee was born in 1838 and was bred by the Marquess of Westminster. She stood only 14.3 hands but won her first race start in the Epsom Oaks. After that she won the Coronation Stakes in a walk over but reportedly poor management forced her retirement to stud where she had nine recorded foals, all by the great sire Touchstone. Her daughter Meeanee produced the 1863 One Thousand Guineas winner, Lady Augusta by another top stallion in Stockwell. Her sister, Emily produced Normanby by Thormanby to win the Cork and Orrery Stakes, a race that is now known as the Diamond Jubilee Stakes that was coincidentally won

by Black Caviar. A half-sister to Normanby was Katherine by The Scottish Chief. This line produced little of note, but in the 1890’s a mare called Kate Allen by Barcaldine went to the USA where she produced a daughter called Campfire by the French stallion Rayon D’Or. The family cemented itself in the US, and in the 1930’s a mare called Sunmelia by the French bred Sun Briar was at Calumet Farm where she produced a son called Sun Teddy who won eight of his 18 starts including the Arlington and Saranac Handicaps. He stood at stud where he produced six stakes winners from only six seasons at stud including a very good son in Sun Again who won nine stakes races. Sun Teddy interestingly appears in the tail female line of the stallion Riverman who was the damsire of another of Australia’s best racehorses in the last 20 years in Makybe Diva. A full sister to Sun Teddy in Tedmelia produced Lights Up by Eight Thirty to win the 1950 Travers Stakes. It was this line that continued until, in the 1960’s, a mare called Scamper Away by Hitting Away out of Omelet Souffle was brought to Australia in foal to a stallion called Misty Day. The resultant foal was named Scampering who was to produce a daughter called Easy Date by Grand Chaudiere as her first live foal, leading of course to

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Sun Teddy

Snippets. This line of the family continues to produce good runners in the US, and arguably there were few better than Our Native who sees Tedmelia as his fourth dam.

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e will see that another of the US lines of this family was to later come to Australia to produce the 1994 Horse of the Year in Mahogany. Other lines of Ghuznee though have excelled throughout the world. One line found itself in Germany where it produced an outstanding racehorse and sire in Ticino. Another great racehorse and stallion in Pharis also was in Germany for a time, but the French horse was to return home following WWII. He also sees Ghuznee in his tale female line through Meeanee but through a line that includes the mare, Jenny Diver who produced another Epsom Oaks winner in Jenny Howlet. The Jenny Diver line has expanded throughout the world including New Zealand where it produced Fayette Park Stakes winner, Verlei. There have been stakes winners from this line in Japan and the US, but another line was to remain in the UK where it produced another champion racehorse and sire in Blue Peter, who arguably was even more influential than Pharis.

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here was another line of the family that went to NZ in the 1920’s and impacted the local thoroughbred producing a very popular galloper in the early 70’s called Knee High.

Yet another line of Ghuznee was to result in the great stayers Light Fingers and Big Philou.

History though tells us that the direct family of Ghuznee arrived in Australia a long time before that, and a mare called Lady Vivian arrived in Australia in the 1880’s and left a legacy that included one of the country’s greatest racemares in Tranquil Star.

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TANTIEME

THE FRENCH CONNECTION

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he French bred stallion is another horse that traces back to the daughter of Ghuznee in Meeanee. Tantieme was owned by Francois Dupre, one of France’s biggest owners and also one of the wealthiest. He owned two of the largest hotels in Europe in the George V and the Plaza-Athenee in Paris.

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antieme started 15 times for 12 wins. He was unplaced only once, at his second race start, but he was still able to win the Champion 2yo Title in France largely due to his wins in the Grand Criterium and Prix de la Foret. Tantieme had a wonderful 3yo season winning the French 2,000 Guineas, Prix Lupin, the first of his two Arc de Triomphes, and travelling to England to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He was also beaten a head in the French Derby behind Scratch. As a 4yo he won the Prix Ganay, the Arc, and the Coronation Cup again in England. To highlight how difficult it is to win two Arc De Triomphes, since Tantieme there were only two other dual winners of the race for the rest of the century in Ribot (1955/56) and Alleged (1977/78).

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antieme was reportedly a poor traveller and the reason given for that was his dam, Terka, had once been badly frightened by a bomb which fell beside her stable and injured her. Tantieme retired as the highest stakes-earner in Europe earning 83,308,568 francs (about £A100,000).

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antième was retired to stand at stud at Dupré's Haras d'Quilly where he became the Champion French Sire of 1962 and 1965. He produced stakes winners like Tanerko, Reliance, Match II and the filly La Sega. La Sega was perhaps the best of these winning the Prix de Diane, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, Prix Saint-Alary, Prix d'Ispahan and Prix de la Grotte. She was the grand dam of Top Ville, a good stallion by High Top who won the French

Reliance

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Tanerko

Derby and Prix Lupin and produced runners like Pistolet Bleu (twice winner of the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud), Princess Pati (Irish Oaks Stakes and Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes), Saint Estephe (GB Coronation Cup), Shardari (GB Matchmaker International Stakes and Princess of Wales's Stakes), Top Sunrise (French St Leger) and Toulon (GB St Leger Stakes).

Rather surprisingly the legacy of Tantieme is not through his daughters although some did have great success. In fact, one daughter of Tantieme produced a line that traces to Oak Ridge, a French bred son of Shirley Heights who stood at stud in NZ to produce 20 stakes winners, He is best known as the damsire of El Segundo, winner of eight stakes races including the 2007 Cox Plate, Yalumba, CF Orr and Underwood Stakes all at Group 1 level.

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ons of Tantieme made the biggest impact, and he produced some outstanding sons.

None were better than the two sons of the daughter of Relic in Relance. That mare produced three stakes winners in Reliance and Match (Grand Prix de Saint Cloud and GB King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes) by Tantieme, and Relko by another son of Tantieme in Tanerko. Tanerko did not race until a 3yo but quickly established himself as one of the best colts of his generation in Europe in 1956 by winning the Prix JuignĂŠ, Prix Noailles, Prix Lupin and Prix du Prince d'Orange as well as finishing third to Ribot in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. As a 4yo he won the Prix du Prince d'Orange, Prix Ganay and the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. In his final season he won the Prix d'Harcourt, and his

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Match

second Prix Ganay and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. Tanerko was also bred and owned

by François Dupré. The stallion is best known as the sire of Relko but was also the grand damsire of Captain Piper, a son of Kaoru Star who had good success in Australia producing Ballook (STC Silver Slipper Stakes) and Unequalled (BATC Doomben 10 000).

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elko was perhaps the best of the progeny of Relance. Unlike his siblings, he was a quality 2yo winning the Prix Gladiator over 1100m at his first start. He then won the Prix Isard before running second to Neptune's Doll in the Critérium de Maisons-Laffitte and then finishing fourth to Hula Dancer in the Grand Critérium. A second in the Prix Thomas Bryon rounded off his season. As a 3yo Relko won the Prix de Guiche and the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp before his most famous victory in the Epsom Derby when the 5/1 favourite in a field of twenty-six runners. Relko won easily by six lengths from Merchant Venturer and Ragusa but the win was overshadowed by the revelation that he had failed a drug test. At the end of June, Relko was scheduled to run in the Irish Derby and made 11/8 favourite but was withdrawn from the race minutes before the start, after

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Relko

appearing to be lame. This led to further suspicions of foul play. These events were set against a series of investigations into the doping of horses in British races. It was not until October that the Jockey Club confirmed Relko as the Derby winner, stating that “the substances detected could not be positively identified and therefore could not be proved to have affected the result.” Relko then won the Prix Royal Oak defeating Sanctus, the winner of the Prix du Jockey Club and the Grand Prix de Paris. In the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Relko became highly agitated before the start and ran poorly, finishing sixth behind Exbury.

He was unbeaten in three starts as a four-year-old winning the Prix Ganay at Longchamp, the Coronation Cup at Epsom and the Prix de Saint-Cloud before a fetlock injury resulted in his retirement to Lavington stud in England.

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t stud Relko produced many quality horses throughout Europe including Lanfranco (William Hill Futurity Stakes, Doncaster Racing Post Trophy and King Edward VII Stakes), Breton (Grand Criterium), Relkino (Newbury Lockinge and Benson & Hedges Stakes), Mariel (Curragh Pretty Polly Stakes) and Irish Oaks winners, Olwyn and Give Thanks. He can be found in many modern pedigrees with his daughters producing lines that gave us the promising stallion, Toronado by High Chaparral and the good stallion Desert Prince. Most notably Relko is known locally as the sire of Donna Nook whose descendants include County, Dieu D’Or, Mister Kwila, Half Hennessy, Maizcay and Catbird.

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eliance also did not start until a 3yo, but quickly stamped his class by winning his first five starts including the Prix du Jockey Club, Grand Prix de Paris and Prix Royal Oak. He had his only defeat when second to the champion Sea-Bird in the Arc De Triomphe.

Reliance was another of Dupre’s homebreds but was to stand at Harwood Stud in England.

Here he had relatively little success although he did produce Proverb who won the Goodwood Cup in both 1973 and 1974 as well as a Doncaster Cup, and Tug Of War who won the 1978 Goodwood Cup. His son Rascolnik was to come to Australia standing in Qld where he produced Grey Colnik (QTC Easter Cup) and Mother Of Pearl (Qld Oaks and BATC Koomeela Stakes). It was the daughters of Reliance though that led to his greatest triumphs. He appears as the damsire of three remarkable stallions in Surumu who also has Ticino in his pedigree from a line of Ghuznee, as well as the full brothers Diesis and Kris by Sharpen Up out of Doubly Sure. Kris in particular can be found in the pedigree of horses like High Chaparral and Invincible Spirit ensuring that these lines will continue well into the future.

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MAHOGANY MR VERSATILITY

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ahogany was a son of Last Tycoon out of the imported US mare, Alshadegha, a daughter of Alydar. She arrived in Australia on 11 October 1989. Almost a year later her first foal by Last Tycoon arrived which was to become the champion, Mahogany. He was raced by a partnership of Lloyd Williams and Kerry Packer, and trained by Lee Freedman.

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he gelding started his career in the G3 Merson Cooper in November of his 2yo season, running fourth behind Justice Prevails who was to go on to win the Silver Slipper and run second to Bint Marscay in the Golden Slipper. Mahogany won his next start at Moonee Valley before going for a spell. He returned in March and after two placings ventured to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival. It was there that Mahogany well and truly marked himself as something special winning three of his four starts including both the G1 Sires’ Produce and Castlemaine Stakes.

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eturning for his 3yo season, Mahogany won the Up And Coming Stakes first up at Randwick in August. After two more runs in NSW, the gelding went to Melbourne to win the G1 Caulfield Guineas before running third in the AAMI Vase behind Zaremba and Pride Of Rancho before rounding off his Spring with a dominant 5 length victory in the VRC Derby. Another let up ensued and he returned in the Autumn to dominate his age group. He was beaten only once in six starts that preparation, and that was a third in the Australian Cup against the older horses. He was beaten two lengths by Durbridge and Station Hand when starting a short-priced favourite. His Autumn wins included the AJC Derby, Australian Guineas and Tulloch Stakes.

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ahogany started his 4yo season by winning the JJ Liston and Craiglee Stakes, but he was to win only once more at that age. He won the G1 Lightning over the 1000m at Flemington in his first run in the Autumn, when he linked up with new jockey Mick Dittman rather than Greg Hall who had ridden him for all bar his first career start when he was guided by Damien Oliver. He went to the spelling paddock after a failed trip to Sydney that saw him finish seventh in the George Ryder at his only start that season in NSW.

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s a 5yo Mahogany finished second to Jeune first up in the Craiglee before stepping straight up to the 2040m of the Cox Plate. He was to run perhaps the most famous race of his career around the tight Moonee Valley circuit and battled gallantly with champion

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3yo Octagonal to be narrowly beaten without losing any admirers. It was to be his last run for the Spring and he had only two moderate runs in the Autumn before again heading for a spell.

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he following season, Mahogany put in the worst run of his career first up in the Hill Stakes over 1900m, finishing last in a field of ten almost nine lengths behind winner, Saintly. Mahogany was then taken back to the 1200m at Flemington and won the G2 Linlithgow Stakes beating Poetic King. A narrow second in the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley behind Spartacus, a son of Snippets, was followed by victory again in the Lighting at Flemington beating Cangronde with Spartacus relegated to third. He then finished fourth in the Newmarket behind Ruffles before going to Sydney to win the AJC Endeavour Stakes again over 1200m turning the tables on Ruffles. His last start was in the Doomben 10,000 in May 1997 finishing a moderate sixth behind Accomplice.

Sun Teddy

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n all, Mahogany won 19 of his 43 starts which included eight G1 victories and earnings of over $3.6 million. He was also crowned Australian Horse of the Year in 1994. is dam, Alshadegha incidentally saw her fifth dam as Sunmelia, the full sister to Sun Teddy, who appears in the tail female line of Snippets.

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OUR NATIVE AND ZOFFANY US MAINSTAY

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ur Native is another stallion who traces to the mare, Tedmelia. He was a quality racehorse winning 14 of 37 starts and over $400,000 in prizemoney. His best win came in the 1973 Monmouth Invitational Handicap now the Haskell Invitational. He raced in a great era of the US thoroughbred and finished behind Secretariat in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. Our Native also beat Mr Prospector in the 1973 Calumet Stakes. The stallion was a son of Exclusive Native by Raise A Native out of the Crafty Admiral mare, Our Jackie. At stud he produced only three stakes winners. Be My Native won the Coronation Cup in England and the Prix la Force in France and was to become a reliable stallion producing River Verdon to win the HK International in a career that saw him win 16 races and over $3 million in prizemoney. Rockhill Native who won Our Native the 1980 Blue Grass Stakes was another stakes winner for Our Native. Again, though there was one son that stood out above all others. Zoffany won ten stakes races including offany was sold to Segenhoe Stud in NSW and came to three G1 events in the USA Hollywood Turf Cup, Sunset Australia in 1987. He was to produce 18 stakes winners Handicap and San Luis Rey Stakes. In total he won 15 from 36 starts. He is fondly remembered in the US as one and was the first stallion to sire two Magic Millions winners. of the finest New Jersey bred horses ever to race. Zoffany These were Clan O’Sullivan in 1992 and Our Fiction the was purchased by London art dealer Anthony Speelman following year. Clan O’Sullivan was out of Blazing Bags by and his partners, Anthony and John Bodie, for $80,000 at Baguette. He won his first start in Canberra in November a Keeneland yearling sale, and earned over $1.2 million in when ridden by Gus Philpot. The Clan then went to Canterbury to win over 1100m before travelling to Brisbane his career. where he was narrowly beaten by Sublimate at Eagle Farm.

He then won at Ballina before winning the Magic Millions, and after a freshen went to Canberra to win two races including the Black Opal. A win in the Todman in Sydney had him favourite for the Slipper but he ran second to the top filly Burst beaten only half a length. Clan O’Sullivan then returned to the Gold Coast to win the May feature that coincided with the second Magic Million sale. After a spell he came back as a 3yo to run second in the Crowley Stakes at Randwick before failing in the Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley. The gelding then had over a year off but was certainly not the horse he was. His only other win was a Canberra Quality in February 1994. His last start was the following October and Clan O’Sullivan retired with nine wins from 20 starts and almost $1.8 million in prizemoney.

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ur Fiction, out of the Kaoru Star mare Fiction Gem, had her first start on 2 December 1992 winning an Eagle Farm 2yo maiden by 9 lengths over 1000m when ridden

by Brian York. Her next start was at Doomben over 1200m three weeks later, resulting in another win. Our Fiction then took on the Magic Millions beating Flying Tycoon by a neck.

Exclusive Native

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The filly went for a spell and was to resume in the August of her 3yo season. She performed poorly in Sydney but went to Melbourne to win the Listed Royal Hong Kong Stakes over 1400m. She spelled after the Spring and returned to Queensland to prepare for the Winter. She was only to place once in the Qld Guineas behind Paris Lane and retired after the carnival with four wins from 16 starts and a little over $500,000 in earnings.

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erhaps the best progeny of Zoffany though was Mamzelle Pedrille who was to win seven stakes races

including the Theo Marks Stakes in Sydney. While she produced the stakes winning O’Lonhro, it was a full sister to the mare in Countess Pedrille whose daughter gave us I Am Invincible. By Invincible Spirit, he is one of Australia’s hottest sires, and could well be the sire that ensures Zoffany’s continued influence. Zoffany finished his career at Willowbend Stud near Beaudesert in Queensland under the care of Studmaster David Lucas. A noted reluctant breeder, the decision was made to move him to a stud that could devote more time to his handling.

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TICINO

GERMANY’S WAR HERO

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icino was a German bred horse by Athanasius out of Terra. He did not travel because of WW2, but raced from the ages of 2yo to 5yo. He won 14 races including the German Derby, the Grosser Preis von Berlin three times, and the Grosser Preis von Baden Baden.

He was so good it was proposed that a match race be conducted between him and the British Champion, Blue Peter.

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e was bred at the Gestüt Erlenhof that was founded in 1901 by the District Councillor Ernst Ritter von Marx under the name Fohlenweide. In 1922, the industrialist Moritz James Oppenheimer acquired the stud, and renamed it Erlenhof. Oppenheimer was an enthusiastic promoter of equestrian sports and was president of the sports cartel in Bad Pyrmont, Bad Harzburg and Bad Homburg, member of the executive committee of the Reichsverband for the breeding of German warmbloods, and co-founder of the Bavarian Riding School in Munich. From 1929 to 1936, he was honorary consul of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia in Frankfurt. Oppenheim filed for bankruptcy in 1933 and the stud was bought by the steel industrialist Heinrich von Thyssen-Bornemisza. In the following years, the Erlenhof Stud became one of the most successful and well-known studs in Germany winning a series of major races, including the German Derby with Athanasius (1934) who was to sire Ticino. Among the champions bred there was the unbeaten winner of 10 races in Nereide known as the “Miracle Mare.” She had won the German Derby and Oaks, but it was her victory in the G1 Braunen Band that saw the stud move to the centre of Nazi propaganda around equestrian sports. With the war raging, Thyssen was reluctant to leave his refuge in the town of Ticino in Switzerland, and his daughter Margit, who had taken over the title of Margit of Batthyny from her mother and grandmother, was the public face of the stud. She travelled to Austria to accept the Austrian Derby of 1942 won by Ticino as

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Nereide

an example and was feted by the Nazi party as part of their propaganda.

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fter the death of Heinrich Thyssen, Margit of Batthyny bought Erlenhof in 1953 and successfully ran the breeding and racing business. In 1971, a fire destroyed a barn, and in 1974 the main stable burned with 35 horses being rescued. The pharmaceutical producer Hubertus Liebrecht leased the stud farm from 1977 to his death in 1991 and renamed it Erlengrund. Further fires occurred at the stud; first in 1980 as the result of a cigarette, and then in 1988 a more devastating fire resulted in the death of 13 mares.

In 1994, the GĂźnther Rothenberger family took over the estate, returning its traditional name of Erlenhof Stud. On 1 March 2019, another serious fire resulted in the deaths of five horses and millions of dollars in damage.

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icino was to become a remarkable success at stud. He was the Champion Sire in Germany for nine years between 1950 and 1959. His title was taken over by his son, Neckar who was to win the title for six of the next seven years winning his last crown in 1965. The following year the title went to another son of Ticino in Orsini who won three titles in total, while a son of Neckar called Kronzeuge was champion sire in 1972.

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icino continues a remarkable heritage and is present through many different lines.

Street Boss who won the G1 Bing Crosby Handicap and Triple Bend Invitational Handicap in the USA traces to a daughter of Orsini. Street Boss stands at Darley and is a quality sire producing Australian stakes winners like Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude winner, Hanseatic and Newmarket winner, The Quarterback.

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icino’s sire son, Neckar was the damsire of Star Appeal who won the 1975 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and the GB Eclipse Stakes. Star Appeal is the sire of Star Way who stood in NZ with great success siring over 50 stakes winners including G1 winners Ark Regal (VATC Futurity Stakes), Bonanova (VRC Emirates Stakes), Filante (AJC Epsom

Orsini

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Handicap and VATC Yalumba Stakes), Fraternity (AJC Spring Champion Stakes), Interstellar (STC Canterbury Guineas), Just A Dancer (Brisbane and Sydney Cups), Shankhill Lass (VATC One Thousand Guineas), Sky Chase (Rosehill Guineas, AJC Champagne Stakes and Caulfield Stakes), Solar Circle (Rosehill Guineas), Starjo (WATC Australian Derby), Telesto (George Ryder Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes), and Our Waverley Star (Chipping Norton Stakes). If that was not enough, Star Way is the damsire of Encosta De Lago who was one of the great stallions in recent times siring over 100 stakes winners and whose influence continues unabated through sons like Manhattan Rain, Needs Further, Rubick and the ill-fated Northern Meteor. Rubick now has his own son, Yes Yes Yes at stud, while Northern Meteor has produced Deep Field, Eurozone, Fighting Sun, Shooting To Win and Zoustar. Zoustar is extending this influence with his sons Lean Mean Machine, Sun City and Zousain also now at stud.

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icino also appears as the second damsire of Literat who was the Champion 2yo and 3yo in Germany. He is best known here as the sire of Surumu who won the German Champion Sire six times and was Champion Broodmare Sire eleven times. He is the damsire of Hurricane Run who was ranked the best horse in world in 2005 and was the Cartier European Horse of the Year. He also won the Arc De Triomphe as a 3yo. Surumu is also the damsire of Monsun who we know best in Australia as the sire of Melbourne Cup winners Almandin, Fiorente and Protectionist. Surumu is in turn is the sire of Acatenango who won 16 of his 24 starts and was three times Horse of the Year in Germany and Champion Sire four times. He sired Japan Cup winner Lando who was also twice a German Horse of the Year and the sire of Prince Cheri (Kingston Town Stakes and NSW Tattersall's Club Cup), Shahwardi (Herbert Power Stakes and Prix Turenne) and Sound (MRC Zipping Classic).

Perhaps more importantly Acatenango also appears in the pedigree of Kentucky Derby and Dubai World Cup winner, Animal Kingdom.

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PHARIS

EUROPE AT HIS FEET

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haris is one of the real tragedies of the racing world in many ways. He was an exceptional racehorse unbeaten in all three starts as a 3yo. His wins were in the Prix du Jockey Club, Grand Prix de Paris, and Prix Noailles. He was by Pharos out of Carissima, a mare bred by legedary French breeder, Marcel Boussac. Pharis eventually reached 16.2 hands in height and was listed in some sources as brown or black. A contemporary turf writer who visited described him as “black as a crow." The same writer, said that the colt “had a good, sloping shoulder and powerful hind end, but was long in the back and slightly back in the knees.”

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haris had the misfortune to be born in France in 1936 and the outbreak of war in 1939 put an end to the plans to take the colt to England. Pharis was retired to Boussac’s Fresnay-le-Buffard stud in France, but after just one season, Pharis was to be one of the first horses confiscated by the Nazi occupiers. In August TURF MONTHLY 25

of 1940, he was transported to Heeresgestut (the German army's stud) at Altefeld in Hesse. There he was bred to both German mares and French mares most of which had also been taken from French studs. The full extent of this was not apparent until his first crop of only 13 foals made the track. Of these, there were eleven runners for ten winners of 48 races. His best from this year were Ardan Priam, Palencia and Phidias. They were enough to propel Pharis to the top of the list of sires of juveniles in 1943 and to the top of the general sires list in 1944 when they were 3yo’s. This must be taken in the context of very limited wartime racing in France.

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ot a lot is known about Pharis’ time in Germany as Boussac would not sign birth certificates for any foals born in Germany. His foals born from French mares taken to Germany and later recovered were listed in the French Stud book with an "X" as their sire. Pharis had four and a half seasons in Germany and his first crop raced in a time when German racing was almost non-existent due to the War.

Marcel Boussac

Asterblute

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ne of his last foals in Germany was the filly Asterblute born in 1946 from the Oleander mare Aster. She ran for Baron Waldemar von Oppenheim's Schlenderhahn Stud, that had been expropriated by the Nazis and returned to him in 1948. As a 3yo in 1949 Asterblüte won the German One Thousand Guineas, Oaks, the Union-Rennen and the Derby. Out of this turmoil though, Asterblute has since gone on to found one of the great dynasties of the modern era. One of her descendants is Urban Sea by Miswaki who produced the outstanding Galileo by Sadler’s Wells who is arguably the world’s greatest sire. Galileo is the sire of over 100 stakes winners internationally including the unbeaten Frankel. He shuttled to Australia for five seasons, but his impact here did not match his outstanding record overseas although he did produce two Australian bred G1 winners in Linton, winner of the 2013 Stradbroke Handicap and Niwot who won the 2012 Sydney Cup.

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haris was repatriated to France in May 1945, towards the end of the Northern Hemisphere breeding season, and reinstalled at Boussac's stud.

he list of horses that can find Pharis in their pedigree is almost endless including international horses like Darshaan, Estaminet, Decies, Shirley Heights, Three Legs, Ela-Mana-Mou and Dalakhani. On the local scene we see Summoned, the dam of Alannon and Zeditave, John’s Hope, Random Chance, Western Symphony and Maizcay as just a small sample of the enduring influence of the remarkable horse.

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BLUE PETER BRITANNIA RULES

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lue Peter was a son of champion stallion Fairway and many will say the most talented racehorse that he ever produced. The colt was bred by the Earl of Rosebery at Mentmore Stud, and was an attractive horse sporting a large blaze. Blue Peter started only twice as a 2yo, running second in the Middle Park Stakes to the American-bred Foxborough. At three, Blue Peter was undefeated in four starts including the Blue Riband Trial, 2,000 Guineas, Epsom Derby and Eclipse Stakes. A match race with the French champion Pharis was proposed, but war broke out in Europe in September 1939 putting an end to those plans.

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t stud Blue Peter was an exceptional stallion although many of the time claim he was disappointing due to the weight of expectation. He did not sire anything that approached his own ability, but we also must remember that this was hardly an ideal time in thoroughbred breeding especially in the UK. He was to stand at the Mentmore Stud which was built between 1913 and 1914 by Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery to complement his nearby stud farm at Crafton. The stud at Crafton was founded around 1850 by Baron Mayer de Rothschild. The most notable horses bred by Rothschild was his

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founding stallion King Tom and his offspring Favonius and Hannah who between them won the Epsom Derby, 1,000 Guineas, Oaks, and St Leger in 1871. Primrose acquired Mentmore through his 1878 marriage to Baron Mayer de Rothschild's daughter Hannah.

The first two stallions to stand at Mentmore were Cicero and Neil Gow. The 5th Earl won the Derby three times with Crafton-bred horses in Ladas, Sir Visto, and Cicero. In 1929 both Crafton and Mentmore studs were inherited by Harry Primrose, 6th Earl of Rosebery who subsequently bred Blue Peter.

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he most notable sons of Blue Peter were Ocean Swell (Derby and Ascot Gold Cup), Botticelli (champion at three in Italy and Ascot Gold Cup), Tiepolo (Italian St Leger), Peter Flower (Champion Stakes, Hardwicke Stakes), Blue Train (Newmarket Stakes), Messmate (Coventry Stakes), Blue Prelude (Lancashire Oaks), Eyewash (Lancashire Oaks), Mermaid II (Falmouth Stakes), Running Blue, Star Spangled Banner, Masthead, First Consul, Kisaki, Clutha, Blue Lamp, Fluorescent, and Blueskin. Remarkably some 22 of his sons stood at stud around the world where they had good success. Australia and NZ in particular had good results with the Blue Peter line. Masthead had a great impact and we will look at that a little more closely. Even more moderate stallions like First Consul who stood in NZ produced enduring successes. First Consul is the damsire of Shadea who won the Sweet Embrace Stakes in Sydney but produced three stakes winners in her time at stud including the champion racehorse and sire Lonhro.

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lue Peter was leading Broodmare sire in 1954 and his daughters produced some remarkable progeny. Among them are Our Babu (Middle Park Stakes, Champagne Stakes and 2000 Guineas) and his full brother King Of The Tudors (Eclipse Stakes) and Princely Gift (Challenge Stakes, Hungerford Stakes and Portland Handicap). He was to prove a highly successful stallion with his best winners including Floribunda (Nunthorpe Stakes, King George Stakes and New Stakes), So Blessed (King George Stakes, July Cup, Nunthorpe Stakes), Sun Prince (Queen Anne Stakes, St James's Palace Stakes, Prix Robert Papin, Coventry Stakes) and Tesco Boy (GB Rose of York Stakes). All of these had success at stud particulary Tesco Boy who was Champion Sire in Japan six times.

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Blue Peter 1939 Epsom

MASTHEAD

BLUE PETER IN AUSTRALIA

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asthead was by Blue Peter from Schiaparelli, the dam of St Leger winner Herringbone.

He was purchased in England by Mr EA Underwood and joined the good sires Dhoti and Helios at Warlaby Stud in Victoria. Masthead was one of the best staying horses in England and ranked third as a 3yo behind the Derby winner, Pearl Diver, and the St Leger winner, Sayajirao. He was one of the most expensive stallions ever bought for Australia.

When Mr D Mackinnon of Mackinnon and Cox, Melbourne bloodstock agents, was in England he purchased Neapolitan from the late Lord Derby for a high figure on behalf of Messrs AG Hunter and GR Nicholas. The new Lord Derby later sent a letter to Mackinnon which mentioned that Masthead was available if Mr Mackinnon cared to recommend him to one of his friends. The price was high, but Masthead’s qualifications were so good that Mr Underwood had little hesitation in buying the horse. Masthead, Dhoti and Helios were later joined at Warlaby Stud by Australian Champion Comic Court and all stood for the same fee of 300 guineas.

Manihi

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asthead was to sire ten stakes winners during his career. One of his best was Bendrum who won the VRC Edward Manifold Stakes and VATC One Thousand Guineas.

Masthead also sired two VRC Oaks winners in Waltzing Lady, a descendant of Tuberose

by Grand Flaneur, and Amarco. Amarco was to become a sensation at stud by producing one of the great champions in Tobin Bronze who traces to the Melbourne Cup winning mare, Sister Olive. But one son of Masthead stood tallest on the track. Matrice won eleven stakes races including the Adelaide and Port Adelaide Guineas and Goodwood in South Australia, and the Cantala Stakes and two Linlithgow Stakes in Melbourne. As a sire he was outstanding producing 23 stakes winners including four champions. La Trice was a Western Australian Champion winning the Railway Stakes, Karrakatta Plate, WA Champion Fillies Stakes, two Lee Steere Stakes and two Winterbottom Stakes.

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ago Pago out of the Abbots Fell mare, Pompilia was an outstanding 2yo winning six stakes races at that age in the Port Adelaide Oaklands Plate, SA Da Costa Plate, Breeders' Stakes, STC Golden Slipper Stakes, VATC Merson Cooper Stakes and VRC Sires' Produce Stakes. He was beaten only once in his 10-start career and was sold to a syndicate led by legendary US breeder Bull Hancock to race in the US. He was sold for reportedlyUS $150,000 which was an Australian record at the time, later beaten by Tobin Bronze when that galloper was also sold to the US. Pago Pago was injured in the US and never raced again retiring to Claiborne Farm. He was to return to stud in WA for the last 10 years of his life and had good success in both countries siring horses like Island Whirl (USA Hollywood Gold Cup, Whitney Handicap, Woodward Stakes and Malibu Stakes) and Pride Of Kellina (VATC Schweppes Cup and Christmas Handicap) both of which went on to stud careers of their own. Pride Of Kellina is noted for siring the very popular Buck’s Pride who won the BATC Robins Kitchen Cup twice as well as the LJ Williams Quality, Doomben Stakes and Bernborough Handicap.

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aj Rossi was another champion son of Matrice and his Spring of 1973 rates among the best 3yo seasons that have been seen. The colt had won two races from six starts as a

2yo but neither really gave a hint of what was to come. He had his first start as a 3yo on 18 August running third to Prince Florian over 1200m at Moonee Valley on a heavy track.

Three weeks later he beat New Gleam in the Ascot Vale Stakes again over 1200m but this time at Flemington. He then won the Carrum Handicap at Caulfield at odds on beating Orange King over 1400m. Taj Rossi then won the Moonee Valley Stakes beating Purple Patch before a surprise defeat when fourth behind Grand Cidium in the Caulfield Guineas.

He then tackled the older horse and was dominant in winning the Cox Plate at his next start, followed by the Victorian Derby. A week later he won the George Adams over 1600m and the following Saturday rounded off his incredible Spring by winning the Sandown Guineas. Taj Rossi was to have a further six starts as an Autumn 3yo and Spring 4yo with his best placing a third in the Australian Champion Stakes at Randwick.

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oltrice was a champion daughter of Matrice. She won seven stakes races including the Wakeful, VRC Oaks double and the One Thousand Guineas as a 3yo. She also won the Phar Lap Stakes in Sydney and was later to win the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley.

She was to prove a remarkable broodmare producing five stakes winners in Almurtajaz (Moonee Valley Stakes, Memsie Stakes, SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes, SAJC Victoria Park Stakes, VATC The Peter Jackson), Lady Of Renown (SAJC Morphettville Guineas), Seltrice (West Australian Derby), Tolhurst (Memsie Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes, Ascot Vale Stakes, VATC Autumn Stakes, BATC Flying Handicap) and Vain Display (STC Sweet Embrace Stakes, MVRC Silver Jubilee Stakes, VRC Dalgety Bloodstock Plate and VRC Myer Stakes).

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t was another stakes-winning son of Masthead though that had a huge impact on racing.

Manihi had won the SAJC Da Costa Plate, SAJC Breeders' Stakes and VRC Newmarket Handicap and was a regular producer of good running stock. Overall, he was to give us eleven stakes winners but mostly at lower levels apart from Mighty Manitou who won the 1982 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes. There was one other gelded son of Manihi that was more than worthy of the title Champion. He was out of a Natural Bid mare called Markato and named Manikato. The mighty Manikato is worthy of further investigation.

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MANIKATO THE MAN

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anikato is the only horse ever to win a major race in Australia in five consecutive years when he dominated the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley. The race club was to rename the Freeway Stakes to the Manikato.

It was a race that Manikato had won in 1979. He was further honoured at Moonee Valley by being buried at the site in the Manikato’s Garden.

spell, and it was during this time that trainer, Bon Hoysted died suddenly. Manikato had given him his dream of winning a Group 1 race that had eluded him in a lengthy and successful career as a trainer. Major stables tried to get Manikato, but owner Mal Secull gave the horse to Bon’s younger brother, Bob Hoysted to continue his career.

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eturning to the track in September, Manikato won his anikato had been largely unwanted as a yearling, first two races including the Caulfield Guineas over bringing only $3500 when sold to trainer Bon Hoysted. 1600m. He dropped back to 1200m in the Craven A but had He was not the most impressive yearling and by a moderate a slight temperature on the day of the race and broke out into stallion. The colt also had an unpleasant temperament so a sweat before the race. Undoubtedly Manikato would not it was no real surprise that he was not highly sought after. have been allowed to run under current racing laws, but his Even when gelded, Manikato remained a highly strung and creditable second when clearly unwell attests to his strong rather spirited individual. What did surprise many was his will to win. He was given a short break to recover, and then performance on the track. He had shown early promise, but went to Moonee Valley for the first of his unprecedented a back injury prevented him from tackling the early 2yo five straight victories in the William Reid Stakes. He then races. won the CF Orr over 1400m before winning the Futurity over 1800m. Manikato was stepped up to the 2000m of the anikato first faced the starter in late January 1978 Australian Cup where he was beaten by Dulcify. A couple winning a 2yo Maiden at Cranbourne by six lengths. of weeks later, he again faced Dulcify in Sydney over the His second start over the straight 1000m at Flemington saw 2000m of the Rosehill Guineas. Manikato was to finish a him beat the outside horses but run second to Karaman tiring fourth behind the other champion gelding and was who was on the faster section of the track. The gelding went never to start past 1600m again in his career. Only a week on to win over the same track and distance only ten days after his defeat in the Rosehill Guineas, Manikato dropped later, and from there it was on to the Blue Diamond where back to the 1400m of the George Ryder and dominated the he again won convincingly. Connections changed their field in a six-length romp. He battled gallantly over 1600m mind about sending him to the VRC Sires’ Produce, instead to dead heat for third in the Doncaster before another welltaking the advice of jockey Gary Willetts and sending him deserved rest. to Sydney for the Golden Slipper where he secured victory in Australia’s biggest 2yo race. He had one more start in anikato came back at the end of his 3yo season to his first preparation, running a tired fifth in the AJC Sires’ win the Doomben 10,000 and the Rothman’s 100,000 Produce, again beaten by Karaman, over 1400m on a heavy before returning to Melbourne to win the Freeway Stakes at track and pulling up in a distressed state. He was sent for a Moonee Valley in his first start as a 4yo. He then put in one

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Manikato winning the Rothmans 100,000

of his worst performances, a twelfth in the Marlboro Cup where he struck a bog track, interference and was later to be found to be suffering from a virus. His Spring was cancelled, and he returned to the paddock. Manikato returned in January 1980 with his second William Reid victory. Wins in the CF Orr, Futurity and George Ryder followed until near tragedy struck in the Galaxy on 7 April 1980. A severe bleeding attach saw him finish eighth. Further tests also revealed that the horse had suffered a heart problem in the run and his career looked to have ended. Despite offers from the US, where horses can run on medication to treat bleeding, connections decided it was best to keep the horse in Australia, even if he did not race again.

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ll fingers were crossed on a brutally hot Melbourne Day in January 1981 when Manikato returned to the races, fittingly in the William Reid. Manikato hung on to win by a neck. While maybe not as good as he was, there was no doubt that “The Man” was back. He won his next two starts, in the CF Orr for the second time, and the Futurity Stakes for the third time before leg issues forced him back to the paddock. The gelding continued to race until he was a 7yo, and his second last race start saw him win the Futurity for the fourth time in his last Victorian start. His last start was

on 19 March 1983 in the George Ryder in Sydney. Manikato was gallant in defeat, going down to the exceptional filly, Emancipation who fittingly was one of the best descendants of the mighty Gunsynd. A recurrence of leg issues saw him scratched from the rest of the Autumn. Manikato returned to work, but whenever he came close to fitness, he would suffer recurrent soreness. Numerous tests were conducted but the gelding’s health continued to deteriorate. Eventually he was diagnosed with a form of aluminum poisoning, but little could be done to cure his condition. Manikato was humanely euthanized on 13 February 1984 and buried at Moonee Valley, the home of so many of his triumphs.

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uch of Manikato’s female family is unremarkable.

However, if we look closely, we see that a mare called Grace Dalrymple by Gainsborough had been a quality 2yo in England. Owned by Lord Dewar, she won the Dominion Plate at Sandown Park defeating a horse owned by the Aga Khan. Grace Dalrymple had been bred in Ireland and had been purchased by Lord Dewar despite his considerable breeding interests. The filly was one of three rated equal top 2yo of her year by the Free Handicap. Grace Dalrymple was a sister to Atmosphere whose son, First Edition was to stand at stud in Australia alongside Titan at Kooba Stud in NSW under the name of English Edition. Grace Dalrymple becomes even more important to Australian racing when we realize that she appears in the direct female line of multiple Group 1 winning mare, Atlantic Jewel who was to win ten of her only eleven starts.

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BLAKENEY

THE EPSOM DERBY WINNER

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lakeney is a stallion that traces back to the Lady Diver line of Ghuznee. He is of particular importance to the thoroughbred as he was a son of Hethersett who tragically died after only two seasons at stud. He produced only 48 runners, but such was their quality that Hethersett finished third on the Sires Table in the UK in 1969. He had won the Epsom Derby in 1962 and his best son was Blakeney who was to repeat the Derby victory of his sire in 1969.

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lakeney was bred by his owner and trainer Arthur Budgett at Kirtlington, Oxfordshire. He was out of the Hornbeam mare, Windmill Girl who had been bought by Budgett for 1000 guineas from Major LB Holliday as a foal in the December Sales of 1961. Budgett returned her to the sales ring a year later but the filly failed to meet the 5000 guineas reserve. Budgett began training many years before, in 1939, although the war intervened, and he joined the TURF MONTHLY 36

army rising to the rank of Major. He leased Windmill Girl to two of his owners, and she went on to win the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot and to be placed in both the Epsom and Irish Oaks. The Hethersett foal from the mare that was to be named Blakeney was also offered by Budgett for sale and also failed to meet his reserve of 5000 guineas. Again, it was to be a stroke of luck for Budgett who was to retain 50% ownership selling the other shares to Diane Carnegie and Horace Renshaw.

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he colt did not race until an Autumn 2yo winning his second start over 7 furlongs at the Cambridgeshire meeting at Ascot in October. He was sent for a spell and Budgett claimed that he turned down a big American offer for the colt over the winter and had backed him for the Derby at odds of 100/1. His first run as a 3yo was not until two weeks before the Derby, running second in the

Lingfield Derby Trial having a chequered run but finishing strongly behind The Elk when having trouble finding a clear run. In the Derby, Blakeney also finished strongly to win by a length from Shoemaker, with Prince Regent third, although many rated this as a very ordinary Derby.

The colt had three more runs as a 3yo finishing fourth in the Irish Derby behind Prince Regent. His fifth in the St Leger behind Intermezzo was a disappointment and the colt was then unplaced behind Levmoss in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. Blakeney was one of few Derby winners of the time to race on as a 4yo, and at his second start that season won the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Maybe his best performances that season were a second in the Ascot Gold Cup, beaten three quarters of a length by Precipice Wood, and a second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot behind the odds on favourite Nijinsky and four lengths clear of the other runners. His final start came in the Arc De Triomph where he improved on his 3yo effort to run fifth behind Sassafras.

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etired to the National Stud at Newmarket, he was later joined by other Derby winners Mill Reef and Grundy.

He was a successful sire producing the Epsom and Irish Oaks winner Juliette Marny in his first crop. Other stakes winners included Electric (Great Voltigeur Stakes), Julio Mariner (GB St Leger Stakes), Mountain Lodge (Irish St Leger Stakes), Norfolk Air (Doonside Cup, GB Derby Trial Stakes), Roseate Tern (Yorkshire Oaks), Sexton Blake (Champagne Stakes) and Tyrnavos (Irish Derby Stakes).

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he stallion had one interesting quirk during his career in that he refused to enter a horse box unless he went in backwards. Blakeney died in 1992 and is buried at the National Stud. Blakeney is another stallion that continues to influence pedigrees throughout the world.

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n Australasia, most recently we have seen his presence as the damsire of Al Akbar by Success Express who raced largely in NZ winning the G1 Bayer Classic and four other

stakes races there. He ventured to Australia to win the 1994 Canterbury Stakes. Al Akbar had some success at stud but is without doubt best known for his daughter Vegas Showgirl who won the 2005 Soliloquy Stakes and NZ Bloodstock 2yo Fillies Stakes. At stud, she will forever have etched herself in racing immortality by producing a daughter by Street Cry called Winx.

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uite remarkably, Winx is not the only champion mare that sees Blakeney present in her pedigree.

His daughter, Pilot Bird is the second dam of a multiple G1 winning Japanese stallion called King Kamehameha.

He is the sire of perhaps Japan’s hottest sire at present in Lord Kanaloa who won six G1 races including two Japan Sprinter’s Cups and two Hong Kong Sprints. He is the sire of Tagaloa who won the Blue Diamond in 2020 but more importantly for many, the sire of Almond Eye who recently retired after winning her second Japan Cup. In all, she won eight G1 races including the 2018 and 2020 Japan Cups and twice the Tenno Sho.

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s we mentioned, Blakeney stood alongside Mill Reef at stud, so it comes as little surprise that Blakeney’s daughter, Bempton, herself a half-sister to Shirley Heights, produced a daughter to Mill Reef. She was called Gull Nook and was mated with Be My Guest to produce Pentire who won the Irish Champion Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes before going on to became a leading sire in NZ. Pentire has produced over 40 stakes winners including champions like Rangirandoo, Xcellent and King Mufhasa. Other stallions who see Blakeney play a role in their pedigrees are Nicobar who is the sire of Dunaden who won the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and HK International Vase and Dr Grace who won the Chipping Norton Stakes, AJC Derby, The BMW and Underwood Stakes. At stud he produced the likes of Over, who we see has Tantieme in his pedigree, as well as Stradbroke winner, Crawl and George Ryder winner, Referral.

Blakeney winning the Derby TURF MONTHLY 37

LADY VIVIAN

THE HISTORY OF THE SNIPPETS FAMILY IN AUSTRALIA

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e have learned about Ghuznee by Pantaloon and her daughter Meeanee by Touchstone.

Meeanee had only one stakes winner in Lady Augusta by Stockwell who won the 1863 One Thousand Guineas. At stud she produced Rostrevor by Thormanby who won the Ebor St Leger. His half-sister by Strathconan, Lady Vivian was imported into Australia in the 1880’s by leading breeder, the Hon. James White who was one of the most successful owners and breeders in Australia. White established the Kirkham Stud in the Camden district of New South Wales, and the stud soon became famous as a thoroughbred nursery.

Kirkham prospered for many years, but soon after the death of White in 1890 the stud was dispersed.

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ne of White’s best horses was the champion Chester who he had purchased for 2000 guineas. He won 18 stakes races including the VRC Derby/Melbourne Cup double in 1877. Upon his retirement to stud, White imported a number of impressively bred English mares to ensure him the best possible chance at stud. This strategy was successful with Chester becoming a leading sire of his time winning four Champion Sires’ titles. Lady Vivian was one of the mares purchased from England but shortly after her arrival, White sent her to New Zealand to be mated with Musket, the sire of Carbine. She was returned to Australia, and in 1885 foaled a brown filly to Musket, who was to be known as Volley.

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s a 2yo, Volley won the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes, VRC Ascot Vale (2yo) Stakes, AJC Champagne Stakes and AJC First Foal Stakes. Returning as a 3yo, Volley was to win the VATC Caulfield Guineas and 1889 VRC St Leger Stakes over 14 furlongs (2800m). She had also run second to Pearlshell in the VRC Oaks and was also runner up in the AJC Derby behind Melos who she later beat in the VRC St Leger. Volley was unplaced behind Ensign, a horse also owned by White in the Victoria Derby. This race was to be the first loss of the remarkable albeit unlucky Carbine.

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ady Vivian produced four other stakes winners in Corvette by Martini-Henri (1890 AJC December Stakes and 1891 AJC Oaks), Valorous (1899 QTC Brisbane Handicap), Vigorous (1899 AJC Doncaster Handicap) and Vivian (1896 AJC Villiers Stakes and 1897 AJC The Shorts). The last three were all by the stallion Abercorn by Chester who had won 18 stakes races for White including the 1887 AJC Derby.

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James White with Chester

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olley naturally was mated with Chester when her racing days were over, and to him she foaled Vestatia. In turn Vestatia went to Ayr Laddie and became the dam of Sonsie who was owned by Mr William Brown. She produced Louvima, by Duke of Melton who raced in WA winning the Karrakatta Plate and many other races. The next foal of Sonsie was So So, a daughter of Maltster, who produced Soorak, a brilliant youngster. He won the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes and December Stakes, and was beaten a head in the AJC Derby by Rivoli.

Soorak later won the Caulfield Guineas and the Toorak Handicap. Sonsie then produced a filly named Formula who also went to Brown, and there produced the AJC. Champagne and Canonbury Stakes winner Tressady Queen, by Tressady. Another sister to Tressady Queen was Theory, second in the Gimcrack Stakes and the Adrian Knox Stakes, and runner-up to Soorak in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes. Yet another sister was the Gimcrack Stakes winner Sue, who was third in the AJC Oaks Stakes. She retired to the Percy Miller’s Kia Ora stud at Scone, New South Wales and was sent to their top stallion, Magpie. Her first live foal was Saucy Sue, who was sold as a yearling to Mr AP Wade for 210 guineas. Wade raced Saucy Sue for a short while as a two-year-old, but she then was passed on to Mr GL Scott. Saucy Sue was raced for a further season or so and retired to stud. Her first mate was the Sunstar horse Great Star, and the result was the chestnut filly Lone Star, who was to become the dam of Tranquil Star. Latrobe, by Simeon's Fort, came the following year, and he was a good performer in the colours of Mr Scott. Besides winning the Woodcliff Handicap at Caulfield and the Brunswick Stakes at Flemington, Latrobe finished third in the 1934 Melbourne Cup behind Peter Pan and was second in the Australian Cup.

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nother good galloper produced by Saucy Sue was Turf Boy, who won many races on the flat before becoming an outstanding hurdler and steeplechaser. Lone Star did little racing, and she was sold as a young mare and went into the St Albans Stud. Her first foal was a smart colt Sun Beau, and two seasons later she produced Tranquil Star. One final daughter of Sonsie was Similante by Simile and surprisingly this more moderate line has produced perhaps the most recent stakes winner in the family in Doctor Doom by Domesday who won the 2011 ATC Spring Champion Stakes.

TURF MONTHLY 39

White, James (1828–1890)

by Martha Rutledge

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 6, (MUP), 1976

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ames White (1828-1890), pastoralist and racehorse owner and breeder, was born on 19 July 1828 at Stroud, New South Wales, eldest son of James White and his wife Sarah, née Crossman. His father had arrived in Sydney on 24 July 1826 in the Fairfield as an overseer for the Australian Agricultural Co., and acquired land in the Hunter River district including Edinglassie, near Muswellbrook. James was educated at The King's School, Parramatta, and by Rev. John Gregor at West Maitland. In 1842 his father died leaving goods valued for probate at £15,000 and real estate, to be divided equally among his seven sons and two daughters. James returned home to manage Edinglassie, Timor, and Boorrooma on the Barwon River.

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n partnership with his brothers Francis and George, James leased Belltrees, near Scone, from William Charles Wentworth in 1848, bought it in 1853 and later added the adjoining Waverley station. From 1848 they acquired other freehold property in the Hunter River district including Merton and Dalswinton. About 1860 White bought the freehold estate, Martindale, near Muswellbrook, where he lived in the 1860s and made well known for fattening cattle. He was a magistrate and in 1864 a sheep director for Merriwa.

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n December White was elected by a large majority to the Legislative Assembly for the Upper Hunter, despite abuse from his opponent Thomas Dangar. In favour of free selection, railway expansion and taxes on luxuries, he confessed himself 'not quite equal to grapple' with the education question. On 8 May 1868 he resigned from parliament and visited England and the United States of America; while in England he and his brothers bought Segenhoe in the Hunter Valley. Soon after his return, he was defeated for the Upper Hunter by John Mildred Creed.

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bout 1873 White bought Cranbrook, Rose Bay, from the estate of Robert Towns and engaged John Horbury Hunt to carry out large extensions. He filled it with 'costly art treasures': European porcelain and pictures by Italian, German and English artists.

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n 1875 he sold Martindale to his brother Edward in consideration of an annuity of £5000 to himself and £2500 to his wife. On 14 July 1874 he was appointed to the Legislative Council; next year he was elected to the local Royal Society and became a founding member of the Linnean Society of New South Wales. A representative commissioner for New South Wales at the Philadelphia International Exhibition in 1876, he was also a commissioner for the exhibitions in Paris (1878) and Melbourne (1880) and the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, London (1886). In the 1880s he was a vice-president of the Agricultural Society of New South Wales, the Horticultural Society of New South Wales and the Union Club, a committee-man of the Animals' Protection Society of New South Wales, a member of the Warrigal Club and a director and sometime chairman of the Mercantile Bank of Sydney.

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long-time committee-man of the Australian Jockey Club, White was chairman in 1880 and 1883-90 and did much to promote racing. His first two horses were Goulburn and Hotspur, steeplechasers which won many cross-country races. In the mid-1870s he bought Kirkham, near Camden, where Hunt built him two houses, one a 'French inspired fairy castle'.

Kirkham became his main horse-stud, although he also bred horses at Segenhoe and paid high prices for promising youngsters, such as 1200 guineas for Martini Henry. He also built the lavish Newmarket Stables at Randwick where his horses were trained by Michael Fennelly (d.1887) and later by Tom Payten. In 1876 White bought Chester from Edward Cox and next year began a sensational twelve-year career on the turf when Chester won the Victoria Racing Club's Derby-Melbourne Cup double; the stallion had 19 wins from 29 starts and was only 3 times unplaced before becoming top sire. White won five A.J.C. Derbys in 1884-89, five A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes in 1885-90, five V.R.C. St Legers in 1886-90 and six V.R.C. Derbys in 1877-90, among most other important races. Out of 302 rides for him Tom Hales rode 137 winners. White's other great horses included Martini Henry, winner of the Victoria DerbyMelbourne Cup double; Abercorn, who raced against Carbine and whose wins included the A.J.C. Sires' Produce Stakes and the A.J.C. Derby (1887), the Australasian Champion Stakes and A.J.C. St Leger (1888) and the Metropolitan (1889); Democrat, winner of the Sydney CupMetropolitan double (1878); and Derby winners Nordenfeldt, Trident, Ensign, Dreadnought and Singapore. Possessed of 'the most consummate judgment in all matters of breeding, training, and racing thoroughbred horses', he was reputed to have collected over £121,000 in stakes from 66 horses winning 252 races. White was also a heavy punter and reputedly won £25,000 on Martini Henry's double, but was popular with the racing public as he never tried to bluff them. He planned to win the Epsom Derby and bred three colts by Chester to English time. In England they were supervised by Septimus Alfred Stephen but only Kirkham carried White's pale blue and white colours in Sainfoin's Derby in 1890 and was unplaced. He sent another contingent to England next year.

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arly in 1890 White retired as chairman of the A.J.C. and in April sold most of his racehorses for some 16,745 guineas, Titan bringing the record price of 4600 guineas. In 1889 he had given twenty blood mares to his nephews at Belltrees. He died of heart disease at Cranbrook on 13 July 1890 and was buried in the Anglican section of Waverley cemetery. He was survived by his wife Emily Elizabeth, daughter of James Arndell, whom he had married at Merton, New South Wales, on 9 July 1856; she shared his love of racing. His estate was valued for probate at almost £350,000 and willed to his brothers, nephews, and his wife who inherited Cranbrook, Kirkham, £5000 and an annuity of £2500. On 4 August 1896 at the Woollahra Presbyterian Church Emily White married Captain William Scott, M.R.C.V.S., aged 37 and principal veterinary surgeon in the New South Wales Defence Forces; she died on 28 October 1897 at Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland.

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hite's brother Francis (1830-1875) was born at Ravensworth, New South Wales, on 21 April 1830. Educated at Maitland by Gregor and Rev. Thomas Aitken he qualified as a surveyor before returning to Edinglassie. On 6 July 1853 he married Mary Hannah Cobb of Anambah, and lived at Belltrees for ten years before settling at Edinglassie, his share of his father's estate. Genial and generous he was 'a principal mover in all public matters' in Muswellbrook, where he was chairman of the bench of magistrates and president of the hospital board and the agricultural society. In 1875 he was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the Upper Hunter but died suddenly of fever at Edinglassie on 4 May. He was survived by his wife, a daughter and six sons, of whom the most notable were James Cobb of Edinglassie, a well-known breeder of Aberdeen Angus cattle, and Henry Luke of Belltrees.

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TRANQUIL STAR

SNIPPETS’ MOST FAMOUS AUSTRALIAN ANCESTOR

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ranquil Star was by Gay Lothario who was a successful sire producing 26 stakes winners. His dam was Love In Idleness by Bachelor’s Double who had won the Epsom Oaks, Park Hill Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks. Among his best progeny, apart from the great mare, were Lucrative (Victoria Derby, Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Stakes, Sydney Cup, AJC Sires' Produce, VATC Eclipse Stakes and AJC St Leger Stakes), Balkan Prince (VRC Hotham Handicap, VATC Eclipse Stakes, WATC Imperial Stakes, WATC Metropolitan Handicap and three WATC Osborne Stakes), Burberry (Oakleigh Plate, Cantala Stakes and Toorak Handicap) and Don Pedro (Mackinnon Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Moonee Valley Cup, CB Fisher Plate and VATC Eclipse Stakes).

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ranquil Star was unique among our champions, especially our female champions, in many ways. She was known as something of a moody type, and simply would refuse to run some days. The bookies loved her a lot of the time, but her sheer quality when she chose to show it still had her a pin-up with the racegoers, even if she sometimes proved costly. Tranquil Star retired from racing in 1946 as the highest earning mare in the history of Australasian racing at that point. What is even more remarkable for the champion is that she started a total of 118 times from the ages of two until her retirement in March 1946 towards the end of her 8yo season. All but a handful of these starts were in Principal races, or what we would call black type

Tranquil Star St Leger 1941

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Tranquil Star Memsie Win 1945

races today. Perhaps not that surprisingly given her attitude, Tranquil Star only had four starts in Sydney, winning two, at the end of her 3yo season. War time movement restrictions made it a lot harder to travel. Nevertheless, this likely impacted the way that history has treated the remarkable mare.

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ranquil Star faced the starter for the first time on 7 October 1939 running second in a field of 16 in the Maribyrnong Trial over 4.5 furlongs (900m) at Flemington.

Perhaps it was a portent of things to come but she started at the juicy odds of 25/1. Two starts later she was ridden

TURF MONTHLY 44

Chipping Norton

by champion jockey Maurice McCarten for the first time and was beaten into second as the even money favourite in the Mona Nursery Stakes at Caulfield. Tranquil Star recorded her first win at her fifth start in the Ottawa Stakes at Flemington just over a month after her first start. For the record, she started at 5/1.

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s a 3yo, Tranquil Star showed that she had matured into a more than promising type. She was perhaps more consistent at this age than any other winning six of her fifteen starts at that age. Tranquil Star won her second start at three in the Edward Manifold when starting at 7/2 in a field of thirteen beating another filly in Sessions. After an unplaced run behind the great champion Ajax, Tranquil Star then ran second in the VRC Derby behind Lucrative and second in the VRC Oaks behind Sessions. The Autumn saw her win every second race she contested, although placing only once in the races in between. Her wins were in the St George Stakes beating High Caste, the VRC St Leger Stakes beating Lucrative, the Chipping Norton at Randwick beating High Caste and the Cumberland Stakes

again beating Lucrative. The filly won the Chipping Norton at 20/1 but in between these last two wins was beaten in the NSW St Leger by Lucrative in a field of four when starting at 7/4 on.

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n her 4yo season, Tranquil Star was to have 21 starts including her first start in the major Spring races of the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. We will discuss the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in more depth later.

She ran 23rd in Skipton’s Melbourne Cup. She won only two races at that age, both in consecutive starts in the Autumn in the CM Lloyd Stakes and Alister Clark.

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ranquil Star had one of her best seasons as a 5yo winning six of her 15 starts. This included her first Cox Plate and her Caulfield Cup win in a streak of four in a row including the Caulfield and LKS Mackinnon Stakes. Tranquil Star was again unplaced in the Melbourne Cup behind Colonus at her next start. She was the first Australasian mare ever credited with winning the equivalent of four consecutive Group 1 races.

Tranquil Star’s third Mackinnon beating Flight

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he following season Tranquil Star was to win only once, in the St George Stakes at Flemington in the Autumn beating Amana who had earlier won the Cox Plate. Tranquil Star was to be placed second five times and third twice that season, including three times running second to Amana in the Melbourne, Caulfield and Mackinnon Stakes. She was to run in her last Melbourne Cup that season finishing 21st behind Dark Felt. At her last start for the season she came down in the running of the Glenara Handicap at Moonee Valley, injuring her jaw so badly that it had to be wired, and casting doubts over her future. Such was the resilience of the mare that Tranquil Star was back at the races only five months later.

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n her penultimate season as a 7yo, Tranquil Star showed she had lost little of her ability. She started the season running second again to Amana before finding Counsel who was in a purple patch of form too good in her next three runs including the Caulfield Cup. She won her second Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes, and later the St George and CM Lloyd Stakes. Her win in the St George Stakes saw her become the greatest stakes earning mare in Australasian history, overtaking the tally of Desert Gold.

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ranquil Star’s last season was as an 8yo winning the Memsie Stakes at her second start at that age beating La Patrice. She was to win her third Mackinnon Stakes beating the great Flight, and her final victory was at her favourite Moonee Valley in the William Reid on 26 January 1946, beating Veileme, at her first run after a break following a tough Spring. The mare raced eleven times that season. Tranquil Star had her last run in the Alister Clark at Moonee Valley in March and retired with 23 wins and stakes earnings of £24,990.

Tranquil Star’s 23rd win

TRANQUIL STAR AND THE COX PLATE

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he mare raced in the Cox Plate for the first time in 1941. At her first try she ran into Beau Vite, the 1940 victor. He was to join an elite group of horses to win the race twice when he started a 3/1 on favourite and beat the glamour mare by 1.5 lengths. Tranquil Star joined Beau Vite at the 800m to challenge for the lead, but the stallion proved too strong, winning under the hands and heels riding of Darby Munro. Laureate, a son of Law Maker from a Comedy King line mare, ran third.

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he following year, the Cox Plate was considered a match race between the Caulfield Guineas winner, Great Britain and Tranquil Star who had won the Caulfield Cup. The mare started at 7/2 in the field of 19. She made a one act affair of the race, hitting the front around the 400m mark and running away to win by five lengths from Pandect and Leahero with Great Britain struggling home in a distant thirteenth.

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n 1943, Tranquil Star came to the race second favourite behind the brilliant horse, Amana who had beaten her home consistently all Spring. Amana was by the dual Derby winner, Talking out of the Epsom winner, Capris and had come off of a second in the Caulfield Cup behind Skipton. It was the only time that the Caulfield Cup had been split into two divisions. Tranquil Star had raced poorly in the other division, and Amana started the favourite at 5/2 just ahead of the mare at 3/1. Amana proved just how good his form that year was winning comfortably against the field of nine. Tranquil Star hit the front at the 1200m, but Amana quickly had her measure, going on to win from Sun Valley and Precept

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by two lengths. Tranquil Star finished fourth. The race that year was marred by an incident before the start when the Caulfield Guineas winner, Lawrence had injured himself jumping a barrier that was at the start to separate the field. The delay led to many of the contenders becoming fractious and Amana was inconvenienced by interference at the start.

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he next year saw Tranquil Star win her second Cox Plate, again in a field of only nine.

Lawrence, who had been scratched before the race the previous year, was a dominant 2/1 on favourite after good form. The mare started at 7/1 and showed her best. Tranquil Star settled just behind the leaders and hit the front as they turned into the straight. Ridden that year by Scobie Breasley, he kicked the champion mare away and while Lawrence tried valiantly to peg back the margin, Tranquil Star was eased down on the line to win by 2.5 lengths with Tea Cake third. Lawrence was to pull up sore.

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he last of Tranquil Star’s Cox Plates was on 27 October 1945. It was the year of the great Sydney mare Flight who was having her first start in Melbourne in the race. Lawrence who had run second the year before was sent out as the dominant 10/9 on favourite with Don Pedro at 9/2 and Flight on the third line of betting at 11/2. Tranquil Star was next at 7/1. At her first run at the track, Flight was a little erratic around the tight circuit but hit the front at the mile and narrowly hung on to win from Don Pedro by a half-head with the future Melbourne Cup winner, Russia three lengths back in third. Lawrence was to finish fourth with Tranquil Star fifth. Tranquil Star was to get some revenge by beating Flight in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington a week later. The race did bring to a close the Cox Plate run of the wonderful Tranquil Star in an effort we are unlikely to see matched again.

In all, Tranquil Star competed in five straight Cox Plates, winning twice, placing second once with one fourth and one fifth. Her 1942 victory was worth £1000 and increased to £1500 for her win in 1944.

Tranquil Star 4th to Amana

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TRANQUIL STAR A

AND THE CAULFIELD CUP

s something of a remarkable feat, not only did Tranquil Star start in five straight Cox Plates, but she also lined up in five straight Caulfield Cups. This is a remarkable testament to her soundness and toughness. The Caulfield Cup we must remember is a handicap event, unlike the weight for age conditions of the Cox Plate. In 1942, her second attempt, Tranquil Star became the fourth horse to win the double. The Cox Plate started in 1922 and although Rogilla, Amounis and Manfred all won both races, Tranquil Star was the first to win both races in the same year. Only six other horses since have won the double, with only Tobin Bronze and Northerly achieving the feat in the same year.

Tranquil Star in 1944 became the first horse to win two Cox Plates and a Caulfield Cup in her career, and this has only been matched once since, by the remarkable Tobin Bronze.

Tranquil Star carried the equivalent of 56kg in winning the Caulfield Cup which is still the highest weight carried by a mare in winning the race.

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ranquil Star had her first start in the 1941 Cup, finishing eleventh to Velocity. The following year, Tranquil Star had her only success in the race. She was ridden by Scobie Breasley whose original mount Tuhitarata went sore the night before and he replaced the unlucky apprentice Keith Smith on the mare. The outsider in Colonus had led, but Tranquil Star who been racing in sixth for most of the run hit the front at the furlong and drew clear. Heart’s Desire was quickly on the scene and looked set to run past the mare but vigorous riding by Breasley saw Tranquil Star win by a neck. Tranquil Star earned £6500 for her win which indicates the difference in stature of this race to the Cox Plate in that time.

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n 1943, Tranquil Star had raced in what was considered the weaker division of the Caulfield Cup in the year that it was split into two divisions. Skipton beat Amana in the first division, and connections of Tranquil Star were pleased

Tranquil Star after the 1942 Caulfield Cup

that they had drawn the other division. It did not matter, as it was one of those days that Tranquil Star decided that she was not in the mood. She led into the straight but that was enough for her that day and she weakened badly to beat only one runner home. The winner was the NZ bred horse, Saint Warden who was a top Adelaide runner, but was to taste his only major Eastern success that day.

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n 1944, Tranquil Star was unwanted in the betting and was sent out at 100/1. The race was won by Counsel who beat Lawrence and Tea Cake and the two placegetters were to finish in the same order in the Cox Plate. The following year she again disappointed to finish 24th of 28 runners behind Counsel, while her final Caulfield Cup in 1945 saw her run 16th of 27 behind winner, St Fairy. It is clear that the mare was much more at home at Moonee Valley, but her 1942 victory will always underline just how talented she was on her day.

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LONHRO - 2004 AUSTRALIAN CUP

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his month we travel back to 2004 to relive a race that still brings chills to most who watch it. In fact, the late Jack Ingham once said that he has this footage in his den and that he would regularly watch it as it always gave him a thrill.

onhro was universally one of the most popular horses to race in Australia at the time.

There was never a thought about Sydney and Melbourne rivalry when the champion stepped out. He was a son of the great Octagonal, himself one of the most popular racehorses in recent years. What perhaps made Lonhro even more popular was that it was fairly clear that the great Octagonal was not setting the world on fire in the breeding barn. There was a lot resting on Lonhro and he delivered in spades.

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onhro had started his career in November 2000 being pipped on the post over 1100m on a heavy track at Rosehill. He had a break and won his next race over 1100m on 27 January and then went to Melbourne to win the Blue Diamond Prelude. He got well back in the Blue Diamond still being in the last half of the field at the 400m but ran on strongly to finish fourth beaten under 2 lengths behind True Jewels. Lonhro was sent out for a spell following the Blue Diamond missing the Golden Slipper and all of the big 2yo races of the Autumn in Sydney.

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he colt ran third on his return in the Missile Stakes, again on a heavy track at Rosehill at the end of July. His next win in the G2 Warwick Stakes started a winning streak for that campaign which culminated in a win in the G1 Caulfield Guineas in October coming from 14th at the 400m to run away from Ustinov by over a length.

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fter a spell Lonhro had only two unbeaten starts in the Autumn before being tipped out again until the following Spring. He returned to win the Missile Stakes in Sydney and was to win every second race that campaign in the Chelmsford, Yalumba and Mackinnon Stakes. Another break saw him return to win four straight races including the G1 Chipping Norton and George Ryder before finishing fourth to Grand Armee in the Doncaster. He made amends the next start winning the G1 Queen Elizabeth to end his 4yo season.

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eturning for the Spring, Lonhro won four straight races before running a good third behind Fields Of Omagh and Defier in the Cox Plate. Another spell ensued and then it was back for his final campaign with connections announcing his retirement at the start of the Autumn. He won his first two races in the G1 C F Orr and G2 St George before he faced the starter against a quality field in the Australian Cup on 8 March 2004

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onhro met a quality field over the 2000m at Flemington. It included the 3yo Delzao and champion gallopers Elvstroem and Makybe Diva, as well as group winners Pentastic, Mummify, Sound Action and Zacielo. The field of 10 was rounded off by Physique and The Jewel. Ridden by champion jockey Darren Beadman, the Australian Cup started off well for Lonhro. He jumped well and was handily placed in fourth for most of the run. Travelling easily around the turn, Lonhro popped off the fence and a gap appeared. The horse to his outside Sound Action put him back into a pocket, and Beadman was forced to go back to try and go around the three horses in front of him. By then, the lightly weighted 3yo Delzao had come up alongside Lonhro leaving him again with nowhere to go. Delzao kicked away and Lonhro finally got to the outside and chased hard. He was still at least 2 lengths behind and had no momentum. The champion dug in and, slowly but surely, he pegged back the lead even though he was giving 4.5kg to his younger rival who was being desperately ridden

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by Steven King. Beadman urged Lonhro on under hands and heels riding as he tried gamely to get on terms. In the last 20 metres the champion finally got his head in front to start drawing away. The official margin was 0.2 lengths, but it was a run that was reminiscent of his wonderful sire who so often found a way to put his head in front on the line. Another champion in Elvstroem ran into third a little over 2 lengths away.

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fter that race, Lonhro was to return to Sydney to win the George Ryder again before running second to Grand Armee in the Queen Elizabeth, a race that his sire Octagonal had also run second in at his final race start, just like Gunsynd 30 years earlier. Trained by John Hawkes for the Ingham brothers, Lonhro retired with 26 wins from 35 starts and over $5.7 million in stakes. Eleven of those wins were at G1 level. He embarked on a successful stud career, producing over 70 stakes winners including his champion son in Pierro.

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t was a remarkable race from a remarkable horse. Not only that, it was a wonderful reminder of his marvellous sire, Octagonal.

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