Turf Monthly March 2021

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TURF

March 2021 cover image HIGHLAND REEL copyright Sharon Lee Chapman and Swettenham Stud

THIS MONTH

MAGIC MILLIONS WINNER SHAQUERO NEVILLE SELLWOOD DELTA - SELLWOOD’S FIRST CHAMPION TULLOCH VS TODMAN

Editor’s Letter The aim of Turf Monthly is to bring alive those remarkable horses that have been so important not only to the racing industry, but in many cases to the very essence of Australia society. We also are looking to see how these horses often continue to impact the modern breed. I often lament that we are losing some of wonderful colonial lines in the modern era of globalisation which extends to thoroughbred pedigrees.

There was one interesting reflection on the career of Tulloch that I came across in researching that remarkable champion. Peter Pring and Douglas Barrie wrote in their book Australia’s Thoroughbred Idols (p 99, Discovery Press 1973) regarding Tulloch said: “Why should he have failed as a stallion? No-one can be certain.

There are so many factors that would have to be taken into account. It is however felt by many knowledgeable people that Tulloch’s tremendous two-year-long struggle for survival may have had some dire effect on his genetic structure.”

It is an interesting comment but perhaps one that is out of date in terms of modern genetic understanding. Looking at the three horses that feature this month in Delta, Tulloch and Todman, they were all remarkable horses who went to stud with similar booms on them and all got every opportunity to succeed. As we know, Todman was a superstar at stud, while the other two were disappointing to say the least.

The comment by Barrie and Pring suggests that illness or injury is an issue. Tulloch had his well recorded issues, but these were largely related to infection. Todman suffered from early shin soreness at a time when it was less common than today, but more importantly suffered a fracture to his hind leg. On a genetic level, these issues would probably be a bigger risk than Tulloch’s illness.

It seems then that conformation is probably not the answer. The one thing that stands out is the longevity of the three on the racetrack. Especially by the 1960’s, the horse was becoming less used in the general population. We have all heard the stories of Archer walking to Melbourne for the Cup. Motor vehicles were being used more and more to do the roles that horses had done, and it is likely that our racehorses became more pampered from that time on. These aren’t the only three champions that have gone to stud, and there have been notable champions like Octagonal, Elvstroem and Gunsynd that have underperformed despite amazing opportunity. There are always exceptions to any rule, but perhaps we can say that there could be a correlation between racetrack exertion and future stud success. These are some of the immeasurable qualities that make the thoroughbred such an intriguing animal in my view. I would urge readers to consider these intangible factors when looking at some of the stallions going to stud that we look at in the magazine.

CONTENTS March 2021 4 6 7

Shaquero Neville Sellwood Sellwood -

in his own words

10

Delta

18

Tulloch

26

Todman

32

Dulcify

34

Super Impose

36

Larkspur

39

Stallions

50

Until next month

Ross Prowd

Tulloch

vs

Todman

cover image HIGHLAND REEL copyright Sharon Lee Chapman and Swettenham Stud

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

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

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SHAQUERO S

MAGIC MILLIONS 2021

haquero was something of an upset winner of the Magic Millions even though it was one of the most open races of recent times. The 2yo colt has ensured himself of every chance at stud irrespective of what he does on the track for the rest of his career. In fact, if history is any guide, he may well not get to race past his 2yo season.

odds. Shalaa did not reappear for over a year and came back in style winning the G3 Bengough Stakes for 3yo’s at Ascot.

At his last start, Shalaa ran in the British Champions Sprint Stakes at Group 1 against the older horses but found the jump in class a little too much, running tenth in the Ascot event before retiring to stud.

he colt won his first start in the Breeders Plate at Randwick over 1000m in October 2020. A brief let up saw him return for his Magic Millions campaign in the Bruce McLachlan at Eagle Farm on Boxing Day. He finished a disappointing seventh of eight runners at Eagle Farm on that occasion. Shaquero then went to the Gold Coast a week before the Magic Millions to run a close second behind Finance Tycoon. It was a different Magic Millions, and even though the colt drew barrier one, and had led in his races, he sat fifth on the rails behind the leaders. None of the first four horses in the run were placed in the race, and this could be the first time that this has happened in the history of the race.

he dam of Shaquero is a daughter of Not A Single Doubt in Fimatino. Not A Single Doubt tasted Magic Millions success producing 2011 winner Karuta Queen, after having ran second himself to Dance Hero in 2004. Fimatino won two races; a 2yo maiden at Newcastle and a class 2 as a 4yo in Port Macquarie. She was a half-sister to Catacaos by Catbird who won in Sydney before being sold to Singapore where he raced as Ghozi and won seven races including two listed races, and a fourth in the G1 Krisflyer International Sprint. Another half-sister to Fimatino was Sunset Express, a winner of five races by Success Express who produced Shamus Award by Snitzel who won the G1 Cox Plate and Caulfield Guineas on route to being named Australia’s Champion 3yo of his year. Their dam was Finito Fling by champion 2yo Luskin Star. It is no doubt important that Invincible Spirit’s best son in Australia was I Am Invincible who sees another strong colonial speed influence in Canny Lad prominent in his pedigree. Finito Fling was herself a winner of two races as a 2yo in Sydney, and also produced Spur Me On by Flying Spur who won seven races including the Waterford Crystal Magic Millions Plate

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haquero is a son of first season stallion, Shalaa who stands at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley. He is a son of boom Northern Hemisphere sire Invincible Spirit who now has seven of his sons at stud here currently including the remarkable locally bred, I Am Invincible. Shalaa won six of his eight race starts, and oddly was unplaced in both his first and last starts. His first appearance saw him finish last of eight runners in a 2yo race at Newbury in May. He raced erratically and was never in contention. Two weeks later at Newmarket he won a 2yo Maiden before a let-up.

He reappeared to win a G2 at Newmarket. Another G2 win at Goodwood saw the colt sent to France to win the time-honoured Prix Morny at Deauville when the 2/1 on favourite. His last start at that age was the G1 Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, winning again at the same prohibitive

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he family of Shaquero only arrived in Australia in the 1980’s through the stakes winning Tap The Wood mare, From The Wood. She had won the G3 Phoenix Park Concorde Stakes and was to win in Sydney. Her family traces to the Bruce Lowe number 16 family which produced horses like Golden Miller, Herbager, Miswaki, Petition, and local Queensland hero, Falvelon.

Watch video in text mode

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Shaquero has a moderately inbred pedigree (6.25%). The pedigree is dominated by three lines of Danzig in the fourth and fifth generations. Interestingly these appear through the tail male lines of his sire Shalaa, that stallion’s damsire, War Chant, and Shaquero’s damsire, Not A Single Doubt. Danzig is a son of Northern Dancer who dominates modern pedigrees, but interestingly we see only one more line of that stallion through Grand Chaudiere who appears in the female line of Not A Single Doubt through his daughter Easy Date. Easy Date is well known as the dam of Snippets, the first Magic Millions winner in an interesting twist when we will later be looking at the first Golden Slipper winner in Todman.

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NEVILLE SELLWOOD Sellwood, Neville Francis (1922–1962)

by Richard Waterhouse This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 16, (MUP), 2002

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eville Francis Sellwood (1922-1962), jockey, was born on 2 December 1922 at Hamilton, Brisbane, fifth child of Queensland-born parents Charles Sellwood, labourer, and his wife Amy Elizabeth Sherman, née Goan. Apprehensive about the financial and physical risks involved in a career in horse-racing, Neville's mother wanted him to become a solicitor, but he deliberately performed poorly at school in an attempt to thwart her ambitions for his future. Perhaps at his mother's insistence, he began work in a pharmacy: he was soon dismissed, after pouring cascara into bottles intended for cough medicine. In 1938 he was apprenticed to Jim Shean, a horse-trainer in Brisbane. His first ride was at Bundamba racecourse, Ipswich; his first win was on Ourimbah, at Doomben, Brisbane, on 11 March 1939.

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alled up for full-time duty in the Militia on 19 January 1942, Sellwood served with postal units in Brisbane and at Townsville where a sympathetic commanding officer allowed him to ride trackwork and take mounts at local race-meetings. He topped the jockeys' premiership at Townsville in three successive years, winning 140 races from 290 mounts. Rather than calling different odds for each horse he rode, the bookmakers laid 'even-money Sellwood' for them all. At St James's Anglican Cathedral, Townsville, on 21 October 1944 he married Alwyn Grace Dinnar, a waitress; they were to have two daughters and a son.

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y the time he was discharged from the army on 2 May 1946, Sellwood enjoyed a growing reputation as a talented jockey. That year he joined the stables of Maurice McCarten, a Sydney trainer. The pair formed an extraordinary partnership. Within two years Sellwood had won the Sydney jockeys' premiership, a feat he would repeat five times. His first major wins were on Delta in 1949, in the Victoria Racing Club Derby and the W. S. Cox Plate.

Riding the same horse, he won the Melbourne Cup in 1951 and was rewarded by the owner (Sir) Adolph Basser with a Rolls Royce motorcar. He won three more V.R.C. Derbys (1953, 1959 and 1960), three Caulfield Cups (1950, 1951 and 1957), two Australian Jockey Club Derbys (1952 and 1953), two A.J.C. Epsom Handicaps (1956 and 1959), two A.J.C. Metropolitans (1951 and 1958), and the Queensland Turf Club Derby (1959). His second Melbourne Cup win in 1955, on Toparoa (trained by T. J. Smith), was controversial.

The lightly weighted Toparoa just held off the fast finishing topweight, Rising Fast. Sellwood was subsequently suspended for causing interference to Rising Fast, but, to the surprise of many, Toparoa was not disqualified and its connexions kept the cup.

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ellwood rode the champion horses, Tulloch and Todman, to twelve and ten victories respectively, including Todman's win in the inaugural Golden Slipper Stakes in 1957. Described by one English racing journalist as the 'complete jockey', he had an uncanny ability to read and judge pace and tactics in distance races. He was also shrewd in other ways. His ledgers, recording the form of every horse he had ridden, assisted him in choosing mounts. His manner was confident and easy, and he charmed owners and trainers alike. Enjoying the publicity and wealth that came with success, he wore expensive suits and earned the nickname 'Nifty', but he was no spendthrift, investing much of his earnings in shares, and in a sheep-property at Cudal, New South Wales.

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n 1950 Sellwood had travelled overseas, and won races in the United States of America and Britain. He returned to England in 1962 and achieved what was perhaps his greatest success, victory on Larkspur in the Derby. That year he also rode in France for the Aga Khan's stable and led the French jockeys' premiership with 102 winners. On 7 November 1962 he rode the misnamed Lucky Seven on a wet track at Maison Lafitte racecourse, near Paris. The horse slipped, fell and rolled on him, causing severe internal injuries. Sellwood was carried unconscious from the track and died on the way to hospital. Accompanied by his wife and their three children, his body was returned to Australia and buried with Catholic rites in Cudal cemetery. Yves St Martin, who also rode 102 winners to share the premiership, presented the prize, a golden whip, to Sellwood's widow.

NEVILLE SELLWOOD IN HIS OWN WORDS I

t is saddening in a way to write on Neville Sellwood.

He was arguably our greatest jockey. Many who still remember him describe him as true gentleman. Sellwood was an outstanding jockey in a time of many outstanding jockeys, but it is doubtful if any were his superior. Tragically his early death in a race fall in France has seen his memory fade far too rapidly. When he should be being revered as at least the equal of George Moore, another Queensland product, there are few that remember just what he did in the saddle. Not only was he a success in Australia, but he was heralded throughout the world. There was a series of articles written by him, or most likely by journalist Merv Williams for the Sporting Globe in late 1951 that told the life story of the jockey to then. Remembering it was over a decade until his death, he probably could only have dreamt of the success that was to come. It was said that early in his career, Sellwood had more falls than he had winners but

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a "no-hoper." I knew if I passed she would put up a mighty hard fight to get her way about my future. By this time the fires of my ambition were burning brightly. Barney Page, a horse trainer across the road from our home, supplied the fuel. When I was only nine. Barney used to let me ride an old hack of his called "Dollar." That old mare earned me my first mention as a horseman. She bolted with me one day on the way home from the blacksmith's shop and I became known in the neighborhood as "the boy who stuck on the bolting horse."

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that probably related more to bad luck and the time he had off than fact. Any could have been the fall that finished his career before it even started and this is one of the dangers facing jockeys every time they take to the track. Nothing here will ever do justice to the memory of Neville Sellwood, but here are some of the remarks made through that series that might just help to give an insight not only into the champion jockey, but into the champion bloke as well.

he mental side of a jockey's life is. in my opinion, more important than the physical side. If I didn't study the form of the horses, and the jockeys, before a race, the only wins I would score would be by going to the front and staying there. It takes a lot of study to memorise the colors and the riding characteristics of the jockeys and the form of all horses in a race. That’s what I strive to achieve. Then from the Thursday after acceptances have been declared, until race day, the real study is on. I try and memorise the positions of every horse in each race I am in. Then I study the riding styles and characteristics of the jockeys engaged.

From all that I get a mental picture of how the race is likely to be run. By knowing the colors and form of the horses, I know which ones to go with, or which to ignore during the race. I know the fast beginners and the slow ones; those with a chance and those not so fit and likely to last only to the home turn. That gives me an idea of what ones to follow, and how long to follow them. For instance, if I am on the heels of a horse I think will begin to stop after seven furlongs in a mile race it would be fatal to tail him after he's gone six furlongs. I'd find myself pocketed behind the tiring horse.

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remember I wanted to be a jockey. I suppose that was only natural. My dad had been a jockey and my mother was an experienced horsewoman. Her people were station owners. I think my size was another influencing factor in my ambition.

I was by far the smallest in a family of four boys and one girl.

I was so tiny I rode on trams and got into pictures for half fare long after I was entitled to the privilege. Dad was always keen on my becoming a iockey. But mother had hopes of me taking up law. She was guided by my school reports and, like most mothers, thought that riding horses in races was too risky for her son.

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other would have had her way if I hadn't been so keen on being a jockey that I cheated—to fail! When I was to sit for an examination which I thought I would pass I purposely told mum it was a waste of time because I was TURF MONTHLY 8

Sellwood on Prince Cortauld at the Washington International

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hen serving with the Army in Townsville, I was approached by a friend of Maurice McCarten to ride as No I jockey for that trainer's stable in Sydney. Teddy Bartle, who held that position, was about to retire and had suggested that I should take his place. This was the outcome of a friendship I had formed with Teddy on my first visit to Sydney in 1939. He was then No 1 jockey for Mr Jack Jamieson.

When Mr Jamieson retired and returned to New Zealand, Maurice McCarten took over his stables as a going concern.

Now 18 months later, Maurice wanted a jockey to take the place of Teddy Bartle. Naturally I was keen on the proposition but couldn't do much about it. No one knew how long the war would last. However, I promised would give it a trial if Maurice was still wanting a jockey when I was discharged from the Army. Peace was declared a few days after I had been transferred back to Brisbane in 1945. I thought, “This was OK, I would soon be out of the Army and then off to Sydney to ride in the big time." But fate had stacked the cards against me. At a big peace celebration race meeting in Brisbane a mare I was riding, called Calotte, fell when we had gone about two furlongs of a seven-furlong race, and my right leg was broken badly below the knee. This was only my third fall in a race and, fortunately my only serious injury. I have had three falls since. I came to in the Mater after an operation had disclosed my leg had been broken in five places. The pain I suffered was nothing compared to the mental agony I went through when told I might never ride again. It was another three months before I had my first ride in a race. That was at Ascot, the first post-war meeting on a grass track. I'll never forget going to the track that day. I felt like an actor on the eve of a new show, wondering whether he'd make good. But my fears were unfounded. I won on Black Law and was out of a place only once in seven rides. The following week I rode two more winners at Ascot, so it seemed as if I was back in form and naturally my thoughts turned to the proposition Maurice McCarten had made me. But all my hopes were dashed the following week. I was back in hospital. Dismounting hurriedly after riding work, I stepped on uneven ground and the break in my leg reopened. That put me on the sidelines for another four months. It was November when I had my next ride in a race. It was at Ascot again, but I had shaken off my jinx. I landed a winner "first up," and rode another winner later in the day. This time my luck held. The Sunday following those wins I received a phone call offering me a ride on Two Grand in the Melbourne Cup on the Tuesday. Two Grand had been unplaced in the VRC Derby that week so didn’t appear to have much chance in the Cup. I figured that the experience I would gain by riding in the big race might be valuable if ever I got a mount with a chance in the Cup. I finished fifth on Two Grand in the Cup. I had been back in Brisbane only two or three weeks when I received a letter from Teddy Bartle on behalf of Maurice McCarten, asking me to ride Wellington in the Villiers. That offer was a welcome surprise. It gave me the chance to prove myself to Maurice. But the offer wasn't

nearly as big a surprise as the letter coming from Ted Bartle.

Those closest to Ted are still wondering about what they rated as a miracle. They claim it is one of the only three letters ever penned by that great little horseman. Wellington ran third. I was satisfied. He had every chance, but tired over the mile.

Three days later I won on Wellington in a seven furlong race.

After that win I agreed to sell up my home in Brisbane to come to Sydney and ride as No 1 jockey for Maurice McCarten, an arrangement that has paid dividends for both of us.

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DELTA SELLWOOD’S FIRST CHAMPION SELLWOOD SAYS : DELTA THE GREATEST

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elta is the greatest horse I have ridden, and I think it is fitting that I should pay him separate tribute. Delta is the champion of champions in my book. When my new house is built it will be named in honor of that grand little horse. I'll never forget that Delta gave me my greatest thrill — winning the Melbourne Cup. Delta's most impressive win in the Mackinnon Stakes on Derby Day proved that he'd not only retained his AJC. Metropolitan winning form but was better than ever. Mr Basser, his owner and trainer Maurice McCarten, thought after that performance that Delta would win the Cup. But I wasn't so confident. Great horse that I knew Delta was, I just couldn't see him giving 13lb to the proved two milers, Morse Code and Akbar. I thought he'd run a place. Delta travelled well throughout the race and I always thought he had a chance. When Akbar dashed away about 1.5 furlongs from home I felt my first summing up was justified. Then I saw Akbar starting to tire. My hopes of victory rose. I think Delta, too, sensed victory, because he seemed to find a little bit extra as only champions can do. My heart pounded in my ears as Delta raced up to Akbar about 50 yards from the post. Then he accomplished what I thought was an impossible task — he won with his ears pricked. That was Delta's greatest performance. It was certainly a great spring carnival for me, as Basha Felika had given me the Caulfield Cup. A lot of the credit for Basha Felika's victory in the Caulfield Cup must go to that great old trainer Elwood Fisher. Iron Duke, on whom I'd won on Oaks day, blotted my copy book in Melbourne. He refused to leave the barrier in the CB. Fisher Plate. I was roasted plenty for not chasing the field. "Remember what Manfred did," said the wiseacres. But Iron Duke is no Manfred. Furthermore, I was acting on instructions given to me by Iron Duke's trainer, Lou Robertson. “If this fellow has one of his stubborn moments," said Mr Robertson, "You won't get nowhere using the whip. You'll get far better results by scolding him." I scolded him all right. What I said to Iron Duke that day wouldn't bear printing!”

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elta retired to stud as Australia’s leading stakes winner and was sold to the Thompson family at Widden Stud for an undisclosed price upon retirement. It was believed to be the highest ever paid in Australia for an unproven stallion. Sadly, Delta did not live up to his high price, but we will come to that a little later.

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e was a son of champion stallion Midstream who was a son of Blandford. He had won three stakes races over shorter distances in the UK and was to prove a quality stallion siring 39 stakes winners including not only Delta, but also the international champion, Shannon. The dam of Delta was the Magpie mare, Gazza who was also to produce Christopher Wren by Christopher Robin who won the Tasmanian Newmarket, and two full brothers to Delta in Midstream who won the VRC St Leger and Deep River, winner of the AJC Derby.

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elta traces to the Bruce Lowe number 1 family. More particularly his line traces to a mare called Otterden by Sheen who was imported into New Zealand in 1900 when in foal with her first stakes winner, Martian. She produced three stakes winners in Boniform, Martian and Sun God. Only Boniform won a stakes race in Australia in the AJC Breeders Plate but Martian came to Australia to perform creditably. More importantly, both were to become influential stallions with Martian producing horses like The Hawk and Rapine who won 20 and 19 stakes races on both sides of the Tasman respectively. He also sired Melbourne Cup winner, Sasanof. Boniform’s success was largely restricted to NZ but he produced 20 stakes winners there including dual Derby winner, Bon Reve, NZ and Auckland Cup winner, Scion and multiple stakes winner The Toff. Otterden’s influence has been an enduring one with the likes of Portfolio by Chatham, Conductor by Marconigram, and more recently Aragonce by Lake Coniston. It looks as if the family is becoming much more difficult to find, and it is in danger of being another of the great direct lines that are falling by the wayside in modern breeding. Martian and Boniform though continue to play a role. Martian was perhaps best known as the damsire of Nightmarch, Gaine Carrington

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Watch video in text mode and Red Jester, all successful racehorses and sires. Red Jester in particular can be found in the pedigree of champion Strawberry Road and his sire, Whiskey Road while Nightmarch can be found in the tail female line of Melbourne Cup winner, Jezabeel.

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elta was owned by Adolf Basser, a Sydney jeweller who had purchased him for 2,600 guineas. He was trained by Maurice McCarten which started the successful association between McCarten and Neville Sellwood. An interesting condition put on the sale of Delta after he retired from the track was that Basser had the pick of a colt from Delta’s first crop that was to be selected by McCarten and Frank Thompson of Widden Stud.

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elta started his career as a late 2yo in March 1949. He won twice and was placed twice from his four starts at that age but did not appear in any of the main races. He had only a brief let-up before returning as a 3yo in the Hobartville Stakes. Despite starting the 7/2 favourite, Delta disappointed in finishing eighth. He made amends at his next start in the Canterbury Guineas before running second in the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby behind Playboy. That colt created history by being the first Derby winner for both his young trainer, TJ Smith, and his jockey George Moore. Delta was then taken to Melbourne where he caused a sensation by downing Comic Court in the Cox Plate at his first start there at the juicy odds of 20/1. Neville Sellwood had to choose between riding Delta and ruling Melbourne Cup favourite Vagabond, but correctly chose the 3yo. In the race, Foxzami, who was to ultimately win the Melbourne Cup, led inside the last two furlongs with Persist, Delta and Iron Duke looking to challenge. The 5/4 favourite Comic Court at this stage was still held up on the inside in the field of thirteen. Delta hit the front on the turn with Comic Court now clear and chasing hard. It looked like the older horse was going to run down the youngster, but Delta was holding the champion on the line to win by a half-length with Persist finishing three lengths away in third. Delta then won the VRC Derby beating dead heaters Dickens and King’s Coin. He then ran in the Melbourne Cup, and started at 6/1 in the field of 31 runners but could only finish fifth behind Foxzami.

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fter a well-earned break, Delta returned for the Autumn by running fourth to Comic Court in the St George before winning the St Leger beating Playboy, and the King’s Plate beating Carbon Copy. He was second in the Rawson, fifth in the Chipping Norton and third in the AJC St Leger to round out his 3yo season. As a 4yo, he returned in the

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Warwick Stakes over 7f behind San Domenico. That season saw him win three of his eight starts in the Chelmsford, Colin Stephens and Randwick Plate but he did not perform at his best in the Melbourne Spring running fifth in the Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes before finishing second to Playboy in the CB Fisher Plate.

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elta’s five-year-old season was the one that cemented his place among the greats. He started 14 times for 11 wins. He again resumed in the Warwick Stakes this time finishing fifth to San Domenico who had won the previous year. Delta’s season including victories in the Chelmsford, Colin Stephens and Metropolitan but it was his time in Melbourne that cemented his reputation. He had only two starts in Melbourne in the Spring for a win in the Mackinnon Stakes before his Melbourne Cup win in 1951, with the unlucky Akbar finishing second in both races. Delta started at 10/1 in the Cup field of 28 with Akbar, Basha Felika and Hydrogen all at 7/1. Favourite for the race was Morse Code at 4/1 but he fell after clipping the heels of the leader as the field entered the straight while travelling strongly.

Fortunately, the rest of the field managed to avoid the fallen runner. Basha Felika who had won the Caulfield Cup was severely interfered with when Morse Code fell and may have been rated as the unlucky runner still managing to run fourth. Interestingly, Delta’s full brother Midway also started in the race and led until the turn out of the straight but dropped out to finish last. Akbar had managed to break clear of the field inside the last two furlongs and looked to have a winning break. Delta however under vigorous riding from Sellwood gradually overhauled him to win by three-quarters of a length. Third was the 50/1 shot, Double Blank who was a full brother to Chiquita. Owner Basser was a generous philanthropist and donated to both the Melbourne Hospital Appeal and Portsea Boys Camp out of his winnings. It had been a life-long ambition of Basser to win the Melbourne Cup and it was reported that he gave Neville Sellwood a “sling” of a new Rolls Royce for the win.

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he Autumn saw him Delta the St, George, Ercildoune Stakes, Queen’s Plate and Carbine Stakes in his final Melbourne appearances. The Ercildoune Stakes was an interesting race that was only held for five years at Flemington over 10f. The honour roll for the race was Aldershot, Delta, Comic Court twice and Russia. Delta continued his form in Sydney winning the Chipping Norton and Cumberland Stakes but suffered defeat in the Sydney Cup.

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e returned as a 6yo again in the Warwick Stakes, this time finishing seventh to Foreign Exchange. Delta then won the Chelmsford for the third time but then showed signs of lameness and was put out for a break to recover. During this time suffered an eye infection which threatened him with blindness. He was put back into work but still showed a pronounced weakness in action and Basser decided to retire him rather than risk a breakdown. Delta was officially retired in February 1952 to Widden Stud. His career was only brief, with the stallion dying in 1960.

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Delta sees a moderately inbred pedigree (7.81%) even though we do not see the closest duplication until the fifth generation. Importantly we see the mare Black Duchess who was the dam of the great stallion, Bay Ronald, among the closest duplications. Black Duchess is also found in the female line of Delta’s grand sire, Blandford. In the fifth generation we also see St Simon who also appears twice more in the sixth generation. St Simon’s sire, Gallopin also appears again in the sixth generation this time through a daughter. We also see Hampton in the fifth generation and another three lines of that stallion in the sixth generation. The stallion Bend Or also appears twice in the sixth generation.

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ADOLF BASSER THE OWNER Delta's win

by MURRAY WALSH Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic: 1922 - 1954), Saturday 10 November 1951,

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ydney jeweller, Mr A. Basser, whose horse Delta broke an 84-year-ofd record by winning the Metropolitan and Melbourne Cup in the same year, definitely believes in miracles. To use Mr Basser's own words, "Delta didn't win the Melbourne Cup just because he is the best horse in Australia but because Dame Fortune smiled and enabled crack Sydney lightweight, Neville Sellwood to be back in Australia to ride him."

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lans for Delta's dual staying success were complete in every detail but one when Mr Basser began a 63-day sea trip on the luxury liner Caronia early this year. Missing from the set-up was Sellwood, who was contracted to ride in England to the end of this year. Mr Basser met Sellwood several times in England and each time remarked that he wished he could be home to ride Delta in the spring. Afterall, no other jockey had ever been on him in a race. But Neville was tied up. Then the "miracle" happened. Mrs Sellwood was ordered home by her doctor and the plan was complete and the result — thanks to Delta — is history.

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s a jeweller, Mr Basser is first class — he is managing director of Saunders Ltd Jewellers — but as a trainer or rider of racehorses he is "clueless." For that reason, he leaves everything to Maurice McCarten and Sellwood.

Jim?" Mr Basser accepted the challenge, and commissioned Pike the following day to purchase a few horses and train them for him. Pike came to Melbourne, and the horse he bought was the mare Night of Love, who had won races for Mentone trainer Pat Quinlan. She won a couple of races for Mr Basser and, when mated with Hua after her racing days were ended, she became the dam of Lady Charming. Lady Charming won the Flight Stakes at Randwick for Mr Basser.

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r Basser saw the best horses in the world during his tour early this year and, although he isn't the type efore he bought Delta Mr Basser estimates that he who gets "married" to his own horses, he considers that spent about £50,000 on horses. Photos of the winners Delta is as good as any he saw. The Belmont Park Stakes of he has owned cover the walls of his home in Sydney, but 100,000 dollars, wouldn't have been beyond Delta, he said. they were not winners of important races and didn't win Mr Basser takes no credit at all for Delta's 14 wins and nearly nearly often enough. Delta's spring wins and a Hydrogen- £40,000 in prizemoney. "All I did was name him," said the Delta double almost squared the ledger for Mr Basser. To owner. And we might add that Delta is a grand name for the sum up, he has had 23 years of racing — "the best hobby son of Midstream and Gazza. a man can have for a diversion" — at no cost. Mr Basser nd what of the future? Delta will run in the weight-forwould probably never have worried about classics or cups age 13-furlong Princess Elizabeth Cup at Flemington had he not attended a farewell dinner given for Jim Pike in March, and in the Sydney Cup. The limit for the latter when that jockey decided to retire from race riding. Sydney race is 9.7. So, whatever way you look at it, Delta is going trainer the late Bill Kelso said to Mr Basser, after toasts were to beat the handicapper in the Sydney two-miler. The horse, drunk: "Why doesn't somebody do something practical for who is a five-year-old, will not go overseas.

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TURF MONTHLY 16

MAURICE McCARTEN THE TRAINER McCarten, Maurice Thomas Joseph (1902–1971)

by Richard Waterhouse

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 15, (MUP), 2000

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aurice Thomas Joseph McCarten (1902-1971), jockey and racehorse-trainer, was born on 17 September 1902 at Hawera, South Taranaki, New Zealand, son of John McCarten, a New Zealand-born groom, and his wife Mary, née O'Neil, from Ireland. Maurice was given trackwork from the age of 9 and apprenticed at 14 to the trainer Fred Tilley. His first winner was Merry Gain in Wellington. In the following years he won almost every major race in New Zealand and headed the jockeys' premiership twice.

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n Sydney on 18 August 1923, at his first appearance on an Australian racecourse, McCarten rode three winners at Canterbury; that year he won the first of four Australian Jockey Club Derbys, on Ballymena. After returning to New Cup with Columnist and the 1951 Melbourne Cup with Zealand, he came back again to Sydney and married with Delta; he also won many of the A.J.C.'s and Victoria Racing Catholic rites Mary Veronica O'Brien on 25 May 1925 at the Club's classic and weight-for-age races. The freak sprinter, Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Kensington. Next year Todman, won the Sydney Turf Club's inaugural Golden McCarten settled in Sydney and linked with the trainers Slipper Stakes by eight lengths in 1957 and the tough mare, Fred Williams and George Price. He rode more than a Wenona Girl, collected the Sires' Produce Stakes in Sydney thousand winners. The Melbourne and Caulfield cups and Melbourne and the A.J.C. Oaks in 1960. McCarten won eluded him, but his victories included four Brisbane (two on the Sydney trainers' premiership four times in succession Spear Chief, 1938, 1939) and two Sydney cups, two Victoria between 1948-49 and 1951-52, and finished second to T. J. Derbys and two Epsom handicaps. He was renowned as a Smith ten times. master of tactics, especially in the major races, but he did is fortunes declined from the mid-1960s. The not achieve the Sydney jockey's premiership until 1938-39.

State government resumed his stables for a (still His most famous ride was on Spear Chief which beat the unconstructed) section of the eastern suburbs railway.

40/1-on favourite Ajax in the 1939 Rawson Stakes.

Many of his racecourse friends were dead and his clients roubled by weight problems and lured by the abandoned him in favour of large-scale establishments. By opportunity to acquire the ailing J. T. Jamieson's stables, 1971 McCarten had only two poorly performed horses in horses and wealthy clients, in May 1942 McCarten was his stables. Survived by his wife, daughter and son, he died granted a trainer's licence by the A.J.C. From 1946 Neville of cancer on 10 June 1971 at his Randwick home and was Sellwood was his leading jockey. Among the most successful buried in Botany cemetery. He was a master horseman, horses McCarten trained were (Sir) Adolph Basser's Delta, capable—both as a jockey and trainer—of getting the best (Sir) Frank Packer's Columnist, Stan Wootton's Todman out of his charges. Despite his outstanding skills, exemplary and Noholme, and Knave, owned by T. C. Lowry from New character and likeable disposition, his later career indicates Zealand. As a trainer, McCarten won the 1947 Caulfield the fickle nature of the racing fraternity.

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TURF MONTHLY 17

TULLOCH SELLWOOD’S CHAMPIONS

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ulloch is perhaps one of the most written about of all Australian horses. He became the benchmark of a champion for a generation of racegoers, and his story is one of overcoming huge obstacles. Few will not be aware of the illness that kept him away from racing for two years and almost cost him his life. He was also the horse that cemented the reputations of at least three of Australia’s greatest racing personalities. Tulloch was inexorably linked with his trainer, a young TJ Smith who was making a big impact on racing in Sydney at the time. Tulloch led his career to stellar heights and his name was etched on Smith’s famed Tulloch Lodge for the remainder of his long career. Tulloch also became synonymous with jockey George Moore who rode him for much of his career. Few remember the great association the horse had with our feature jockey Neville Sellwood.

Both Moore and Sellwood gave up their seat on the champion to venture overseas, and for Sellwood this journey cost him his life. The other identity to be eternally linked to the name Tulloch is his vet, Percy Sykes who helped Smith nurse the horse through his illness, and eventually uncover the source of the trouble. While so much has been written about Tulloch, there are two areas that we want to look at more closely this month. Firstly, the great association of Tulloch and Sellwood, and secondly his rivalry both on the track, at

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stud, and in the Australian psyche with another great champion in Todman. Who could have imagined in late 1956 that two such horses would emerge from the same crop? Sadly, we are neglecting the eternal bridesmaid, Prince Darius who finished runner-up to Tulloch no less than eight times.

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ulloch was a son of Khorassan, an Irish bred stallion who stood in NZ. He won the 1957/58 Sires’ Title on the back of Tulloch’s performances and remarkably sired only nine winners for the season, such was Tulloch’s success. Khorassan by Big Game had won two stakes races in the UK in the GB Classic Trial Stakes and Dee Stakes both over 10f.

He was a very good stallion in NZ producing nineteen stakes winners although few won in Australia. Some of his best horses were Balloo and Colleridge who won multiple stakes races in NZ, and Perth Cup winner, Royal Khora. Tulloch was from the Salmagundi mare, Florida and was from a female family that had arrived in NZ around 1860. It had been a very good NZ family although few made it to Australia. One that did was Beresina who won the 1902 Oakleigh Plate. Florida herself had won the 1950 Avondale Cup and the family traced back to the Bruce Lowe number 24. Tommy Smith bought Tulloch as a yearling for only 750 guineas in 1956 at the Trentham. He had what was referred to as a swampy or sway back, but Smith offered him to Evelyn Angus Haley who named him after the Scottish town where his mother was born.

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ulloch made his racetrack appearance on 29 September 1956 when ridden by George Moore in the Breeders’ Plate at Randwick. The colt started 7/4 favourite in the field of fifteen but found Flying Kurana, a horse owned by George Ryder and by his good 2yo sire, Newtown Wonder. Tulloch had won his two barrier trials before the Breeders’ Plate but began slowly in the five-furlong dash and was running on strongly at the end 1.5 lengths behind the winner. In a portent of things to come, Prince Darius by Persian Book ran third. Tulloch won his second start in the Canonbury Stakes with Prince Darius second before Smith sent him to Melbourne. Regular rider George Moore did not ride the colt in Melbourne and Arthur Ward had the mount. Ward is best remembered for his association with Smith’s first Melbourne Cup winner, Redcraze. Tulloch won two races there and was second to Concert Star in the Maribyrnong Plate. He then returned to Sydney for a TURF MONTHLY 19

well-earned rest having started five times in his 2yo season between 29 September and 8 November for those who want an interesting discussion on the merits of early 2yo racing.

The following Autumn saw him beaten in Sydney before again heading to Melbourne where he won the Sires’ Produce and twice running second. Back in Sydney with George Moore again in the saddle, Tulloch won the Fairfield Stakes beating Prince Darius while carrying the steadier of 9.5 (59.5kg). He was not eligible for the inaugural Golden Slipper won by Todman but instead went straight to the AJC Sires’ Produce for the first clash between the two colts. At set weights in a field of only three runners over 7 furlongs, Tulloch inflicted the first defeat on the boom colt, Todman. The two met again in the Champagne Stakes over 6 furlongs only five days later this time with Tulloch giving Todman 10 lbs or 4.5kg in weight. Todman was at his brilliant best that day.. Tulloch had one final start as a 2yo, going to Brisbane to win the Qld Sires’ Produce giving him a treble in what was then the premier 2yo races.

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s a 3yo, Tulloch was to win 14 of his 16 starts, and was joined by Neville Sellwood on two occasions that season. Sellwood first rode the champion to win the 1957 Caulfield Cup, and again in the CB Fisher Plate now the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes. In the Caulfield Cup, carrying only 7.8 (48 kg) Tulloch won in 2:26.9, the fastest time in the world for a mile and a half on turf.

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mong the other wins as a 3yo was a victory in the AJC Derby where he eclipsed the race record that had been held for 28 years by Phar Lap. He won that race by six lengths again with Prince Darius in second place, after he had beaten that same horse a couple of weeks earlier in the Rosehill Guineas. Tulloch also completed the 3yo classic treble of the VRC, AJC and QTC Derbies. His only two defeats came in his first two runs in the Autumn in Melbourne. In the St George Stakes he was beaten for the first time by old rival Prince Darius, while his next start saw Tulloch run third to Sailor’s Guide who he had beaten in the St George Stakes, and Prince Darius in the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

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he biggest story of his 3yo season though was that he did not run in the Melbourne Cup of that year. After demolishing the field in the Caulfield Cup, he was a short-priced favourite for the two mile race and it was rumoured that TJ Smith had wagered £33,000 to £1,000 that Tulloch would win the Cups double. Owner Haley though was averse to

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running a 3yo in the race, and after some alleged heated discussions, he finally won out.

It is unfortunate though that Tulloch was denied his best chance to have his name etched on that Cup. It was won that year by Straight Draw from Prince Darius who Tulloch had beaten effortlessly on the previous Saturday in the Derby.

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ulloch was to not race between his win at Randwick in the Queen Elizabeth on 12 April 1958 until he lined up for the Queen’s Plate at Flemington on 12 March 1960. Grand plans had been put forward to take the great horse overseas, but in May he fell ill with a stomach complaint. He suffered recurring bouts of infection over the next two years. But he finally returned to racing, this time with Neville Selwood on board and he would ride the champion for the rest of the year. In 1960, Tulloch had thirteen starts for ten wins, two seconds, and the only unplaced run in his career, the Melbourne Cup. This was to add to the two previous wins Sellwood had on the legend.

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he return of Tulloch in the Queen’s Plate had been hugely anticipated although few really thought that he would be anywhere near his best. He lined up in a field of four that included the great Melbourne her, Lord over 10f. The two waged a titanic struggle with Tulloch gaining the upper hand much to the delight of backers who had taken the generous 4 to 1 against the champion. Our star finished his five year old season with wins in the Chipping Norton, Queen Elizabeth and Autumn Stakes in Sydney, beating old rival Prince Darius into second for the last time in the Autumn Stakes. Tulloch then went to Brisbane to win the PJ O’Shea Stakes before a well-earned break. Returning as a 6yo for Selwood, Tulloch won the Chelmsford Stakes before running second in both the Colin Stephens and George Main. He bounced back to win the Craven Plate at Randwick before heading to Melbourne to win the Cox Plate when starting the 2/1 favourite. The champion had settled towards the rear off a quick tempo headed by top colt, Sky High. Sellwood made his move around the 5f mark circling the field and catching other jockeys by surprise.

Dhaulugiri went with Tulloch and the two had a stirring battle the length of the straight with Tulloch slowly getting the upper hand to win by a half-length. Tulloch then won the Mackinnon Stakes before his Melbourne Cup loss to Hi Jinx. Sellwood was blamed by many for Tulloch’s defeat in the Cup. He had travelled near last in the field of 32 and finished fifth.

Sellwood however maintained that Tulloch never gave him anything at any stage and as

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soon as had jumped he knew he was beaten. The following Saturday though Tulloch was back to his brilliant best winning as he liked from a good field that included Dhaulagiri who had run second to him in the Cox Plate.

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ulloch returned in the Autumn for his last campaign before going to stud. He was closing in on the feat of becoming the first Australian horse to ever earn over £100,000 and with George Moore back in the saddle with Sellwood riding overseas, it seemed a formality that this milestone would be reached quickly. Things did not go to plan with the champ running third to Dhaulagiri first up in the St George Stakes at Caulfield. He then finished third again at his next two runs, both times behind Lord in the Queen’s Plate and Queen Elizabeth at Flemington. Back in Sydney, Tulloch was second to Persian Lyric, ironically a full brother to Prince Darius, in the Invitation Stakes at Randwick. The champion then returned to the winner’s circle in the Queen Elizabeth and Autumn Stakes, taking his prizemoney tantalising close to the magic figure. Surely he would break that mark in the Sydney Cup, a race that was long talked about as being his racetrack finale. A slow tempo and a big weight meant that a gallant Tulloch had to settle again for second behind Sharply. He was beaten under a length after giving the younger galloper a whopping 32 lbs (14.5kg) in the two-mile event. Tulloch’s prizemoney was just over £97,973 with his £3,000 second place cheque. Tommy Smith insisted that it was never their intention to retire Tulloch after the Sydney Cup and he ran second in a special Caltex Quality put on for him.

The champion then went to Adelaide to win the Pullman Stakes before going to Brisbane for his farewell. He again won the PJ O’Shea before his last start in the 1961 Brisbane Cup on 12 June 1961. Tulloch faced off against Sharply, this time meeting him 10 lbs better off but still giving a massive 22lbs (10 kgs) in weight. This time the result was never seriously in doubt and Tulloch was given a fitting send off to a remarkable career. The crowd’s response was among the most generous seen on an Australian racetrack and reduced TJ Smith to tears.

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ulloch retired to stud at the Haley’s Te Koona property near Bathurst which Haley had established in 1914. Evelyn Haley was to pass away in March 1963 when Tulloch’s first foals were about six months old.

is success off the track was disappointing for even a more moderate racehorse. He produced only two stakes winners in Dahma Star who won the STC Christmas Cup and Valide who won the South Australian Oaks. Tulloch only managed a handful of city winners although he did cover reasonable crops of mares earlier in his career. TJ Smith was actually sent to the UK to purchase suitable mares for the stallion by Mr Haley so few could argue that Tulloch did not have every chance. With a fee of around 500 guineas, Tulloch was one of the more expensive stallions of his day. Consideration had been given to a proposal from the National Stud in England to lease Tulloch for three years starting in 1962 which had assured payments of more than £80,000 for Tulloch's services. Ultimately the lease never happened, but perhaps it would have changed the Tulloch legacy had it occurred. In 1967 Tulloch was sold at an auction of the dispersal of Te Koona stock for $13,020 to the wife of the owner. A mystery bidder, acting for Mrs Margot Haley, bought Tulloch, after a spirited bidding duel with TJ Smith. Tulloch died at Peter Haley's stud at Warkton, near Coonabarabran, NSW on 30 June 1969 at the age of fifteen.

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Tulloch shows a pedigree that has relatively little inbreeding (4.69%). We see that Phalaris, who remains a dominant influence in modern pedigrees, is the closest duplication appearing in the third and fifth generations. The other duplication is that of Gallinule in the sixth generation.

Arguably it was the presence of Phalaris that was critical to the phenomenal success of Tulloch. Even though Phalaris was born some 40 years before Tulloch, his true greatness was not realised until a little later through the emergence of the immortal Northern Dancer who now dominates world breeding. There is an argument to suggest that Tulloch represented Australia’s first real introduction to the importance of Phalaris who was to cement his influence around the same time with sires like Wilkes from the Phalaris line emerging locally at the same time.

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TULLOCH HIS INFLUENCE

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ulloch produced only the two stakes winners, and only a handful of winners. He produced daughters who bred on, yet few of them had success at stud themselves.

Perhaps his best daughter was Tulrigo who produced a son by Prince Max called Tullmax who was to win the 1980 George Main Stakes and the Listed NSW Tramway Stakes. Another daughter called True Beauty was to produce a son called Sydney Cove by Bogan Road who won the 1974 Canterbury Guineas. He went to stud but produced little of note.

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ulloch also produced a daughter called Tullette who produced a daughter by Le Cordonnier called Cordonette. She was to produce a son by Scrupules called Jam City who won the Hobart Cup in 1996. Tullette also produced a daughter by Ballyhot called Scalding. She won three races from 1000m to 1600m including one race in Sydney. She was mated with Lunchtime to produce Cafeteria who won fifteen races including the Listed Fosters Classic, One Thousand Guineas, Gold Sovereign and Carbine Club Stakes in her local Tasmania. Ballyhot was mated with Opera Prince to produce Tulloch Opera who won eighteen races and was twice stakes placed in the Listed National Sprint Handicap in Canberra. Another stakes-placed daughter of Ballhot was Café Who by Kenvain who won seven races and was placed in the Listed Tasmanian One Thousand Guineas. Perhaps her most enduring influence, and that of Tulloch is through a mating with Bureaucracy which produced Scalding Hot. In turn, Scalding Hot produced Hotnuff by Spartacus who was able to win over 1600m She was to produce a colt by Written Tycoon called Rich Enuff who had his first start in late march 2014 as a 2yo to run third behind Bullpit in a 2yo Handicap. He excelled as a 3yo winning the Listed McKenzie Stakes, G2 Danehill Stakes and G3 Guineas Prelude before running second to Shooting To Win in the G1 Caulfield Guineas. He then took on the older horses in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes behind Brazen Beau. Rich Enuff now stands at Woodside Park in Victoria where he has been popular with breeders. With his oldest progeny now 3yo’s, Rich Enuff has produced two stakes winners to date in Dosh who won the G3 VRC Ottawa Stakes, and Plutocrat who won the Listed Tatt’s Qld Winning Edge Stakes.

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TODMAN SELLWOOD’S CHAMPIONS

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odman was perhaps the first true superstar 2yo in Australian racing and he holds a special place in history. Almost singlehandedly, Todman was the horse that established the Golden Slipper, and cemented the reputation of his sire, Star Kingdom. He was trained by former champion Sydney jockey, Maurice McCarten and ridden in every start by Neville Sellwood. Rather surprisingly, Todman stood only a touch over 15.1 hands.

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he colt was from the third crop of emerging superstar stallion, Star Kingdom who had been brought to Australia by Stanley Wootton. Not only did Wootton import Star Kingdom, but he also brought from England Todman’s dame, Oceana. Star Kingdom had been a quality racehorse winning nine of his sixteen starts including five of six as a 2yo.

Todman was from the stallion’s third crop in 1954 and despite the stallion producing stakes winners from his first two crops, it was Todman who cemented the stallion’s reputation as Australia’s leading sire. Oceana was later to produce the full brother to Todman in Noholme who won seven stakes races in Australia including an Epsom and Cox Plate before being sold to US where he stood with good success. Oceana was a daughter of the Colombo, an English stallion who had won six stakes races including the time honoured Two Thousand Guineas. He was a good stallion who produced ten stakes winners like Chesham and July Stakes winner, British Empire, Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner, Claro, and Nassau and Coronation Stakes winner, Olein.

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he colt made his debut on 22 December 1956, at a time when Tulloch looked to be the top 2yo of the season for the Sydneysiders. Todman’s relatively late start was a result of regular shinsoreness in his early preparations. He won the December Juvenile over 5f and

immediately created history by setting an Australasian record of 57.8, the first time a horse had set a record at its first start since the great Gloaming had done so in winning the Chelmsford at his first start in 1918. Sellwood let Todman run freely in the race, and he led by six lengths at the turn, increasing the margin to ten at the finish despite being eased up. Four days later, on Boxing Day, Todman backed up to win the December Stakes over 6f also at Randwick. Sellwood never had the colt off the bit in the race as he cruised to three length win from Goldenway with Prince Darius in third. Each of the five other runners in the race had metropolitan victories to their credit, and Todman’s victory stamped him as the one to beat in the new Golden Slipper to be run in March. McCarten put the colt away in preparation for his tilt at history.

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he glamour colt returned to racing on 20 March 1957 in a Welter at Rosehill against a field of 18. He again won impressively over the 6f and then it was on to the Golden Slipper. Arguably there has never been a more dominant display in the race, and the 6/1 on favourite made it a procession beating Flying Kurana. The win of such a champion colt

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Watch video in text mode was critical in establishing the reputation of the race. Two weeks later Todman stepped out again as the 6/1 on favourite over the 7f of the Sires’ Produce at Randwick failing to find his spark and was easily reeled in by Tulloch who won convincingly by 2 lengths in the small field. Five days later, the pair faced off again, with punters prepared to forgive Todman’s substandard performance sending him out as the 6/1 on favourite in the 6f Champagne Stakes. Sellwood used Todman’s brilliant speed to lead easily, with Tulloch failing to make much impression over the shorter trip. The pair would sadly never meet on the racetrack again.

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odman returned as a 3yo to win the Hobartville Stakes over 7f and then the Canterbury Guineas over 9.5f. The star then raced against the older horses in the wfa Hill Stakes which attracted a quality field of five runners. Todman was all the rage starting at 2/1 on but created a sensation when he was unplaced for the first and only time in his career, running fourth behind Redcraze. Todman raced with his hind legs heavily bandaged and was slightly sore when he returned to the saddling enclosure. The Derby programme for the colt was abandoned and he was sent to the paddock. He returned for the following Autumn, but soreness continued. He had an operation on his off-hind leg and was again sent back to the paddock at Baramul Stud to recuperate.

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t was not until December 1959 that Todman would race again. He won a Flying Handicap at Canterbury over 6f. He then went to Melbourne to win the 5f Lighting at Flemington in February, and the Futurity Stakes at Caulfield a month later over 7f. Todman returned to Sydney but again suffered leg issues. His part owner, Wootton said "Todman showed some of his old form in trackwork yesterday, but later in the day he developed trouble in a ligament on the near foreleg.” He was examined by a vet and connections were told that Todman could suffer a breakdown if he raced again. Wootton said he would take no more risks with Todman, who was immediately retired to stud where he proved an outstanding success.

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Todman has a pedigree that is worthy of a closer look not only because he was so outstanding, but he had an exceptional full brother in Noholme.

Even though the first duplication in the pedigree is a 4x5 cross of Chaucer, the pedigree is relatively heavily inbred (10.55%). We see that two lines of Orby and three of Sunstar appear in the fifth generation, and there are three lines of Cyllene in the sixth generation. What may be critical though is that we see both the sire and dam of Chaucer in St Simon and Canterbury Pilgrim appearing through other descendants in the sixth.

Star Kingdom is often viewed in terms of the presence of his grand sire in Hyperion who no doubt plays a critical role in that stallion’s success.

The pedigree of Todman certainly illustrates that there was a lot more to Star Kingdom than simply the presence of Hyperion.

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TODMAN HIS INFLUENCE

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odman had a spectacular start as sire. His first crop saw that double and added the Warwick Stakes, Theo Marks him become leading First Season Sire winning £34,045 Quality and the JT Delaney Stakes in Brisbane. Todwana in stakes in the 1963-64 season. This was £12,065 above was a Queensland sensation winning his seven stakes races the previous Australian first crop record set by champion in Brisbane including the Hopeful Stakes, Sires’ Produce, French stallion Wilkes in the 1959-1960 season. Wilkes Brisbane Handicap, Doomben Stakes and JT Delaney. had set the mark with nine individual winners of seventeen odman had fifteen sons go to stud with five of these races in his first season for a total of £21,980 in prizemoney. having sons of their own continuing the Todman legacy.

This, in turn, had beaten the previous first-crop record held Imposing was by far the best sire son of Todman producing

by Todman's sire, Star Kingdom, who produced the winners 22 stakes winners and he was to stand in New Zealand. of 18 races and £21,318 in the 1954-55 season. Todman Among these were WA champion, Importune who counts produced 10 winners of 18 races for his record-breaking their Guineas and Derby among his seven stakes victories. total of £34,045 during the season. The winners included Imposera won the SA Oaks, VRC Wakeful and Caulfield Eskimo Prince whose dam was the great mare Chicquita, Cup while Solveig was a wonderful NZ mare who won and Todwana. Eskimo Prince was owned by the renowned nine stakes races in that country and went on to produce punter Perc Galea of Sydney. Eskimo Prince won four of Greig who won the AJC Stan Fox before becoming a good his only five starts as a two-year-old. Throughout his career, sire in his own right. Without fail the most impressive of Todman was to sire 39 stakes winners although few if any Imposing’s progeny was Super Impose, another Australian were better than Eskimo Prince. In all that colt won seven Racing Hall of Fame entrant. We will look at his career a little stakes races including the Breeder’s Plate, Silver Slipper, more closely in a moment. Blazing Saddles was another of Golden Slipper and AJC Sires’ Produce as a 2yo, the Rosehill the more successful of Todman’s sons at stud. He produced Guineas, and Canterbury Stakes as a 3yo, and the STC Hill eleven stakes winners with his best in Australia likely to Stakes at four. Another multiple stakes-winners produced be that very good filly, Heat Of The Moment who won the

by Todman was the top 2yo Blazing Saddles who won a Blue George Ryder and Chipping Norton Stakes in Sydney. It Diamond and Black Opal among his five stakes wins at that might surprise some to know that Blazing Saddles was only age. Crewman was among the most versatile of Todman’s originally at Woodlands Stud in NSW for three seasons progeny winning from the 1400m of the Futurity, William before being sold to France where he stood until 1989. In Reid and Toorak Handicap to the 2000m of the Australian France he produced the 1992 champion European sprinter Cup. Imposing was to win four stakes races including the Mr Brooks. Returning to Australia, Blazing Saddles went to George Main and Epsom, while Ricochet also completed Willowgrove Stud in South Australia, but was later moved TURF MONTHLY 30

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to Oaklands Stud in Queensland. In fact, Queensland had ne of the most remarkable descendants of Todman is something of a love affair with Todman. Not only was the wonderful NZ stallion Savabeel who won the 2004 Todwana a successful racehorse there, but he also went Spring Champion Stakes on his way to winning the Cox Plate. on to become a good local stallion in that State. In fact, The son of Zabeel has been an outstanding sire with over Todman had other sons in Beaches, Crewman, Hemisphere 100 stakes winners to his credit including Lucia Valentina, and Seaman all at stud there.

Shillelagh and Savvy Coup. Savabeel is out of Alma Mater

by Semipalatinsk who is a son of Nodouble. Alma Mater’s odman also made his mark as a broodmare sire. One second dam is Virginia who is a daughter of Todman. This daughter of Todman called Briar’s Toddy was served is even more interesting when we see that one of Savabeel’s

by Seventh Hussar to produce a mare called Ruby. She was recent G1 winners is Probabeel whose dam traces back to a to produce three stakes winners in Rory’s Power, Euclase daughter of Todman. It seems that Todman’s influence will and Rubiton. Euclase won six stakes races including the G1 continue at the forefront of the Australian thoroughbred for Goodwood in Adelaide. He was a solid stallion producing many generations to come. seven stakes winners with his best the G1 winner La Baraka.

La Baraka is the dam of Alizes by Rory’s Jester, the dam of Essaouira who has proven a remarkable broodmare producing Astern by Medaglia D’Oro who won the Golden Rose in Sydney and is now a promising stallion shuttling to the US for Darley. Another of Essaouira’s progeny is Tassort

by Brazen Beau who is also at stud, but by far the best of her progeny is the outstanding Alizee by Sepoy who has won none stakes races to date including three G1 wins in the Flight, Queen Of The Turf and Futurity Stakes. Rubiton

by Century was an outstanding racehorse, winning eight stakes races including four G1’s in the Cox Plate, Futurity, Underwood and Mackinnon Stakes. He was perhaps an even better sire producing 42 stakes winners including Stradbroke and George Main winner, Adam, dual Cox Plate winner, Fields Of Omagh, Salinger winners Flavour and Rubitano, and Doncaster winner Patezza.

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DULCIFY THE TRAGIC HERO

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t would not be fitting to talk about Todman without talking about Dulcify who was out of a daughter of Todman in Sweet Candy. Dulcify may well represent the greatest tragedy in Australian horse racing. He was at his peak, and a dominant favourite in the Melbourne Cup of 1979 when galloped on by eventual winner, Hyperno. Dulcify fractured his pelvis in the incident and was humanely euthanized on course. It brought to a close a fairy tale twelve months for connections which had started with a win at the incredible odds of 330 to 1 in Adelaide, a second in the SA Derby and a crushing Victoria Derby win the year before.

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ulcify traces back to a mare called Cinna who is akin to royalty in many thoroughbred circles. She herself was a champion, winning the Coronation Stakes and One Thousand Guineas in England in 1920. Her son, Beau Pere was to become one of Australia’s leading stallions of the day, siring a host of great horses. So influential was he that the stallion attracted the attention of filmmaker Louis Mayer who purchased the horse for stud duties in the US where he continued to find success. Other sons of Cinna in Balloch and Mr Standfast were to stand at stud in Australia and NZ with considerable success. It was a stakes-winning daughter of Cinna in Belle Mere who produced Sugar Kandy who was sent to NZ where she was to foal two noted fillies in Sweet Nymph and Sweet Spray, both winners of the NZ Oaks. Apart from Dulcify, Sweet Nymph’s direct line was to give us 1977 Melbourne Cup winner, Gold And Black. The line of Belle Mere incidentally produced the Champion Japanese stallion, Sunday Silence.

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espite Dulcify’s rich heritage, he was considered a relatively unwanted foal, being parrot-mouthed, a genetic condition akin to a severe overbite which certainly affects the ability of a horse to graze normally, and one which can see afflicted horses struggle to maintain condition. As a result, he was knocked down to legendary trainer, Colin Hayes for the meagre sum of NZ$3500. The horse was soon gelded, and after a brief 2yo preparation that did not see him on a racetrack, he was sent to the paddock to mature and develop. He returned as a 3yo and missed trialling because he got down in the float on the way to the

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track. As a result, he appeared in his first race at Morphettville over 1200m on a bog track without any publicly disclosed form. Starting at odds of up to 330 to 1, Dulcify belied the generosity of the bookies to win with a late surge against the outside fence. He was beaten into fifth at his next start but won his third outing over 1600m. His fourth career start was in the SA Derby where he finished a close second, being caught only in the last few strides of the race. Dulcify then went to Melbourne where he ran third at Moonee Valley before his VRC Derby tilt. He won going away by a length and a half, and instead of going for a spell, Hayes pressed on to the Sandown Cup where he ran sixth after a chequered run. Dulcify then flew to Perth for the Summer Carnival but he struggled on the hard tracks for a second and a fourth in the WA Derby.

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ulcify did not fancy being loaded onto the plane for the journey home, and broke free of his handler. Fortunately, he was caught without injury, but Ansett Airlines refused to carry him. Connections then had to float the gelding across the Nullabor but again near disaster struck when the float broke down some 150 miles from Ceduna. Fearing the extreme heat and its effects, handler Terry Ryan hitchhiked into the town where he managed to arrange a float to retrieve the horse. They spent the next few days in Ceduna while repairs were made and Dulcify was to spend much of the time standing in the ocean to keep cool. When he finally returned to the Hayes base at Angaston, Colin Hayes is reported as saying that Dulcify was the first horse he had ever seen dive into the water there.

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otwithstanding these dramas Dulcify was back on a bog track in the Schweppes Cup after only a short spell. He finished well back, but, undaunted, connections pressed on to the Australia Cup. He ran down fellow Hall of Famer, Manikato in the final stages of the race again at the bountiful odds of 80 to 1. It was then off to Sydney for wins in the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby with a close second in the Tancred Stakes in between. His AJC Derby victory certainly came with its share of drama, with him being beaten a length

by Double Century who ran out over the concluding stages certainly inconveniencing Dulcify. The subsequent protest was upheld and Dulcify’s name etched in history. Dulcify then could relax with a good break until the Spring.

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ulcify again was to fail at his first up run over the unsuitable distance of 1000m in Adelaide. Returning to Melbourne he won the Craiglee before running third in the Underwood Stakes. Dulcify then won the Turnbull, Cox Plate and Mackinnon Stakes underlying his class before the ill-fated day in November 1979.

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SUPER IMPOSE ANOTHER GREAT TODMAN LEGACY

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uper Impose is an interesting addition to the ranks of Champion Australian gallopers, but it would be remiss to mention Imposing and Todman without referring to this amazing galloper. His pedigree is the epitome of the New Zealand thoroughbred in many ways. Super Impose was also a champion who did not always show his class, at least certainly in his early career. Unlike many that share his NZ heritage, he was also not at home on wet tracks. It raises a very interesting question as to track conditions and their influence on the breed. Given the years of drought that Australia sees, there have certainly been times when horses have gone for years without encountering wet tracks. Sires suffer the same drawbacks, and many have no doubt been discarded because their progeny have not had track conditions to suit.

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uper Impose was purchased by trainer, Lee Freedman as a yearling in New Zealand. He did not hit the racetrack until December in his 3yo season. His appearance at the races had been delayed by injury, when tendon issues were identified in the early stages of being broken in. Time is a great healer, and when Super Impose stepped out, it was with a three and a half length win over 1200m at Seymour. It was a year later, in November 1988 that Super Impose had his first city win, in the Listed Eclipse Stakes at Sandown. From there, it was off to Sydney which stamped him as a horse of real potential, with two wins including the Summer Cup. After a spell, Super Impose stepped up to the top line gallopers, with a second in the CF Orr Stakes behind Vo Rogue. In all, Super Impose would be beaten by Vo Rogue on five occasions.

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uper Impose was clearly a great racehorse, but it was his wins in the G1 mile races in Sydney that stamped him as special. He was to win the Doncaster and Epsom double in both 1990 and 1991, and also won the Chipping Norton over the same distance in 1991. As a galloper whose racing pattern was to get back in his races, his wins were always spectacular, and the crowd certainly got behind this wonderful horse.

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erhaps more importantly even than his great Sydney mile victories was his second place in the Melbourne Cup of 1989 that put the galloper fairly in the sights of the Australian public. His second behind stablemate Tawriffic highlighted the skills of his trainer, Lee Freedman, and helped catapult Super Impose into the headlights of the once a year punter that step out only for the Cup. Super Impose was to race twice more in the Melbourne Cup,

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in both 1992 and 1993. His fifteenth behind Subzero on a slow track was to be his last race start.

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or such a wonderful horse, Super Impose did not start in a Cox Plate until he was a 7yo, where he ran second to another NZ bred horse in Surfers Paradise. His second last race start in October 1993 was to be one his finest moments, winning the Cox Plate at only his second attempt as an 8yo, this time beating another Kiwi raider in Kinjite. His final start fittingly was in the Melbourne Cup where he finished fifteenth behind Subzero on a slow track. As he spelled to return for another Autumn in Sydney, Super Impose was found to be suffering from arthritis and effects of his age and hard racing. He was officially retired on 16 February 1993.

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espite the relatively slow start to his career, Super Impose raced on 74 occasions, amassing a total of over $5.5 million in prizemoney. Super Impose is certainly a product of New Zealand. While being by Imposing, an Australian bred son of Todman by Star Kingdom, the stallion was sold to New Zealand for stud duties. Interestingly he had also won two of the Sydney mile races in the Epsom and George Main of 1979. But it is the female line of Super Impose that goes to the essence of the NZ thoroughbred. His female line traces to a mare called Winnie by Kingfisher, who although being born in Australia, was one of the true foundation mares of NZ breeding.

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innie had been bred in 1878 NZ by James Roulston, who raced the mare, and her subsequent progeny. She was out of a mare called Dolly Varden that was believed to have been purchased in Sydney by a Major Lusk of Auckland. What is quite remarkable is that Winnie was to miss at her fourth season at stud and put back into work as a racemare where she went on to win a number of races before returning to the breeding barn. Among her best progeny was a horse called Record Reign who won the 1899 Avondale Cup. This line has also become what is known to many as the “Pheroz” family. A descendant of Winnie in Rosandra was mated with the French stallion, Pherozshah to produce Pheroz Girl. Pheroz Girl produced the stakes winning Pheroz Pride. In turn, this mare was to produce another stakes winner in Pheroz Jewel. While she was not to give us a stakes winner, it was her daughter, Pheros Fancy who produced Super Impose.

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LARKSPUR SELLWOOD’S CHAMPIONS

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arkspur represents one of jockey Neville Sellwood’s most famous moments by winning the English Derby of 1962.

By then, Sellwood was well established as an international rider, and was the leading jockey in France for the season.

Larkspur was a fortunate winner of a race that saw seven runners including the favourite Hethersett fall.

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Raymond R. Guest. He raced four times as a 2yo, winning his maiden at his second start by three lengths and finishing a close third in the National Stakes. As a 3yo Larkspur earned his place in the Derby field by winning the Wills Gold Flake Stakes over one and a half miles at Leopardstown. At Epsom, in front of a crowd estimated at 400,000, Larkspur started a 22/1 outsider in a field of twenty-six. The fall in the Derby resulted in one horse being destroyed and four jockeys being hospitalised. Neville Sellwood and Larkspur were just behind the fallen horses. Sellwood said, "The horses fell right in front of me. I had a narrow escape.” Larkspur took the lead two furlongs out and stayed on strongly in the closing stages to win by two lengths from the Frenchtrained colts Arcor and Le Cantilien. Larkspur started only three more times following the Derby. He was fourth behind Tambourine in the Irish Derby at the end of June starting as the 9/4 favourite. He was then narrowly beaten

by Sicilian Prince in the Blandford Stakes before running sixth of fifteen runners in the St Leger at Doncaster behind Hethersett.

orn in Ireland, Larkspur was trainer Vincent O’Brien’s first of six Derby winners. He was a son of Never Say Die who was by Nasrullah out of a War Admiral mare.

Never Say Die became the first US bred horse in 73 years to win the English Derby with his victory in 1954. Larkspur’s Derby victory helped his sire to the Champion Sire’s title of 1962. Larkspur was out of the mare, Skylarking by Precipitation. Skylarking was to go on to produce another stakes winner in Ballymarais who won the G2 Dante Stakes at York over 10f. We know this family best as one that brought to Australia the line that produced Blevic and full siblings, Universal Prince and Universal Queen, all by quality stallion, Scenic. Blevic won six stakes races including the VRC Sires’ Produce and Derby at Group 1 level. He was to become a quality sire with 26 stakes winners including arkspur went to stud in Ireland for three seasons before Blevvo who won the 2002 WATC Fruit and Veg Stakes now being exported to Japan in 1967. He had limited success the Kingston Town Classic. Universal Prince was the winner in either country but did sire Crazy Rhythm who won the of four Group 1 races in the Spring Champion Stakes, AJC 1974 Ormonde Stakes. Crazy Rhythm was to go to stud Derby, Canterbury Guineas and Ranvet Stakes. His sister, in Australia where he produced two stakes winners in Universal Queen won the Group 1 Robert Sangster in Black Shiraz winner of the Strutt Stakes in Tasmania and Adelaide and three other stakes races.

Sir Rhythmic who won the 1986 VRC Grand National Hurdle. He is found as the second damsire of the popular ike his sire, Larkspur was a chestnut with a white blaze.

Australian horse, The Cleaner who won five stakes races He was bred in Ireland by Philip Love and sold at the including twice winning the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes Ballsbridge Sales where he was bought for 12,200gns by at Moonee Valley.

Vincent O'Brien on behalf of the American businessman

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NEW STALLIONS AT THE YEARLING SALES 2021

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INVADER AQUIS

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nvader is another well performed and well related son of Snitzel now at stud. He joins a growing list of over 20 sons of that stallion now at stud in Australia. It is reminiscent of the impact of the great Danehill at his peak when most studs throughout the land thought it necessary to offer a son of his among their stallion roster. We know that Danehill produced a lot of good sons, but he also produced a lot that did very little. How will this play out not only with Snitzel, but other stallions like Exceed And Excel, Fastnet Rock and others?

Probably with a similar result if history is anything to go by, and it is no coincidence that we mentioned stallions all tracing to Danehill. In the case of Danehill, Australia saw the most success through speedy local sons while other parts of the world had success with sons that matched their local conditions a little better. Unlike Danehill though, we see largely only speedy sons of those stallions at stud.

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his is not fair on Invader though, and as with all stallions, we should look at their own merits, and we need to look at what Invader might offer than breeders can utilise.

e was a very fast youngster, running fourth at his first start in the Breeders Plate at Randwick. He followed this with a second at Canterbury which was enough to get him into the 2017 Magic Millions where he was a promising fifth behind Houtzen having been in the second half of the field in the run. Invader was then sent towards the Golden Slipper, winning at Randwick before a close second in the Todman behind Gunnison saw him fail to get a start in the feature ultimately won by She Will Reign. The colt then won the AJC Sires’ Produce on a heavy track in an impressive performance again coming from midfield. Invader then started at odds-on when second to The Mission in the Champagne Stakes again on a heavy track.

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fter a break, Invader returned in the Spring for a sixth in the G3 Show County over 1200m behind Deploy, seventh over 1200m in the G2 Run To Rose behind Menari, and seventh to Perast over 1400m in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude. All of these runs were on good tracks. In fact, the colt started six times on good tracks with his best result on these a second at Canterbury. Invader retired with two wins from ten starts and almost $1 million in prizemoney and was to go stud in 2018 at Aquis.

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e have written a lot about Snitzel, the champion stallion by Redoute’s Choice out of a Snippets mare. His female line is what will set Invader apart from other sons of his sire. He traces back to a remarkable mare of the 1830’s called Beeswing. She was a muchloved mare in her day, with a long and colourful career. She raced through the age of nine, a trait likely passed down from her sire, Doctor Syntax, who also had extraordinary longevity on the racetrack. Noted for his splendid legs, the Doctor won a total of 32 races during his long career despite standing barely 15 hands. Oddly for the time, Doctor Syntax reportedly could never bear either whip or spur, but regular jockey Bob Johnson was said to be able to get every ounce out of him by merely stroking and talking to him. Beeswing was herself a small and quite delicate filly, maturing to just over fifteen hands. Her early racing was in Newcastle like her sire, winning both the local Cup and St Leger as a 3yo but was unplaced at Doncaster when taken there. Over her career she was to win 51 of her 63 starts being unplaced only three times. She proved a remarkable broodmare producing 2000 Guineas winner, Nunnykirk, by Touchstone and his full brother Newminster who was to become an influential sire. The family has continued its success over the years boasting horses like Nijinsky, Sir Ivor, Bold Ruler, Flaming Page and Manikato to name a few.

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his particular line of the family arrived in New Zealand through an American mare, Plans Awry by Topsider in the late 1980’s. She had good success producing two stakes winners in What Can I Say by Khozaam who won five stakes races in NZ before coming to Australia to win the AJC Warwick Stakes, and Wry Hero by Clay Hero who won the Listed MVRC Leslie Frogatt Plate and VATC JRA Stakes in Melbourne. Her daughter, Flame Of Atlanta, also by Clay Hero came to Australia to produce Flame Of Sydney by Encosta De Lago who won the Listed VRC Desirable Handicap in 2006. Her first stakes winner was Not Listenin'Tome by Dylan Thomas who won the G3 MRC Zeditave Stakes before going to Hong Kong, and Invader.

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o doubt the presence of Encosta De Lago will be an important factor for many breeders.

Now that we see a lot of his sons at stud, it is likely that his presence will be too close to encourage this type of mating. However, Encosta De Lago is not only a son of Fairy Bridge, a full brother to Sadler’s Wells, but he is also from the same female line as Flying Spur which offer two avenues that may lead to success. Another interesting factor in Invader’s pedigree is the presence of Clay Hero who was by Proud Knight, a son of Vain, out of a mare by Bletchingly. Again, it is reinforcing these traditional colonial lines within the pedigree that are likely to be important in the overall success of the stallion. Invader also carries another line of Bletchingly through his son, Canny Lad, the damsire of Redoute’s Choice, the sire of Snitzel. To temper this, Invader carries six lines of Northern Dancer through his sons, Danzig, Nijinsky, Grand Chaudiere, Storm Bird, Fairy King and Topsider. Caution of course must be used when adding more lines of Northern Dancer although most of these are in the fifth and sixth generations.

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nvader has not had the greatest fertility rate and this has limited the number of live foals he has on the ground. He might struggle as a long term commercial prospect considering the competition that he has, and this lack of numbers, but no doubt he will produce many of the early running types that will suit Australian racing.

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CHURCHILL COOLMORE

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hurchill is another stallion that showcases the remarkable horse flesh on offer at Coolmore Stud.

Equally remarkable is that such a well credentialled racehorse can be considered one of the lesser lights of that stud’s stallion roster.

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e started his racing career as a May 2yo in the Northern Hemisphere by being beaten in a maiden worth only 8000 pounds. He shrugged off the defeat by going through the rest of the season unbeaten, always starting as an odds-on favourite. His next five wins were all at black type level and his 2yo career culminated in G1 wins in the Nations Stakes at The Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket both over 7 furlongs (1400m). Fittingly Churchill was crowned European Champion 2yo. Returning at three, Churchill continued his winning run with victories in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas over a mile before a shock defeat against the older horses in the St James Palace Stakes at Ascot derailed his campaign. A brief let up saw him step up in distance running second over the 2100m

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of the Juddmonte International and then a seventh over 2000m in the Irish Champion Stakes. He went back to a mile in the QEII and ran a good third before travelling to the USA to finish seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on dirt over 2000m. It was quite a remarkable program for such a wonderful 3yo colt to try and match the best older horses rather than perhaps an easier path against his own age that could have seen his record even more imposing. It nevertheless is outstanding that Australia can see the Irish and English 2000 Guineas winner standing here at what must be considered a budget price for a horse of his quality.

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hurchill is a son of arguably the world’s best stallion in Galileo. Unfortunately, his limited stint in Australia did not live up to expectations and this no doubt has been a factor in where Coolmore have placed this stallion in the market.

Galileo has won the English Sires’ Title on 12 occasions and has over 120 stakes winners to his name including the likes of Frankel, Cape Blanco, Australia, Highland Reel, New Approach, Waltgeist and Cox Plate winner, Adelaide.

Although they have had limited opportunity at stud to date locally, those sons of Galileo that have come here have struggled. This is no doubt another contributing factor in Churchill’s career.

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he pedigree of Churchill shows relatively little inbreeding, with the closest duplication being three lines of Northern Dancer through both his tale male, his tail female lines, and the tail male line of his damsire.

Interestingly he is found through the sons Sadler’s Wells, Storm Bird, and Topsider so it may be that mares carrying other lines of that stallion, such as Danehill, may well find a good match in the stallion. Importantly, despite him being a quality two and three-year-old, as we have noted he is a son of Galileo who is regarded as a sire of stayers.

There is little doubt that Churchill will impart at least some of his sire’s stamina to his progeny, leading to a likely compatibility with plenty of the colonial speed lines. Even in this you can include not only the likes of Canny Lad and other Star Kingdom lines, but also the likes of Snitzel, Exceed And Excel and Redoute’s Choice. The only caution

to be had is introducing too much Northern Dancer in the mix, especially through similar types to those already in his pedigree. We also see Mr Prospector in the stallion’s pedigree, so another level of caution should be apparent when that stallion appears prominently in a mare’s pedigree.

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oming back to the Northern Dancer influence, we see Galileo’s damsire as Storm Cat, a legendary US stallion whose impact in Australia has been limited compared to his Northern Hemisphere success. This suggests that again there should be caution when breeding to this stallion and this strategy may not be ideal. Similarly, we see that another line of Northern Dancer comes from his great damsire, Air Express. That stallion did come to Australia for only one season, in 1999, standing at Eureka Stud in Queensland.

His greatest legacy under local conditions is as the damsire of Real Saga who won the four of his six starts including the G2 Todman Stakes and went on to some success as a stallion siring the 2013 Magic Millions winner, Real Surreal.

Perhaps it is notable that Real Saga was by a son of Storm Cat in Tale Of The Cat.

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OVERSHARE SPENDTHRIFT

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vershare is one of the Australian bred stallions at Spendthrift Stud in Victoria. The US based organisation is making a big impact in its early foray into Australian breeding and has introduced some quality overseas stallions to their rosters, making Overshare a very interesting addition.

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e is a son of boom stallion I Am Invincible and has been met with good books of mares giving him a realistic chance to make a mark. We probably need to say little about I Am Invincible who was among the best local sons of Invincible Spirit although he won only at Group 3 level. Most importantly for his success at stud was his strong colonial female line being out of the Canny Lad

mare, Cannarelle who was in turn out of Countess Pedrille, a full sister to the popular Mamzelle Pedrille by Zoffany.

Overshare is now one of nine sons of I Am Invincible at stud, and when we consider that Invincible Spirit himself also has seven sons at stud, we are seeing lots of options with this sire line.

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vershare, to be fair, was not the best performed son of I Am Invincible on the track. He was a good racehorse though, winning the Listed McKenzie Stakes at Moonee Valley as an early 3yo, and the G3 Zeditave Stakes in the Autumn at Caulfield. His first two starts were in the Blue Diamond Preview and Prelude in which he acquitted himself well finishing just behind the placegetters in TURF MONTHLY 45

both. His last start was in the Goodwood as a Winter 3yo finishing eleventh to Santa Ana Lane. As we have seen with his sire, racetrack success relates more to opportunity than to any other factor at stud, Overshare has not lacked in opportunity at least as far as numbers go.

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is pedigree represents an interesting part of the puzzle.

His dam was the stakes placed Redoute’s Choice mare, Savannah’s Choice who ran second in the G2 Doomben Roses. While first impressions may be that this is a local family, her half-sister by Special Week, Cesario, was the Champion 3yo filly in Japan winning not only there but going to the US to win the G1 American Oaks at Hollywood Park.

She has proven a very successful broodmare producing the Champion Japanese 2yo colt, Leontes and champion 3yo colt, Saturnalia. Another Australian born half-sister in Kirovskaya by French Deputy produced the stakes winning Snitzel filly, Irithea. Overshare’s second dam though was the Sadler’s Wells mare, Kirov Premiere who won the G3 Rutgers Handicap in the US after starting her career in the UK. She won four of her eight starts there from 9f as a 2yo to 12.5f as a 3yo without racing in a Group race until her last European start as a 3yo in France.

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his mix between overseas and local lines makes it interesting as to what lines may suit the stallion. There is little doubt that like most of his sire’s progeny, Overshare’s success will hinge on his ability to produce early running

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types. This is where breeders and buyers face perhaps their biggest challenges. The stallion himself has a heavily inbred pedigree carrying two lines of Canny Lad and two of Danzig within his first four generations. Mares carrying lines of Danehill will have to be well balanced within a pedigree in mating to Overshare. Similarly, Canny Lad and perhaps his sire, Bletchingly are two others if present in pedigrees might give cause for caution. No doubt this will limit some of the stallion’s opportunities. Mr Prospector is a stallion who may well play an important role in his success and his sons like Street Cry and Hussonet could be a key. Even this strategy is not without risk as we see the stallion’s family producing some staying types, and it is quite possible that Overshare might produce more classic type horses than anyone would expect from a son of I Am Invincible. An important factor in this is that Spendthrift have had extensive experience with these US lines in particular and should be able to source some of the lines that may be a little more difficult to find in the local population. There are opportunities though with colonial lines especially with Mossman, Vain, Zeditave and perhaps even Lonhro and these may well be the ones to find success.

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pendthrift Farm continue to find stallions that offer a lot more than they appear on the surface and Overshare is another who could outperform his racetrack success in the breeding barn.

HIGHLAND REEL SWETTENHAM

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ighland Reel is another quality son of Galileo who this time stands in Victoria. He must rate among the best performed racehorses in this first season list especially in that State. It is arguable though that standing in Victoria is a positive or negative when it comes to his future success, although we do see that the mare population is more spread than it was previously. Still, we do see that in general terms we are likely to see more stamina in a lot of Victorian mares than in their Hunter Valley counterparts.

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he stallion is a little unusual in the sire ranks in that he started twenty-seven times from the ages of two until five. He started his career in June of his 2yo season over seven furlongs at Leopardstown, running a good second beaten under a length. He atoned at his next start over a mile winning by 12 lengths at Gowran Park also in Ireland.

He then started in the first of his Group races winning the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood back over 7f. Highland Reel did not reappear until the following May as a 3yo, being well beaten at his first up run over a mile in the G1 Prix Le Parisien at Longchamp. He ran second in the French Derby and fifth in the Irish Derby before winning his first Group race in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood over 10f. Next was a trip to the US where he won the G1 Secretariat Stakes on the turf before returning to Ireland to run fifth in the Irish Champion Stakes. The three-year-old then travelled to Australia to run third behind Winx in the 2015 Cox Plate before rounding off his season with a win in the Hong Kong Vase. A let-up saw him head to Dubai the following March to TURF MONTHLY 48

run in the Dubai Sheema Classic before returning to Hong Kong for the QEII Cup. Back in the UK, he won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes and ran second in the Juddmonte International. He then travelled to France to finish second in the Arc De Triomphe before winning the Breeders Cup Turf in the US and finishing second in the Hong Kong Vase. Highland Reel again ran in the Sheema Classic to start off his 5yo season, but found winning form again back in England winning the Coronation Cup and Prince Of Wales Stakes. He finished fourth in the King George and third in the Champion Stakes before rounding out his career with a third in Breeders Cup Turf and his second win in the Hong Kong Vase. The last thirteen of his runs were all at G1 level. It is remarkable that he does not command a higher fee, but the important factor no doubt for locals is that most of his performances came past a mile.

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e have already discussed his sire, Galileo, and there is probably little that has not been said about that champion stallion to date in any case. Quite rightly he sits among the elite level of world stallions. Highland Reel has a remarkable female line to match his sire line. He is out of the mare, Hveger who is by Danehill out of Circles Of Gold, making her a full sibling to one of Australia’s best horses in Elvstroem. For those who don’t quite remember his performances, Elvstroem won nine stakes races including the VRC Derby, Caulfield Cup, Underwood and CF Orr Stakes, and the UAE Duty Free Stakes. His legacy is perhaps tarnished by his less than stellar stud career that saw him

produce only one G1 winner in Hucklebuck who won the 2014 VRC Emirates Stakes.

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ighland Reel boasts relatively high levels of inbreeding in his pedigree, largely due to the close cross of Northern Dancer through his tail male line and the tail male line of his dam. We see the presence of Sadler’s Wells as the sire of Galileo, and Danzig as the sire of Danehill, and both of course are sons of Northern Dancer. We must also factor in the presence of multiple lines of Natalma, Buckpasser and Native Dancer. The bottom line of the pedigree shows some lines that we are very familiar with in Marscay and Zamazaan, of course reflecting the pedigree of Elvstroem.

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espite the obvious quality of the stallion, it is indeed interesting to see if he can have greater success than Elvstroem. His best progeny, Hucklebuck came from a mare that not only carried strong NZ lines but also Sadler’s Wells.

Other of his stakes winners also unsurprisingly carried strong local speed lines, and again, this looks like the most likely source of success for Highland Reel. The real question is to whether he is going to get a lot of these types of mares especially being based in Victoria. It is also becoming increasingly difficult to find these lines in mares that do not have a significant Danehill influence within their pedigree.

Victoria is very much the home of Bel Esprit and his daughters will have some of the necessary lines. Sebring is another stallion whose daughters may well suit the stallion, while similarly, some of the NZ speedier lines like O’Reilly

and Pins to name a couple may also be successful.

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he advantage to standing in Victoria though is that breeders are far more inclined to breed towards the stamina of a pedigree. It may seem a little counter intuitive, but a stallion like Puissance De Lune who many regard as more of a staying type is another who could find success with Highland Reel.

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verall though it will be a little difficult for Highland Reel to produce the early types that most yearling buyers crave. His quality though should allow his progeny to perform on the track, even if they end up a little hit and miss.

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t is always important to look at the historical context of individual races. We now look at the Cox Plate as the pinnacle of weight for age racing in Australia. This was not the case until recently. Many of the great horses from the past were focussed on the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double and bypassed the Cox Plate. Three-year-olds had a very good record in the race as more started in the race which was used as a lead into the VRC Derby for many. This is just one example of how the nature of a race can change and we only have to look at the Sydney Cup and the Metropolitan to demonstrate this further. In 1957, the Golden Slipper was a novelty, albeit a very lucrative one. Todman’s ability legitimised the race more than any amount of money ever could. Nevertheless, the major 2yo races in Sydney in 1957 were still the Sires’ Produce and the Champagne Stakes. The notion of a 2yo Triple Crown did not eventuate until years later in 1972 that the Champagne Stakes changed distance from 6f to 8f or a mile. Coincidentally, it was the following year that Australian racing went metric.

week later over the 6f of the Champagne, Todman won by six lengths and set a record for an Australian 2yo. He proved without a doubt that he was certainly superior over the shorter journey. Interviewed after the Champagne, McCarten said "It's a mystery how he was beaten last Saturday. He was no different today from last Saturday.

Apparently, he just had an off day. The seven furlongs last Saturday had nothing to do with his defeat. He will run a mile, easily." Jockey Sellwood said “Todman did not gallop well at any stage last Saturday but was a changed horse today.”

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odman went into both races as the dominant favourite.

He was considered the champion 2yo, and few could have predicted how good Tulloch was to prove to be. When we look back on their careers, Tulloch was never beaten over 7f although he did only start at that distance on four occasions. Three times were during his 2yo season, and the last was his first start as a 3yo. The two had slightly different paths to their 3yo season. Todman started his campaign ulloch did not start in the Golden Slipper. His target a week earlier than Tulloch. He won over the 7f of the was primarily the 7f Sire’s Produce and it was to be that Hobartville Stakes in a time of 1.25.8 on a heavy track. In colt’s second start over the distance having won the VRC contrast, Tulloch won the Warwick Stakes in 1.25.6 on a Sires’ Produce earlier that year at his only other attempt. good track which was a touch slower than the 1.25.2 he Tulloch was a very good 2yo but was never considered a had run to win the Sires’ Produce. Based solely on times, champion 2yo. By the time he got to the AJC Sires’ Produce, one may suspect that Todman was superior especially over he had started ten times for five wins. In contrast, Todman shorter distances. He did win his second start as a 3yo over was unbeaten from four starts, and had a Australian record 9.5f and his connections were excited as to his prospects to his name. We also need to consider that Tulloch was over the longer distances. Sadly, we never got to see the represented by a combination of TJ Smith and George two race again but there is one other factor at play. Tulloch Moore who at the time did not share the same profile as proved himself a great champion under all conditions. He the glamour McCarten/Sellwood combination that took won by panels in many of his races, but especially when he Todman to the track. returned from illness, he showed that he had the heart to battle out any finish. Todman was only genuinely put under s another contrast to the pair, Tulloch was by a moderate pressure twice in his races, although he certainly had excuses NZ based stallion in Khorassan who at that time had when he was injured in the Hill Stakes. Few ever mention a produced no other stakes winners in Australia, and in fact comparison between Todman’s defeat in the Sires’ Produce in NZ had not produced a stakes winner under 7f, gaining with Ajax in the Rawson Stakes but there look to be some a reputation as more of a staying sire. Todman was by the similarities. The big question that will never be answered is boom sire in Star Kingdom, whose career Todman was to whether Todman had the heart to beat Tulloch at their peak. take to a new level but he had already made a big impression We should not even try rather just enjoy that feats of two on the local bloodstock scene. remarkable champions. It is probably a fitting footnote to n the Sires’ Produce, Todman’s connections were puzzled history that they remain locked at one win each. over his performance, as were the general public. A

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TULLOCH Watch video in text mode

TODMAN

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