Turf Monthly March 2023

monthly

TURF

March 2023

THIS MONTH

SKIRT THE LAW _ MAGIC MILLIONS BILL OF PORTLAND GLOAMING CAN BREEDING PICK A WINNER?

Editor’s Letter

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e go down something of a rabbit hole this month with a brief look at roaring.

Even in the modern age, you are hard pressed to hear someone claim that the condition is hereditary. The official description is pretty close to an all-encompassing “conditions that restrict airflow in the laryngeal area.” There can be different causes and interestingly there are some current trials of a collar that would replace surgical intervention. If you want opinion, I would suggest that like in so many cases, we can confidentially suggest that roarers have almost always a genetic predisposition to a weakness in the soft tissues surrounding the larynx. If you could ever do a study on the thousands of tie-back surgeries, it is likely to see that certain ancestors appear more often.

If you read the piece later on, it seems to me that the early views were not that wide of the mark suggesting that certain conditions could exacerbate the disease in an horse that was predisposed genetically to the affliction. By the time this magazine comes out we will see the Autumn Carnival in full swing. As the swansong for the great Anamoe, it shapes as one of our most exciting and hopefully he can go out on top.

It was recently announced that the VRC Derby curse has struck another winner in the exciting Hitotsu and it will be interesting to see the support he gets at stud.

At the same time, NZ readers will be excited by the early Autumn form of Sharp ‘n’ Smart who may well prove a star in the making.

CONTENTS 4

Skirt The Law

8

Bill Of Portland

16

Gloaming

26

Bobadil

30

English Roarers in Australia

32

Roarers - A NZ Perspective

34

Magic Millions Past Winners

35

Golden Slipper Past Winners

37

BREEDING - Can It Predict A Winner?

Cover Photo MASKED CRUSADER

Until next month

Ross Prowd

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au 2 Swan Street Mount Isa Qld

TURF MONTHLY 3

SKIRT THE LAW

THE MAGIC MILLIONS WINNER

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he newest Magic Millions 2yo winner is Skirt The Law who looked impressive in keeping her unbeaten record intact with her January victory. The filly gave trainer Tony Gollan his first victory in the race for the $170,000 purchase. Her price has tumbled for the Golden Slipper although as we know the record of Magic Millions winners in that race is not the best. Every year though is different, and the filly has certainly done everything asked of her to date.

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kirt The Law started her career with a moderate sixth of seven in an early 2yo trial at Doomben behind Mighty, another Black Soil Bloodstock filly trained by Tony Gollan. Mighty is a daughter of Spirit Of Boom and was also on track for a Magic Millions start before running sixth in the BJ McLachlan at her first start over the 1200m. Skirt The Law followed up her trial with a win over Salt Lake Betty over 1050m at Doomben in a field of five. At her next start she again faced a small field of five runners when beating Torque I Tee over 1200m also at Doomben on 3 December. The filly did not race again until the Magic Millions but was instead sent around in a 900m trial at the Gold Coast on 29 December, narrowly beating Five Star Vixen.

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he filly is a daughter of Better Than Ready, the impressive son of More Than Ready who stands at Lyndhurst Stud for a current fee of $24,200. He originally started his career at $9,900 during his first season in 2015. The stallion’s star to date among his seven stakes winners is the Desleigh Forster trained Apache Chase who won the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup over 1200m. The Magic Millions credentials of More Than Ready are certainly top shelf with that stallion siring two race winners in Phelan Ready and Augusta Proud, and being the damsire of three more in Coolangatta, Exhilarates and Unencumbered. It is fitting no doubt that he now becomes the grandsire of another. Skirt The Law is a Lyndhurst bred filly being out of their Exceed And Excel mare, Outlaw Kate who was placed twice in NZ as a 2yo.

Those results may have flattered the filly as her placings were in fields of three and four runners. She was sent to Australia as a 3yo where she was unplaced from only two runs. Lyndhurst Stud purchased the mare from the Magic Millions Broodmare sale for $30,000 in 2019 when in foal to Flying Artie. The progeny, now called Flying Ned had his first start on 30 December 2022 in Canberra when a moderate six of seven runners over 1000m. A quick mention is warranted of her sire Exceed And Excel who apart from siring the Magic Millions winner, Le Chef, was also the sire of Golden Slipper winner, Outreach.

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utlaw Kate is out of the good 2yo, She’s Got Gears by Invincible Spirit. She won the Listed VRC Ottawa Stakes, known at the time as the AGL Renew at Flemington at her first start. She followed that with a third behind General Truce in the Maribyrnong Plate and was later to run third in the Blue Diamond Prelude behind Psychologist. At stud she produced Masked Crusader by Toronado who was won four stakes races including the Group 1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley in 2021. He was also to run second in the Group 1 TJ Smith behind Nature Strip and he also finished runner up to that champion in the Everest. The six-generation pedigree of Skirt The Law that you see has a very interesting feature through the female line of the filly. This line of the family did not arrive in Australia until the late 1970’s with a mare called Classic Connection. She was incidentally the dam of Crowley Road by Whiskey Road who won the Listed VRC Super Mild Stakes which is better known as the Desirable Handicap these days. If we look at the list of damsires in the tail line of the filly we see Exceed And Excel, Invincible Spirit, Encosta De Lago, Last Tycoon, Vain, Sun Prince, Court Martial, Rockefella and Nearco. It is certainly an impressive line up and no doubt these champion sires have played a role in the success of Skirt The Law.

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he family of Skirt The Law traces to the Bruce Lowe number 26 family. It has never been a dominant one in Australia but it certainly has had moments of influence. None of this is greater than if we trace back to a mare called Electric Light by Sterling. She produced the mare Lovely by Alvarez who won the 1883 Coronation Stakes. It was also her daughter in Petrel by a stallion called Peter who was to leave the line that traces to Skirt The Law. It was a half-brother to Petrel in the colt Bill Of Portland by St Simon who was to have a dramatic impact in Australia.

Electric Light was also to have a daughter by Orvieto called No Trumps. In turn, due to the success of Bill Of Portland her daughter called Light by Eager was to be sent to Australia where she produced one of the greatest racehorses we have ever seen in Gloaming. Later in the magazine we will use this opportunity to have a look at both of those horses. It is always interesting where the thoroughbred story leads, and this year’s Magic Millions winner may not prove to be another Gloaming, or to have the impact of Bill Of Portland, but Skirt The Law has already cemented her place in history.

TURF MONTHLY 6

BILL OF PORTLAND A ROARER IN ENGLAND

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ill Of Portland must surely be one of the most interesting stallions to ever come to Australia. He certainly was much talked about, and his legacy was outstanding especially given the relatively short time that he was at stud here. Overall, he was to sire 22 individual stakes-winners from only seven crops, but debate continued for years as to whether his influence was either positive or negative. Bill Of Portland was a roarer, an affliction that most owners and breeders would steer clear of. It is especially interesting when we see the increase in breathing issues in our modern thoroughbred that is masked by the improvements in veterinarian care. Wind operations are common, and few breeders and buyers even seem to consider the heredity of breathing issues. It is not just in the thoroughbred industry that we see changes. The Arabian horse which was bred largely because it was so clean-winded, now has strains that suffer from breathing issues especially in those bred for the show ring. Roarers though are not uncommon over time, and interestingly there

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was much debate as to whether this affliction was hereditary. It seems that many more horses in the UK suffer than in the Southern Hemisphere. Climate no doubt plays a role in wind infirmities and NZer’s will argue that over time, there was a greater incidence in roaring in different parts of the country that they contributed to a range of factors including feeding, training methods and climate. We actually include a couple of interesting articles on “Roaring” from a historical perspective later this month.

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ill Of Portland was reportedly the best racehorse that trainer AB Saddler ever trained, and according to him worth 10,000 guineas, a huge sum for the time.

He had won the Bedford Two-Year-Old Plate at the Newmarket Spring Meeting. A prominent English writer in ‘Horse and Hound’ regarded him as one of the best of his year, but his breathing issues were soon to become apparent. That did not discourage Australian WR Wilson of the famed St Albans Stud from purchasing him for 1000 guineas. He managed to win a race with him in England before bringing him to Australia, making him the first son of St Simon ever to stand at stud here. Bill Of Portland arrived in Melbourne in June 1894. Despite his affliction, his career in Australia hit stellar height immediately, with the wonderful Bobadil the star of his first crop. His second crop included Merriwee who won the Victoria Cup/Melbourne Cup double for Herbert Power and a horse that we have covered in depth in a previous edition being out of a mare by the son of Musket in Trenton.

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ilson was to pass away in June 1900 without leaving an heir to his vast estate.

The St Albans breeding and racing enterprise was sold off through sales that were attended by large numbers. The success of Bill Of Portland though had not escaped the English who had some regrets about letting him go and William Allison of Cobham Stud in Surrey engaged in a crusade to return the stallion to the UK. He is quoted as saying “'Better a racing machine that was a roarer, than a sound winded mediocrity which also ran.” Allison also was not satisfied that there was proof that roaring was hereditary. The sale saw Bill Of Portland return to his homeland via bid from Allison where he stood at the Northaw House Stud at Potters Bar belonging to Mr JB Joel. His fee was set at 100 guineas which saw him well patronised with good reason. His first crop of English foals saw 10 individual 2yo winners of 19 races that earned £4465. The following season saw the stock of the stallion win 25

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Uncle Sam 1912 Caulfield Cup

races and £6591 in stakes. In 1907, his third season, Bill Of Portland had winners of 14 races and £8310 but by now the signs of his own wind infirmities were starting to show in his progeny as they aged. He was to be sold the following year to G Ashman for 410 guineas and was sent to Belgium but Bill Of Portland was never to recapture his Australian success. Nevertheless, his sons and daughters were to carry on a remarkable legacy.

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he best progeny of Bill Of Portland were undoubtedly Maltster and Bobadil and we will look at these in depth in an upcoming edition as both are more than deserving of their own stories. Two of his sons in Finland who won the VRC St Leger and SAJC Goodwood Handicap, and Treadmill who won seven stakes races including the Canterbury Cup and NZ St Leger were to become top sires in New Zealand, while United States was to win the VRC Sires Produce in 1901 and was to sire the dual Caulfield Cup winner Uncle Sam who interestingly was another out of a Musket mare. Uncle Sam won his first Caulfield Cup in 1912 carrying only 7.6 (47kg). His form had been ordinary the season prior, but he showed a glimpse of

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Uncle Sam Caulfield Cup 1912.jpg

Uncle Sam 1914 Caulfield Cup

what was to come in the Winter by winning a Welter at Caulfield in August. Uncle Sam then had everyone sit up and take notice by winning the Toorak Handicap in race record time, starting as an equal second favourite at 7/1. The favourite was an imported horse Eudorus who had won three races in England but had failed when stepped up to the better class races. Still many locals believed that a moderate import was better than a good Australian horse even after finishing a moderate third in the Caulfield Stakes. The race was run in fine weather and attracted a record crowd of 40,000 with Uncle Sam winning by a half-length from the St Alwyne mare, Lady Medallist who had won the race the previous year. Uncle Sam was to go on to run third in the Melbourne Cup of that year behind Piastre, and despite winning the Memsie Stakes the flowing year, his best result was a fourth in the Caulfield Cup before a moderate run in the Melbourne Cup. In 1914, Uncle Same was to win his second Caulfield Cup. He had finished strongly to run second to Anna Carlovna

Pendil

TURF MONTHLY 11

Flitter

in the Caulfield Stakes with the unfashionable J Ettershank in the saddle who was blamed for his defeat. Owner, W Reid refused to change jockeys, but Uncle Sam was the best backed runner in the race, firming from 7/1 to 9/2. He settled at the tail of the field until the six-furlong mark when he started to make ground, eventually winning by two and a half lengths from Rathlea who had won the Toorak Handicap.

It was reported to be the most enthusiastic reception for a winner on a racetrack since Carbine’s 1890 Melbourne Cup win. He was the fourth horse in history at the time to have won two Caulfield Cups.

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readmill was to go on to sire six stakes winners in New Zealand, and interestingly none had success in Australia. Among his stakes-winners were NZ Oaks winners, Counterfeit and Brown Owl, and dual Derby winner, Husbandman. A daughter of Treadmill in Wise Bird was responsible for a line that was to give us Playboy, again another horse we have spoken of at length, and one that was critical to the success of the great TJ Smith. Another daughter of Treadmill in Mad Whirl was to go on to give us a stallion called Flotilla by Dalmacia who won eleven of 29 races during the late 1980’s earning over $1.1 million. He won three races as a 2yo in Sydney but missed the Golden Slipper. He was to run second to Sky Chase in the G1 Champagne Stakes before heading to Brisbane in the winter to win the QTC Sires Produce and Castlemaine Stakes (now TJ Smith Classic) both at G1 level. As a 3yo he was to win the G1 Australian Guineas and G2 Alister Clark, while at four he won the Warwick Stakes and Chipping Norton. Retired to stud, Flotilla sired only two stakes winners in Mister Obliging (2001 VATC Barton Stakes) and Ventura (1997 Tasmanian Derby). He was later sent to Thailand to finish his career. While having little impact in the breeding barn, we can find Flotilla in the pedigree of Ashlor, a winner of 14 of 59 races and almost $1 million in prizemoney.

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t was another daughter of Treadmill in Sailor’s Hope that gave us what may prove to be our most enduring line. Sailor’s Hope produced two stakes winners in Waterline who won the 1930 Underwood Stakes, and the Rawson and CM Lloyd

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Slight Chance

Stakes the following year, and his full brother Fast Ace who won the Auckland Cup, NZ Cup and Winter Cup all in 1932. The first filly out of Sailor’s Hope was called Quarterdeck and is recorded as being by Autumnus, a son of Treadmill making her heavily inbred to that stallion. She is alternatively recorded as being by Panmure, an imported British stallion which just reinforces some of the likely discrepancies in stud records in time gone by. The mare was bred by NZ legendary sportsman, Sir George Clifford. Quarterdeck’s daughter Fair Passage produced the Great Northern Derby and Christchurch Metropolitan winner, Gibraltar. The family was to go on to produce the filly Outward Bound by Without Fear who, in 1980, won the G1 VRC Sires’ Produce and the G2 SAJC Bloodhorse Breeders’ Stakes. She was to produced Kiwi Magic by Vice Regal who in turn was to give us the Bluebird mare, Flitter who was a star of the early 1990’s. She was to win over $800,000 in prizemoney with nine wins from 39 starts. Her most important wins came in the G1 Doomben 10,000 where she beat All Our Mob and Bint Marscay, and the Winfield Classic, now known as the Coolmore Classic. In that race she beat Moment’s Pleasure and Aragen. She was also placed on 12 occasions in races like the Furious Stakes, Lightfinger and Surround as a 3yo behind horses like Skating and Slight Chance. Flitter can be found in the tail line of horses like Ringerdingding who won the Sandown Guineas and Carbine Club Stakes and is now at stud in Victoria.

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he son of Bill Of Portland in Finland was one of his most brilliant 2yo’s winning the VRC Maribyrnong Plate and Sires Produce before going on to prove that the breed would train on by winning the SAJC Goodwood Handicap over 6 furlongs and VRC St Leger over 14 furlongs. He was to stand at stud in NZ producing 16 stakes winners including Bobrikoff who won 14 stakes races including an Auckland Cup, three Auckland Plates and the Rawson Stakes, All-Aged Stakes and Autumn Stakes in Sydney, Estaland who won two Derbies in NZ and the AJC Randwick Plate, and Finmark who won the Manawatu Sires Produce, Taranaki Stakes, Great Northern Champagne Stakes and Wellington Stakes before also venturing to Sydney to win the 1919 AJC St Leger. He was also to run second to Gloaming in the AJC Derby.

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Finland’s daughter Peptamint was to become the granddam of one of the true greats in Shannon, a horse that we have yet to investigate fully. He certainly deserves his own edition and we will certainly look at him in depth in coming months. Briefly, Shannon won eleven stakes races in Australia before heading to the US to win a further five stakes races there including the Grade 1 Hollywood Gold Cup in the golden years of Californian racing. Finland though has plenty of representatives including Courier Bay by Diplomatic Agent who won eleven stakes races in NZ, and Western Chorus by Western Symphony who won the SAJC Swettenham Stud Stakes, MVRC Dalgety Breeders Plate and VRC Honda Legend. Western Chorus was to be mated with Danehill to produce Jeune King Prawn, a multiple stakes winner in Hong Kong, and Creative Plan by Flying Spur who won the MRC Twilight Glow and MVRC Eliza Park Stakes.

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final son of Bill Of Portland to look at is Dorchester who is out of a daughter of Magpie. He too went to stud originally in Australian but later in NZ. He produced three stakes winners in Helen Portland, winner of the Thompson Handicap and Great Northern Oaks, Storey who won the AJC Doncaster Handicap and Virtu winner of the AJC Villiers Stakes and Spring Stakes. Dorchester is a stallion that is readily found through the line of Helen Portland who appears in the female line interestingly of Slight Chance, a filly that we saw race against Flitter on many occasions. Slight Chance was an outstanding filly, winning over $1.7 million in prizemoney. She won the Listed Kindergarten Stakes as a 2yo in Sydney and was fourth behind another star filly in Burst in the Champagne Stakes. She then went to Brisbane for the winter to win the Castlemaine Stakes and Sires Produce. As a 3yo, she won the Roman Consul and beat Burst in the G1 Flight Stakes. Slight Chance ran third behind Super Impose in the Cox Plate of 1992 before winning the VRC Oaks with Burst in third. In the Autumn she defeated Burst in the G1 Ansett Stakes and was second to Mahaya who she had beaten in the VRC Oaks in the NSW Oaks.

The winter saw her win the Queensland Oaks beating Royal Tiara and And A Hug.

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Melbourne Cup 2001

Her 4yo season was disappointing with her best result a third behind March Hare in the George Main Stakes. She progressed on to the Melbourne Cup but failed badly in the race won by Vintage Crop. Slight Chance had another poor Autumn and again travelled to Queensland where she failed to feature in the main races, winning only one race in the Listed QANTAS Longreach Stakes. Slight Chance returned for the Spring as a 5yo and started by running a good second to March Hare in the G2 Warwick Stakes. A sixth in the Chelmsford behind that horse followed before she won the G2 Hill Stakes beating Simulcast. Her last race start saw her finish distressed in the Epsom Stakes behind Navy Seal in a sad end to a stellar career. At stud she produced two stakes winners in Dane Shadow (Ming Dynasty Quality) and Salgado (Sandown Stakes) and her family continues to breed on.

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ill Of Portland’s daughters have made their impact. The most significant of these was Faraway who was responsible for such horses as Ista Kareem (Sydney Cup), Sir Silver Lad (NZ and Wellington Derby, Australasian Champion Stakes, Mackinnon Stakes), Aldershot (Adelaide Cup, Craiglee Stakes, Turnbull Stakes), and Sirius (Herbert Power, Hotham Handicap, Melbourne Cup). The Faraway saw her damsire as Musket and we have discussed many of these horses in earlier editions.

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ne final factor that we have yet to discuss is the female family that gave us not only Bill Of Portland, but also Skirt The Law, this year’s Magic Millions winner. We have spoken of Slight Chance and Flitter, both top line fillies of their year. Both raced against another classy filly in Skating who was to go on at stud to produce another Magic Millions winner in Bradbury’s Luck. It should come as little surprise that Skating also traces back to the same female family in particular the mare, Electric Light. On the other side of the scale, an interesting member of the direct family is a horse called Give The Slip who won the Ebor Handicap at York, but more importantly for us was to run second to Ethereal in the 2001 Melbourne Cup. Another of the overseas stars was the great Solario by Gainsborough who won the St Leger, Ascot Gold Cup and Coronation Cup in the UK before becoming one of the most influential stallions of his time.

Skating 1993 Doncaster

TURF MONTHLY 15

GLOAMING

ONE OF THE GREATEST

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ast month we told the story of Peter Pan who started his racing at the end of the career of Phar Lap, drawing immediate comparisons to that legendary galloper.

Another interesting connection comes with the great NZ galloper, Gloaming who died in May 1932, only a month after the death of Phar Lap. Gloaming by then was seventeen years old following a leisurely retirement at his owner, GD Greenwood’s property near Teviotdale in North Canterbury, NZ. He was buried on the property on what came to be known as “Gloaming’s Hill.” In another twist, both GD Greenwood and the trainer of Gloaming in Dick Mason were both to die the same year as their treasured champion.

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or our story this month Gloaming is of particular interest because his second dam is a half-sister to Bill Of Portland. The mare, No Trumps was by Orvieto, a son of Bend Or, out of Electric Light. Gloaming was by top stallion, The Welkin out of the imported Light by Eager. Light was bred in the UK by RH Combe, racing four times without running in a place. The mare was eventually sold to JE Brewer who was acting as agent on behalf of Ernest Clarke for his Melton Stud in Victoria who stood The Welkin. The story of the origins of Melton Stud are interesting in that Clarke developed the stud in order to stand his horse, Emir. Emir had been the very

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The Welkin

first horse that Clarke had owned. The horse had been purchased by trainer Jim Scobie for Clarke and his brother, Rupert, later Sir Rupert. By Wallace, Emir had won 12 stakes races including the Ascot Vale and All-Aged Stakes as a 2yo, and later the AJC Plate, St Leger and the VRC Champion Stakes. Scobie claimed the horse could have been as good as Carbine had it not been for a physical disability that was to be discovered after he retired. In fact, this disability was claimed to have been the reason that the sire was to prove infertile. After the dispersal of St Albans Stud some years before, Victorian breeding was in the doldrums and the industry was ecstatic when Clarke continued with his plans for Melton despite losing his famed stallion. A friend of the Clarke brothers in Jack Brewer, a former jockey and trainer

Emir

TURF MONTHLY 17

JE Brewer

who had set up a successful stable in the UK was holidaying in Australia at the time.

Brewer’s story is an interesting one that we should tell in the future. Brewer was given a £5,000 commission to find a stallion and some well-bred mares when back in England. The Welkin He had been a good son of Flying Fox who won six races from 23 starts including the Royal Stakes at Newmarket over 10 furlongs and the shorter Portland Plate at Doncaster and July Handicap at Newmarket. He was a rich brown colour with two white hind feet, standing just over sixteen hands. But The Welkin attracted little interest at stud in the UK being from a modest female line and was purchased by Brewer for Clarke for 800 guineas to bring to Australia. He proved a real bargain winning the Sires Title three times and placing second twice.

He also sired the champion Furious and the excellent Thrice.

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loaming was described as “a plain-headed bay with a blaze and white off hind ankle, a long, ewe neck, and strong hip.” Clarke would sell his yearlings at Melton every year and agent Harry Chisholm was given a commission to spend up to 500 guineas for a son of The Welkin by George D Greenwood. The colt had little attention in the sales ring and was recovering from strangles allowing him to be purchased for a modest 230 guineas. He was sent to NZ to be trained by Richard “Dick” Mason who previously had great success training for NZ’s leading owner George Stead. The colt showed immediate talent but was to suffer from shin-soreness and connections made the decision to geld him and send him out for a spell. Returning to the track, he impressed connections so much that they immediately sent him to Australia for an ambitious campaign that saw him have his first start in the Chelmsford Stakes.

Despite stumbling at the start, he beat the open class field by eight lengths setting an Australasian record for nine furlongs at the same time. Second in the race was Rebus who, in the same year, won the Sydney Cup, Epsom Handicap and Villiers Stakes. The field also included the likes of Kennaquhair, Estland, Poitrel and Lingle.

What made the win even more remarkable was that the youngster skewed at the

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Beauford

start, giving the rest of the field around eight lengths, and was not extended for the last 100 yards. At only his second race start, Gloaming lined up in a field of 12 in the AJC Derby. Gloaming was to start the 11/8 favourite and jumped well, leading the field. He travelled well for the whole race and was never headed winning ultimately by over a length from Finmark, a son of Finland who in turn was appropriately a son of Bill Of Portland.

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onnections chose to bypass the Melbourne Spring, instead returning Gloaming to NZ where he won the Champion Plate and NZ Derby. He then suffered his first defeat, running second to Sasanof in the Stead Memorial. Gloaming then turned the tables on that horse back over the mile of the Islington Plate before winning the Great Northern Derby on New Year’s Day 1919. Later that month he won the Wellington Stakes and Kelburn Plate. He then ran second to the wonder mare Desert Gold in the Taranaki Stakes. The pair would eventually meet on six occasions and this was the only time that Desert Gold got the better of Gloaming.

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To be fair, Desert Gold was by then past her best. Gloaming then reeled off five straight wins before his only unplaced start in the North Island Challenge won by Warplane. The starting tapes were tangled around Gloaming’s neck and the horse ended up taking no part in the race. He then went out for a well-deserved break not reappearing until a four-year-old back in Sydney for the Spring. Gloaming beat Winalot in the Spring Stakes at Rosehill over a mile before finishing second to Poitrel in the Randwick Spring Stakes over a mile and a half. He then won the Craven Plate four days later beating Wolaroi before returning back to NZ. Gloaming won four straight including the Champion Plate at Trentham and the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie and another spell.

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he gelding was provisionally sold to India for 7000 guineas during his break, but he was to fail the vet inspection and the sale was cancelled. He again headed to Sydney for the Spring but bled from both nostrils following trackwork

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and was immediately returned to NZ. The attack seemed to have no lasting impact as Gloaming was to win 12 straight races at home from 4 furlongs (800m) to 12 furlongs (2400m) in perhaps the best form of his career. Connections returned to Sydney full of confidence for the next season, but this time Gloaming was to contract a serious case of influenza, again cancelling his Australian campaign and returning to NZ. He then won 11 of his twelve starts at home. His only defeat came in the Islington Plate at Ellerslie on 28 December 1921. Gloaming had equalled Desert Gold’s record of nineteen successive stakes wins and was heavily favoured to eclipse it. Thespian and a brilliant tactical ride by jockey Hector Gray spoiled the party as this was to the be the only time that Thespian was to finish in front of Gloaming. Gloaming was to finish is season with nine straight wins.

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s a seven-year-old, Gloaming again returned to Sydney for the Spring. It was to be a campaign that captured the imagination of the racing public like few others. Another star in Beauford, a slowly maturing six-year-old who had won the Epsom, Railway and Tramway Handicaps and Hill Stakes and Craven Plate the season before, lined up against Gloaming in a series of epic battles. First up it was the Chelmsford Stakes where Beauford won by a length. A week later, Gloaming

Greenwood Young and Mason TURF MONTHLY 22

turned the tables in the Hill Stakes by a similar margin. In the Spring Stakes, Beauford beat our champion by a neck. Nonetheless the second prizemoney was enough to see Gloaming overtake Carbine’s stakes record of £29,626. The historic moment was immortalised by renowned artist Martin Stainforth whose oil painting of the finish hung in the committee rooms of the AJC. The pair had their final meeting for the Spring five days later in the Craven Plate with Gloaming winning easily. Such was the hype around the clash of the two horses that it was noticeable a large portion of the crowd left the course after the race. Gloaming returned to NZ winning the Champion Plate at Trentham at the end of October but perhaps the battles with Beaufort had taken a toll. Beaufort was not to start again that season, and Gloaming was to spell until the following Spring when he again went to Sydney.

This time he developed a knee problem and returned to NZ, reappearing at the end of January stringing together four wins before being beaten by Razzle Dazzle in the Canterbury Challenge Stakes in April. Another spell ensued and Gloaming returned to Australia the following Spring again in the Chelmsford Stakes at Randwick. This

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Ernest Clarke

time he found the new champion Heroic a little strong finishing second. He then ran second to Ballymena in the Hill Stakes before winning the Spring Stakes from David. Gloaming then won the Craven Plate from Ballymena before having his only start in Melbourne winning the Melbourne Stakes beating Whittier. Such was his renown that Gloaming wowed the crowds when paraded before the Melbourne Cup on 1925 before departing Australia for the final time. Gloaming was to have a further five starts winning them all in NZ. His last start was on 9 May 1925 beating The Hawk in a two-horse race before his troublesome knees saw connections call time on his career. He retired the leading stakes earner in Australasia with a total of £43,100 and 57 wins from his 67 starts.

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BOBADIL

THE FIRST CHAMPION SON

Australasian (Melbourne, Vic. : 1864 - 1946), Saturday 4 March 1939, page 12 ________________________________________ The Scrapbook STUD AND RACING CAREER OF BOBADIL Famous Sires-Bobadil BOBADIL was bred at the St. Albans Stud in 1895 by Mr. W. R. Wilson.

Had Mr. Wilson lived a few years longer and Bobadil remained at St. Albans as a sire, probably he would have been one of the most successful sires Australia has known. He was a great sire, who was to a large extent wasted. He was always on the move, and at no period of his career did he manage to get into a really first class stud and settle down. Nevertheless, he managed to sire the winners of nearly £200,000 in stakes, and his progeny won more than 1,300 races.

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Bobadil closed a brilliant racing career as a four-year-old, and was at St. Albans when Mr. W. R. Wilson died in May, 1900. Bobadil probably would have been retained for use as a sire had St. Albans Stud been carried on, as he seemed the logical successor of Bill of Portland. In August following the death of Mr. W. R. Wilson the St. Albans horses in training went into the sale ring, Bobadil being among them. He was purchased by Mr. P. S. Grimwade, and began his stud life at Coolart. Mr. Grimwade secured him at a bargain price, as he paid only 500 guineas for him. Bobadil, who was an instant success, remained at Coolart until that stud was dispersed after the death of Mr. Grimwade. The sale took place in November, 1908, and Bobadil was purchased by Mr. James Wilson, of Bonny Vale, for 625 guineas.

On the Move In March, 1911, Mr. Wilson sold most of the horses which constituted the Bonny Vale Stud, and Bobadil was one of them. Mr. Tom Uphill paid 2,300 guineas for Bobadil, who then settled down at Pranjip Park, in the Goulburn Valley. He was not destined to remain there for any great length of time, because Mr. Uphill died, and in July, 1915, the Pranjip Park Stud was sold. Messrs. A. and G. Tye became the new owners of Bobadil for 425 guineas, and he was transferred to Blackwood Park, at Ferntree Gully. He was becoming an old horse when he entered the sale ring for the last time, in March, 1917. Mr. F. Fairbairn gave 330 guineas for him, and Bobadil went to Mr. Fairbairn's station in Queensland. He died there in 1918. After Bobadil retired from the stud and to the time of his death, he passed through five hands, and did stud duty in as many places. In the circumstances his achievements as a sire are little short of amazing. He was a most versatile sire, as he got winners over short and long distances. His daughters, too, were first-class producers, and several of his sons did fairly well at the stud.

Won First Race I saw Bobadil only once-the day he was purchased by Mr. James Wilson and I have seldom seen a horse which attracted me more. He was of medium size, probably standing between 15.2 and 15.3, but he impressed me because of his lovely conformation and symmetry. He combined substance and quality in a marked degree, and gave the impression that he was endowed with extraordinary vitality.

He did not make an appearance in the early two-year-old races, and his debut was delayed until the end of January, when, in his first race, he tackled older horses in the Tooronga Handicap at Caulfield over six furlongs. Carrying 6.10, he started second favourite, and defeated a field of smart sprinters by eight lengths. What a spectacular opening of a racing career. His next race was in the First Caulfield Futurity Stakes, in which he was second to his less fancied stable mate Resolute, who defeated him by six lengths. Starting at 10 to 9 on for the Oakleigh Purse, he was defeated by half a head by Veneda. In the Sires' Produce Stakes at Flemington Cocos and Cordite finished ahead of him, but he turned the tables when he met them a few days later in the Ascotvale Stakes, in which, however, they were penalised and Bobadil escaped a penalty. Then Bobadil won the All-aged Stakes from Wait-a-Bit, Ayrshire, who had won the Australian Cup, and the Newmarket Handicap winner Amiable. At even weights he was too good for Cocos in the Champagne Stakes, and later in the meeting accounted for Merloolas and Cabin Boy in the All-aged Stakes at Randwick.

TURF MONTHLY 27

The Parisian

Three-year-old Career AS a three-year-old Bobadil won his first three races-Melbourne Hunt Club Narre Warren Stakes, a weight-for-age race run over a mile and a quarter; V.R.C. October Stakes, run under similar conditions; and the Caulfield Guineas, in which Cocos was second to him. In the first two races George Frederick was the runnerup to Bobadil. Starting favourite at 7 to 4 on for the Derby, Bobadil was defeated by half a bead by Cocos, and with 3 to 1 laid on him he went under to The Grafter in the Flying Stakes over seven furlongs. On the last day of the meeting Bobadil was an even money favourite for the Spring Stakes, but could finish only third to Lee Metford and Cocos, who thus confirmed the Derby form. Lee Metford, however, was disqualified for boring, and the race was awarded to Cocos.

In the autumn Bobadil began by winning the Second Futurity Stakes, and starting at 7 to 2 on defeated Lee Metford and George Frederick in the Leger. Then he won the Australian Cup with 8.4, and Lee Metford was again second to him. Then Bobadil returned to sprinting, and easily won the All-aged Stakes, in which, however, his strongest opponent, Veneda, was left at the post. At the same meeting Bobadil won the Champion Stakes, of three miles, so he was successful over distances varying from six furlongs to three miles. He failed in the A.J.C. Leger, which was won by Johansen from Lee Metford and Bobadil, who ran a dead-heat for second. Bobadil ran three times as a four-year-old. After being third to Dewey and Cocos in the Spring Stakes at Randwick he was unplaced in the St. George Stakes at Caulfield and the Essendon Stakes. That closed his racing career.

TURF MONTHLY 28

Stud Career BOBADIL was represented by his first winner when Boabdil won the South Yarra Handicap for his breeder, the late Mr. James Wilson, at Caulfield in March, 1904.

Like his sire, he opened his winning account against older horses. He defeated Independence in the South Yarra Handicap, so his form was good. Boabdil won quite a number of good races, including the Memsie Stakes, before Mr. Wilson sold him.

Boabdil was one of the horses R. J. Farquharson took to England when he went there many years ago, and won races for him. The best horse sired by Bobadil, however, was beyond doubt The Parisian, who won the Australian Cup in a canter and won the following Melbourne Cup almost as easily. He was a great stayer. Pendil was another first-class stayer by Bobadil, and he was out at a time when the weight-forage fields were very strong. He was a contemporary of Comedy King, Prince Foote, Trafalgar, Malt King, Alawa, and Artillerie. He was by no means overshadowed by them, and quite held his own. He won the Australian Cup and Champion Stakes.

He did fairly well at the stud, although he had only limited opportunities.

Blague was a brilliant little son of Bobadil who won the Caulfield Guineas and Newmarket Handicap, as well as two-year-old races. He sired some smart horses during the time he was in the Bringenbrong stud. Danaus was another Caulfield Guineas winner, but he was also successful in the V.R.C. Leger. He was at the stud in Queensland. Karnattan was a full brother to The Parisian, and won the Birthday Cup in Adelaide for Mr. Creswick, who declares that Karnattan was one of the best horses ever to carry his colours. He, however, was killed before he had fully developed.

Bobadil was successfully represented five times in the Standish Handicap, as his daughters, Miss Bobby and Berry Consols, both won the race twice, and the other winner was Carette. Although he did not win any of the classic races Burrabadeen was one of the good sons of Bobadil. He was probably his most successful son at the stud. The last I heard of him was at Struan, in the Naracoorte district, serving mares at a fee of five guineas.

Mares Do Well BOBADIL mares did well as producers.

Bob Cherry became the dam of Eurythmic, one of the great Australian racehorses and stake winners of this century. Folacca bred two first-class performers in Whittier and his brother Accarak. Whittier won the Victoria Derby, two Caulfield Cups, and the Doncaster - a great record. Accarak won the Australian Cup and was second in that race the following year. The Infanta, who was a good two-year-old, was the dam of the Victoria Derby winner Wolawa, who did fairly well as a sire.

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ENGLISH ROARERS IN AUSTRALIA

Sport (Adelaide, SA : 1911 - 1948), Friday 18 November 1927, page 8 ENGLISH "ROARERS'' IN AUSTRALIA (By ‘Savant')

T

he English thoroughbred has in Australia proved his superiority over all distances, even over hurdles. Many of the best performers changed hands because of some ailment or another. Lilyveil, a Sydney Cup winner, was sold in England for 55 gns, Son of the Marsh for 155 gns Sir Foot 300 gns, a Futurity, Newmarket, and Doncaster winner, and one or two weight for ages sandwiched in between, and I could name a few more. In many cases they were supposed to be affected in the wind. Having had practical experience in one or two cases of the kind, I became more and more convinced that the English bred horse is entirely different in construction, as far as the internal organs are concerned, and have no hesitation in saying that the lungs in particular are much more powerful than horses bred in Australia, and, therefore, can be trusted to see out a greater distance on a much lighter preparation than our own horses. The air in England is much heavier, and the atmosphere thicker, and the act of inspiration and expiration is a much greater strain. Many horses after a severe preparation in England make a noise and are called "broken winded” but there is nothing broken, the whole breathing apparatus strained, and the diaphragm becomes involved, which soon weakens the voice, and if the thing is aggravated the lungs become involved till the pleura gives way and fluid comes away. The horse is then termed a "bleeder." But there are very few cases of this kind in England.

The horse makes the noise, but hardly ever bleeds. Many of this class have found their way out to Australia arid India, and as soon as they are put into work here they hardly ever make the noise, and if not overtaxed they soon come to hand and pay their way. The reason is simple enough, and after a close study of these cases I came to the conclusion that the air in Australia is much lighter and the action of aspiration and expiration is much easier and no strain on the parts. They soon regain their normal condition, and the subject becomes sound. A brilliant stayer bred in England, would, I think, run out twelve furlongs or even sixteen furlongs on a very light preparation – a much lighter one that most people would believe. The reason of this is plain. On the light work he becomes stronger, and his lungs, being much more powerful, he can go full speed without overtaxing the lungs or breathing apparatus. Not many years ago a very smart horse a very smart horse in England developed a wind trouble and was passed out. A buyer from Australia came along and bought him fairly cheap. But sometime after he was informed the horse was useless, and a confirmed roarer. The horse duly arrived in Sydney. and was sold at a profit to a well-known racing man but something leaked out about the horse having some ailment, and the trainer who had the horse was a dubious of going on with him and was extra careful in case he should go wrong. But the horse went along satisfactorily, and the owner suggested he should run him. The trainer bit dubious

TURF MONTHLY 30

Sir Foote

of going on with him, and one or two sprints only. He certainly showed a good bit of pace. At the races the owner asked the trainer if the horse was worth putting a few pounds on at long odds offering. The trainer replied he would be satisfied if the horse finished in the first ten; but he was first out and first home. This particular horse, on no work at all won the Newmarket Handicap with 9.0 or more. This is not an isolated case by any means, as was one or two just the same. Sir Foote hardly ever galloped, and won the Futurity, Newmarket, and Doncaster on little or no work. In conclusion I think you can attribute it all to the one thing—powerful lungs.

Lilyveil Sydney Cup

TURF MONTHLY 31

ROARERS

A NZ PERSPECTIVE ROARERS IN NZ Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1919), Saturday 19 May 1900, page 47 Kohrers.

I

n a recent issue of, the- "New Zealand Referee" appeared a statement that there was just now in training in Riccarton an unusually large number of roarers. We are sorry to hear this, and also what makes it more certain, the statements from that well-informed writer "Spectator," who says, when writing on the business done at Riccarton: There are not many horses in work altogether at headquarters just now, but I should say that one out of every seven or eight in commission is more or less affected in the wind. Many authorities on breeding and racing the thoroughbred have pronounced roaring to be hereditary, and it may be true that it is, but, all the same, opinions differ on the subject, and there are arguments against as well as for the assumption. It is such a rare thing to find the every-day utility horse -accustomed to do work only requiring ordinary exertion, and no great trials of speed - suffering from affections of the wind, that there are good grounds for supposing that it is the artificial life to which thoroughbreds are subjected, the exertions and changes more or less, forcible, which the air passages are called upon to undergo, that bring on the trouble. The inspirations and expirations on a foggy morning of cold damp air, or on a windy, warm, and dusty day, are prone to prevent free respiration, and the larynx of the horse becomes diseased through these and other causes. Some horses may be predisposed to the disease, like some families to throat and lung troubles, but cases have been shown where horses have become roarers, and bad ones, though a careful perusal of their pedigrees has failed to establish the hereditary theory. My own opinion is that high feeding and forcing young horses, and working them fast and severely in all sorts of weather, causes them to go wrong in their respiratory organs. We are told that the descendants of Apremont horses and Apremont mares, and the descendants of Musket mares and Musket horses, have been responsible for more roaring than any other breed of horses, as proof that it is hereditary. The reason why white sheep eat more grass than black ones is because there are more of them, and I suppose we can trace more roarers to the families referred to than to other families because we have more of them in work and racing than of other breeds. I am referring more particularly to the South Island now, and right here, as our Transatlantic friends have it, I make bold to say that for every roarer discovered in the North Island, there are half a dozen in the South, and it is in Canterbury where the disease appears to develop. Influenza visits horses in every part of the colony, but in some parts of the South Island more severely than anywhere else, and, I have noted, and many no doubt besides myself, that in some seasons we have had more cases than in others of horses becoming affected in their wind. Last year an unusually large percentage of 2-year-olds that were very bad with influenza went wrong, and this year there are a few of the same age giving evidence of the same

TURF MONTHLY 32

complaint. In nearly every instance the horses are young ones that are troubled, and South Island bred and trained at that. During my long residence in the North Island, I met with very few cases of the kind, and during my periodical visits thereto in recent years the number of horses I have come across or heard of that are roarers or really bad winded, would form an insignificant proportion of the whole in-training.

There are plenty of descendants of Musket horses and mares in the North as well as In the South, but yet we do not hear of their stock being musical. No doubt the climate is more trying to young horses in the South Island than in the North, where the stock get greater freedom and richer natural pasturage as a rule, and are not forced on artificial food. In Auckland, Hawke's Bay, Wanganui, New Plymouth, and the Walrapapa, in the North Island, it is very seldom that roarers are discovered; and in conversation with Southern trainers they have told me that it is rare to have any horses troubled down Dunedin way. It has been suggested that some trainers give their horses too much hay, and there may be something in this. The whole subject is one that has been gone into over and over again, but if some of those who are ever putting roarers down to hereditary causes alone were to attend the Riccarton training tracks and see horses being worked hard in foggy mornings, they might possibly alter their opinions somewhat. No wonder horses cough, and get influenza, and become bad in the wind, when trained under unfavorable conditions, as they sometimes are.

Musket

TURF MONTHLY 33

MAGIC MILLIONS PAST WINNERS

Year Horse 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1990 1989 1989 1988 1988 1987

TURF MONTHLY 34

Sire

Damsire

Skirt The Law Better Than Ready Exceed And Excel Coolangatta Written Tycoon More Than Ready Shaquero Shalaa Not A Single Doubt Away Game Snitzel Elusive Quality Exhilarates Snitzel More Than Ready Sunlight Zoustar Charge Forward Houtzen I Am Invincible Reset Capitalist Written Tycoon Fusaichi Pegasus Le Chef Exceed And Excel Testa Rossa Unencumbered Testa Rossa More Than Ready Real Surreal Real Saga Mossman Driefontein Fastnet Rock Export Price Karuta Queen Not A Single Doubt Final Card Military Rose General Nediym Flying Spur Phelan Ready More Than Ready Blevic Augusta Proud More Than Ready Langfuhr Mimi Lebrock Show A Heart St Covet Mirror Mirror Dehere Rustic Amber Bradbury’s Luck Redoute’s Choice At Talaq Dance Hero Danzero Dance Floor Regimental Gal General Nediym Yallah Prince Lovely Jubly Lion Hunter Vice Regal Excellerator Marscay Dahar Assertive Lad Zeditave Assert Testa Rossa Perugino Sir Dapper Catnipped Rory’s Jester Christmas Tree General Nediym Nediym Without Fear Winger Charger Archregent Le Cordonnier Zephyrz Zephyr Zip Buena Shore Brave Warrior Cossack Warrior Nijinsky II Our Fiction Zoffany Kaoru Star Clan O’Sullivan Zoffany Baguette Bold Promise Luskin Star Bold Aussie St Jude Godswalk Atilla Dancer’s Joy Danzatore Avaray Sunblazer Daybreak Lover Showdown Malibu Magic Prego Solitary Hail Sea Cabin Semipalatinsk Boone’s Cabin Molokai Prince Biscay Bold Flip Snippets Lunchtime Grand Chaudiere

GOLDEN SLIPPER PAST WINNERS

Year Horse 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987

Sire

Damsire

Fireburn Rebel Dane So You Think Stay Inside Extreme Choice Anabaa Farnan Not A Single Doubt Street Cry Kiamichi Sidestep Canny Lad Estijaab Snitzel Charge Forward She Will Reign Manhattan Rain Charge Forward Capitalist Written Tycoon Fusaichi Pegasus Vancouver Medaglia D’Oro Danehill Mossfun Mossman Snitzel Overreach Exceed And Excel Snippets Pierro Lonhro Daylami Sepoy Elusive Quality Danehill Crystal Lily Stratum

Snippets Phelan Ready More Than Ready Blevic Sebring More Than Ready Flying Spur Forensics Flying Spur Dehere Miss Finland Redoute’s Choice Woodman Stratum Redoute’s Choice Luskin Star Dance Hero Danzero Dance Floor Polar Success Success Express Covetous Calaway Gal Clang Captain’s Gold Ha Ha Danehill Crown Jester Belle Du Jour Dehere Balmerino Catbird Danehill Marscay Prowl Marauding Seattle Slew Guineas Crown Jester Sir Tristram Merlene Danehill

Luskin Star Flying Spur Danehill Mr Prospector Danzero Danehill Kaoru Star Bint Marscay Marscay Sir Tristram Burst Marauding Boucher Tierce Victory Prince Rheingold Canny Lad Bletchingly Lunchtime Courtza PompeiI Court Pakistan II Star Watch Bletchingly Light Wind Marauding Sir Tristram Biscay

TURF MONTHLY 35

BREEDING

CAN IT PREDICT A WINNER?

O

ne of the reasons that Turf Monthly now exists is that history is so important.

What use is it to look at a pedigree of a horse if it doesn’t teach you anything?

As we see, these remarkable horses are so much more than just a name in a pedigree.

The same goes for racing history. We often hear the saying “horses for courses” and pedigrees that work in one area can be found to not have the same success somewhere else. A quick look at the winners of the Magic Millions compared to the corresponding winners of the Golden Slipper tell a tale of Australian racing that it seems few care to investigate in the modern era. It is way too easy to let computers tell you what you need to know. There is talk of changing the date of the Cox Plate, a race that was developed to meet a need for a middle distance wfa event in the Spring to complement the racing programmes of those looking at the two big Cups.

To change the date would inevitably change the nature of not only the race, but also the nature of the other Spring events. Even though it does not happen very often any more, champions like Makybe Diva would no longer be able to win a Cox Plate and a Melbourne Cup. How much poorer would we be if we had not seen some of our champions run in our greatest historical race? Memories of Gunsynd, Leilani, Kingston Town, Makybe Diva and So You Think would have been hugely diminished. While we no doubt have a bias to history, the past winners of the two most prestigious 2yo races in Australia tell a tale that should have a lesson. For those not familiar with the Magic Millions origins, and its forerunner the Golden Nugget, there were a couple of years early when the race was split into colts and fillies divisions.

O

ne glaring statistic from comparison of the two list is the dominance of Danehill in the Golden Slipper, siring three winners straight from 1994 to 1996 while never having success in the Magic Millions. The champion stallion was to go on to have further successes in 1999 and 2001. The first observation of this result is that the two sales drew originally from two different markets. Quite simply, the top line stallions like Danehill had limited representation in the early catalogues of the Magic Millions. This is reinforced by the fact that local Queensland stallions were well represented by their Magic Millions winning progeny. If representation was the simple answer, by 2000 we would have seen Danehill having more success at Magic Millions. In fact, what we saw was a local Queensland stallion in Clang siring a Golden Slipper winner in 2002. Representation may well be a two edged sword in that case. With local Queensland stallions getting more opportunity in the limelight, and their progeny entering the bigger stables, the Magic Millions truly achieved a major result in the original aims of promoting the local stallions. That trend continues to this day with the likes of Spirit Of Boom and Better Than Ready frequently appearing at all major sales.

TURF MONTHLY 37

D

anehill though has continued to have influence in both races with his sons and grandsons siring winners of both races. Still, given the dominance of those lines within the Australian breed, perhaps the success is not what we may have expected.

It is probably fair to say that his legacy in the Magic Millions is still not the level that it is in the Golden Slipper. In contrast to Danehill’s results, a stallion like More Than Ready, the sire of Better Than Ready, was notable in that he had outstanding success in both races. In recent times we see that Snitzel and Written Tycoon have had winners in both races. I Am Invincible, our current leading stallion, has yet to see success in the Golden Slipper and to date has had only one Magic Millions winner back in 2017. How much the change in book numbers for stallions has impacted the result over time is something that we probably will always struggle to quantify, although it is factor that obviously must have some impact.

I

f the answer was a simple one of opportunity, we would have expected that, by now, the sires of the winners of both races would be quite similar. We still see quite a disparity and there are likely two major reasons. Firstly is that the additional three months between the dates of the two races sees maturity playing a role, and secondly, the difference in track and weather conditions are also important. The first point is quite easy to check. We do not have to go back far in history to find a horse like Stay Inside, winner of the 2021 Golden Slipper not having his first race start until 23 January of that year, after the Magic Millions had been run. The son of Extreme Choice was sold through the Magic Millions sale but obviously was not the type of youngster that was able to be prepared for that race. Given the increase in prizemoney for Magic Millions graduates outside of the 2yo race, it seems that these later types are getting more of their numbers in the Magic Millions January sale. The downside of this is that this extra few months of growth is reflected not only in the racing prospects of the yearlings, but more critically for vendors in their type that will directly impact their sales price. Notably though Extreme Choice has yet to sire a Magic Millions winner despite his fee now standing at $275,000.

L

ooking at broodmare sires of both races, these tell an interesting story. Skirting The Law sees a son of Danehill in Exceed And Excel in that position in her pedigree. Not A Single Doubt and Flying Spur are the only other two sons of Danehill to appear as the broodmare sire of a Magic Millions winner. In contrast, Danehill

Gunsynd Cox Plate 1972 TURF MONTHLY 38

himself appears as broodmare sire of two past winners while only one son in Flying Spur has filled that position in the Slipper. Not surprisingly we have seen More Than Ready continue his influence through his daughters in the Magic Millions, but despite his success in the Golden Slipper, his daughters have not repeated this in that race.

O

ther key factors could well be the Queensland summer and the tight nature of the Gold Coast track. For our older readers, we can remember when the Magic Millions was run at Southport racetrack, a name change that the promotions department brought in. It is hard to factor the impact of the Gold Coast track although arguably if the race was held at Eagle Farm, we could see a different result in many cases. While barriers are always critical in big races especially over the short distances, arguably it becomes a much more difficult prospect to win a Magic Millions when drawing wide. The two most common winning barriers since 2000 have been barriers two and three, and this year the quinella was filled with the two horses who jumped from those gates. If we were to study the positions in running, we would most likely find that there is almost no chance of winning a Magic Millions if a horse ends up in the second half of the field. We may have seen that this year with the second and third horses, and indeed the favourite, Empire Of Japan, all getting back in the run and finishing strongly which is not the ideal pattern that we see at the Gold Coast. At the end of the day, simple investigations into the winning sires and broodmare sires can tell us surprising amounts about the progression of the breed within Australia. Despite the influx of shuttle stallions, it is an interesting fact that since 2010, the only overseas bred sires to have winners of these races have been Shalaa and Medaglia D’Oro. We can most likely comfortably predict that Australian bred stallions will continue to dominate 2yo racing for years to come, no matter what big name overseas stallion visit. That is until perhaps we see another stallion like Danehill.

Gunsynd Melbourne Cup 1972 TURF MONTHLY 39