This Week In Racing History
October
22
The inaugural Strathalbyn Cup was held in 1973, run over 536 metres. The winner was Bululla, trained by Neil Penley, who scorched around the circuit in a new track record time of 31.76 to clip 30/100ths from the previous mark. Bululla scoed by 10 lengths from Star Actress and Bronze Record.
White Coonowrin, owned and trained by Ray Gatti, won the 1992 Brisbane Cup, the last one to be run over 558 metres at the Gabba. The local hope defeated former Tasmanian sprinter turned NSW resident Iceni Princess by three-quarters of a length with Goldstream third.
23
Tasmanian champion Shantung Tiger scored a brilliant victory in the 1997 Devonport Cup, overcoming box five to score by three and a half lengths from Ginger's Charm.
The 2001 Devonport Cup saw a close duel with great rivals Black Caleb and Stylish Doctor fighting out the finish. Black Caleb prevailed by a head to take their personal scoreline to two wins apiece. Black Caleb would go on to win his last nine in succession, including another narrow victory over Stylish Doctor. It was the last time the Devonport Cup final was run in October.
24
South Australian Scenic Spa downed Victorian finalist Storm Glade in the 1985 final of the National Sprint Championship, run over 513 metres at Sandown Park. The victory was the second for a South Australian in the nationals, coming just four years after Kate's A Scandal, who had also been successful in Victoria, at Olympic Park.
The 2004 final of the Canberra Cup (530 metres) was annexed by Tasmanian sprinter Awesome Cole who won by three-quarters of a length from Tadmore Eddy with Miracle Cracker third. Highly-fancied Victorian finalist Monster's Inc was fourth.
25
The Ron Gill-trained Bobniak won the 1997 Vic Peters Memorial Classic by almost nine lengths from Little Ego and Victorian finalist Fraud. Bobniak had won his first 13 starts before suffering his first defeat in a heat of the Classic, running second to the ill-fated Marcus Wonacott.
In one of the most controversial races of all time, the 2008 Topgun was taken out by El Galo, who was later disqualified for a drug infringement. Runner-up Regal Thyme was elevated to first place, ahead of One Tree Hill (NSW) and All Caution.
26
Alastic Rebel exited box three and took out the 1991 Vic Peters Memorial Classic at Wentworth Park by three lengths over the smart Tallest Peer with Almerzo five lengths away third.
Bookkeeper set a new track record time of 34.06 for 600 metres at The Meadows in 2013, shaving just 1/100th off the previous mark set by Nellie Noodles three and a half years earlier.
27
Meticulous defeated Run's House and Leprechaun Pace in the 2007 Topgun, the first to be run over 525 metres at The Meadows. NSW invitee Mandagery Man was scratched, replaced by fellow NSW sprinter One Tree Hill (who finished fourth). Meticulous received a whopping $125,000 for the victory, the largest amount ever paid to the victor of an invitation-only race.
28
Placid Boy scored a hollow eight-length victory in the 1995 Vic Peters Memorial Classic final, earning $30,000 for connections.
The Mark Bell owned and trained speedster Go Wild Teddy won the 2000 Vic Peters Memorial Classic from Allan's Token and Bigbad Raymond with future topline stayer Pearl Larricki fourth. This was the last time the race was known as the Vic Peters Memorial Classic, the following year it was renamed simply the Vic Peters Classic.