This Week In Racing History
December
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Champion stayer Rose Moss took out the second running of the Summer Cup (800 yards at Harold Park), in 1966, defeating Carbon Lass by two and a half lengths with Werombi Girl third. Werombi Girl had run third in the inaugural event the previous year.
Citing used box one to full advantage and won the 1992 Damsel’s Dash over 511 metres at Sandown Park, downing Dallas Rocket by two and a half lengths with Wicked Sister a length and a half away third.
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In what was arguably one of the weakest fields ever to contest a major Sydney staying race in the 1970s, Slender Eyra won the 1971 Summer Cup at Harold Park by a nose from Jody’s Clopook, earning trainer Bruce Wilson $6,000. The final was marred by the scratching of champion Victorian stayer Roman Copy, who looked to have a ‘mortgage’ on the event.
Stately Bird set a new race record time of 30.05 for 520 metres at Wentworth Park in taking out the 1999 Paws of Thunder by seven and a half lengths over Flash Joan.
Made To Size set a new track record time of 29.57 for 520 metres at Albion Park in 2008. This clipped 4/100ths from the previous best, which had also belonged to Made To Size and had been set 10 months earlier.
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Rated the best stayer to have ever raced over the 800 yards (732 metres) trip at Harold Park, Travel Rev scored a hollow 10 lengths victory in the 1970 Summer Cup, downing his great rival Mustard Moss and running a new race record time of 43.0.
Happy Reuben won the 1996 Bookmaker’s Trophy (now the Bold Trease Carnival Cup) by nine lengths over the 715 metres trip, defeating Enduro Boy with Keon Star five and a half lengths away third.
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Pharaoh’s Mask scored by almost five lengths in the 1986 Cranbourne Victoria Cup from Lord Of Camelot, running a fast 44.42 for the 735 metres trip.
Queen Rose, trained by Kristy Sultana, took out the 2008 Potential Stakes (520 metres, Wentworth Park) from Raw Character and Sydney Vella and earning $15,000 for connections.
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The Gold Coast, or Parklands, track held its first official race meeting in 1988. The one-turn grass circuit remained in operation for 20 years.
Little Denver won the 1991 NSW St Leger (now the Paws of Thunder) by a length and a half from Tallest Peer and Quigley, running a race record 30.17.
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After winning his maiden by 20 lengths in equal track record time at Lithgow, the Bill Fletcher-trained Mister Moss scored by 12 lengths over 555 yards at Dapto in 1966, at only his second race start. He ran 30.3 which was the best time of the night.
Trella Light scored an emphatic victory in a semi-final of the 1973 NSW St Leger. Among the unplaced division was South Australian star Bristol Sue, who had been victorious at her previous six starts, including wins in the Summer Cup at Angle Park and a fast victory over the 530 metres trip at Wentworth Park.
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Champion Victorian stayer He’s Some Boy won the Sun Toy Fund Cup (790 yards, Wentworth Park) by four lengths in a slow 43.9 in 1972. The race was sponsored by The Sun newspaper and aimed at attracting donations for their annual Christmas toys for underprivileged children campaign.
The inaugural Canberra Cup took place in 1979. Run over 530 metres, it was taken out by Brenrae Girl by two and a half lengths from Inspired and Swift Tovera, running 32.94 for trainer Ken Staines.
Slater set a new track record time of 24.82 for 450 metres at Shepparton in 2006.