TASMANIAN RACEHORSE
0WNERS’ ASSOCIATION
JULY, 2015
Included in this issue are the following:
-
Tasmanian Owners – Roser Racing
“Conditioning to Win”
Mongolian Khan
Jarrocks
The Thornton Brothers
Some Melbourne Cup Facts
Gear Changes
ROSER RACING
In early 2015 I retired from my practice as a Barrister in New South Wales and commenced to live
full time in Tasmania although we [Jeannine] still have a property in Sydney. Since living here my
great interest is the thoroughbred industry in Tasmania. I hope, overtime, that I can be more
involved, and more proactive, in the administration of the industry in Tasmania.
We obtained our present property in Tasmania about 12 years ago. We did not reside in that
property on a regular basis because of my Barrister’s practice, which took me all over Australia,
particularly in Sydney. Although this occurred I made sure that I attended every race that my horses
ran in in Tasmania during this period.
My interest in the thoroughbred industry commenced at a very early age. I was born in a small
country area of the Hunter Valley, NSW, where my grandfather had a dairy farm and my
grandmother’s brother was a jockey in the area.
After I moved to Sydney I would attend the races, particularly at Randwick and Canterbury, on a
regular basis with my then wife, my mother and father.
Over the years I owned, with a friend, a number of horses that raced around Canberra and
Melbourne but unfortunately we had very little success. Another one which I raced with a number of
other people, and which is still racing, has had some success. Although it did not have any success
when it raced around the Sydney area, when we had it with Mr Chris Waller, it has had some success
in Northern New South Wales and Queensland since it has been with Mr Matthew Dunn.
I came to be involved in Tasmanian racing when I met Mr Phillip Swinton who was, at that time, CEO
of the Devonport Racing Club and owner of Park Crest Stud. Thereafter Jeannine and myself became
involved in a partnership with Mr Swinton and his wife, Cindy, in a number of horses. One of these
horses was called “Not Guilty”. This horse was originally trained by Mr Gary White, which we later
transferred to Mr Adam Trinder. Prior to this I did not know Adam but I knew his father who trained
one of our horses, Legal Lord. I was extremely impressed by not only the set up of the Trinder Racing
systems but also the very impressive knowledge that Adam and Leah had. Further, and importantly,
both Adam and Leah had the same philosophy as myself that the horse’s welfare was the most
important thing. Over the period that I have had Adam training my horses I have formed the opinion
that he is a magnificent trainer.
over the period that I have had Adam training my horses I have obtained a number of horses. These
horses have been obtained with the assistance of the expert opinion that Adam and Leah have
expressed. These horses have been obtained, generally, at the Magic Million sales in Tasmania;
Adelaide; Melbourne and Queensland. In addition to these Sales I have purchased some in New
South Wales and Victoria from private owners. All these horses have joined the other horses I have
with Adam. The horses that I race in Tasmania are:
1. Valiant Warrior;
2. Big Time;
3. Seven Falls;
4. Himation;
5. Opening Line;
6. Roser’s Quest;
7. Flame of Hope;
8. Silver Bolt;
9. Khatun;
10. Westie;
11. Miss Warrior;
12. Mystic Spirit;
13. Kyogle Son.
14. My most exciting win, and moment, in racing in Tasmania was when Valiant Warrior
won the 3-year-old Cup at Launceston on 17 December 2014 when it beat Admiral and
Gee Gee Doublejay. A close second to this win was when Valiant Warrior won the Vase
in Hobart on 30 November 2014.
My favourite horse is Valiant Warrior who has a fantastic personality and gives 110% every time it
runs whether it is a trial or a race. Although, Jeannine’s favourite is and will be Kyogle Son who I
have named in memory of her father.
For my horses I have used, Mr Dean Woodhouse / Ms Rachel Clayton and, Mr Nigal / Mrs Kristy
Schuuring, Aceland, to not only break but also to agist some of my horses for periods of time. I now
use, generally, Ms Debbie Thompson / Mr Alan Howard, Brooklyn Park, to agist my horses. Everyone
has been fantastic in their dealings with all my horses that have been in their care.
GEAR CHANGES – WHAT DO THEY MEAN?
For those owners new to racing may be interested in some of the terms commonly used in form guides
Blinkers – could be used for either or both eyes, blinkers are designed to keep the horse’s attention to the
front instead of what’s beside or in front of it
Winkers – do a similar function but allows more vision to the horse’s side
Nose Roll – fits between the eyes and the nose and designed to get the horse to hold its head at the correct
angle to its body
Pacifiers – goggles made of meshg that fit over the horse’s eyes. Designed to relax excitable horses by causing
them to concentrate on seeing and not concentrating on other things
Crossover Nose Roll and Norton Bit – used to stop horses ‘pulling in a race”
Tongue Tie and Tongue Control Bit are used to prevent a horse from swallowing its tongue or choking down
Lugging Bit – As the name implies this piece iof gear is designed for horses that have a tendency to lug or hang.
The ring bit on either side of the horse’s mouth if replaced with a “butterfly” bit which gives the jockey greater
control
Barrier Blanket – Used when loading some horses (that are difficult to load or are fractious) into the barrier as
it has a calming effect. It is released when the horse jumps out of the barrier
Snaffle Bit – a commonly used bit that is in two pieces which are joined at the centre
Extracts from the Equine Research publication
“Conditioning To Win”
Following are a few paragraphs from the above publication which should prove of interest
to all.
“As previously stated, horses are similar in many respects to people; the limitless variation among
the equine population, like the human population, makes generalisation notoriously unreliable. Each
horse is an individual and this individual is constantly changing both physically and mentally.
Appearance and disposition of the horse are influenced by the day to day variations in external
stimuli to which he is exposed. Nearly every day potentially represents a new situation, requiring
special attention. The horseperson, by knowing the horse, should be able to recognise the daily
results of these factors and best adapt a conditioning programme to make allowance for them”.
Each horse, when compared to another, will exhibit unique characteristics making this horse truly
different from any other. The horse is not a machine from which to grind performance. To obtain full
benefit from the horse’s potential, the trainer must be able to understand and appreciate the
limitations and capabilities of the horse in the various situation with which it is confronted”.
“There is a mysterious quality found in some horses, commonly called “heart”, which makes a great
difference in the manner a horse develops and performs. The horse with a lot of heart possesses an
abundance of tenacity, courage and a keen desire to excel. Although “heart” is normally not
recognised until a horse has excelled in some dramatic “chips are down” situation, the astute
horseperson can often detect it earlier. Horses with this quality are inherently able to take more
intensive conditioning than an average horse and, all the while, maintain a strong drive to compete
and win”.
THE THORNTON BROTHERS
We had the pleasure of catching up with Damien and Boris Thornton at a recent Elwick race
meeting.
Both boys have grown up with horses and their love for them is very obvious. They were
each involved with Pony Club activities when they were young and have also participated in
Eventing with Damien having competed in a Melbourne International Three Day Event.
Damien and Boris love riding and their involvement with horses and they both say this
involvement will always be a part of their life. Weight is not a problem with Damien but
Boris feels as he gets older he will have to keep an eye on it particularly as he is quite tall
already.
Their father Glenn was a jockey and is now a trainer, currently having sixteen horses in
work. Both boys ride track work for their father and Damien also rides track work two daysa
week in Melbourne. They are both apprenticed to their father along with their sister,
Stephanie, who is 16 and still at school but also in her first year apprenticeship.
Damien said riding Lankan Rupee, when he was still a colt, was a great thrill and Boris said
Vibrant Rouge (who was trained by their father Glenn and ridden by Damien to win the
2015 Vamos Stakes) was one of his exciting rides.
Both boys enjoy coming to Tasmania to ride even though it is a long day getting an early
morning flight and returning home late. Damien first came to ride at the start of this year’s
Cup Carnival in January followed by Boris soon after in February. They certainly have no
trouble getting rides and have been very successful. Both are kept very busy with their
riding commitments – last week Damien rode on six days of the seven and was thrilled to be
placed second in a race in Sydney.
Boris was apprenticed to Adam Trinder for a time which he enjoyed saying he learnt a lot
and the experience had “grown” him as a rider. The highlight of his stay in Tasmania was
riding 5 winners in one night at the Launceston race meeting on 8 th April, 2015. He has now
returned home to Victoria.
They boys live with their parents and sister on their property at Modewarre near Geelong.
They breed both horses and Angus cattle on their farm.
Their careers are truly a family affair with their mother, Wendy, managing all of Boris’s
bookings and Damien’s Tasmanian bookings – and working with their father. They don’t
have a lot of spare time for outside interests but when time permits they try to fit in a game
of golf.
We did enjoy meeting these delightful you men and feel sure they will be an asset to the
Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing industry.
JORROCKS
Another Great Horse from our History Books
Sire:
Whisker (GB)
Grand Sire:
Whisker 1812
Dam: Matilda
Dam’s Sire:
Steeltrap (GB)
Jorrocks was foaled in 1833 in Australia and his breeder was Henry Bailey. He was a bay
gelding.
He had at least 95 starts, 65 wins (including 6 walkovers) and 22 seconds, earning 4,000
sovereigns plus sweepstakes. He was the leading stakes winner in New South Wales eight
times.
Jorrocks was described as long but under 15 hh with a good head. Sloping shoulders, deep
girth, with muscular quarters and clean legs. He was by a good horse Whisker (GB) who was
by Whisker the winner of the 1815 Epsom Derby. Jarrocks Dam, Matilda, was a winner at
Sydney meetings the previous year. It is also noted the imported Arabian Stallion (Old)
Hector is found in the pedigree of Jorrocks.
He was not broken in until he was a 4 YO when he was then used as a stock horse in the
Barwon River region. He won his first race in 1838 by a good margin. In 1840 he was taken
to Windsor to be trained by “Old Brown” (probably Joseph Brown). Here he was bartered to
Richard Rouse for “eight springing heifers” worth about 40 pounds.
As an 8 YO he won a Bathurst Town Plate, followed later in the afternoon by a second in the
Ladies Purse. In 1846 he won 30 of his 31 starts carrying no less than 9 stone (57 kg) over
the usual distance of 2 – 3 miles. At 17 he won 4 of 8 starts and was placed second 3 times
and, when 18, won once again.
Horses were certainly tough in those days, often running twice in a week (sometimes three
times) with big weights and over long distances. Generally, it seems they were more hardy
and more sound than our modern day thoroughbreds.
MONGOLIAN KHAN
TASMANIAN BORN AND BRED CHAMPION
A story reflecting aspects of modern Australasian racing unfolded with Mongolian Khan winning the
Group 1 Australian Derby at Randwick this year.
Bred in Tasmania, trained in New Zealand and owned by a Chinese businessman could become one
of the forces in world racing. He now has two Derbies among his seven wins.
Mongolian Khan is raced by the Inner Mongolia Rider Horse Industry Ltd., a business headed by selfmade, mogul, Lin Lang. In only a few years Lin has bought upwards of 600 horses from New Zealand
and shipped them to his properties in Inner Mongolia where he plans to build a racing and
equestrian industry. Now the showpiece of Lin’s vast empire, Mongolian Khan has experienced a Th
The son of Holy Roman Emperor was sold as a weanling by his breeders Graeme and Christine
McCulloch of the Grenville Stud for $9,000 at the 2001 Inglis Great Weanling sale, then as a
yearling and most recently as a two-year-old at a New Zealand breeze up sale.
TROA MEMBERSHIP
IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY A MEMBER OF THE TASMANIAN
RACEHORSE OWNERS’ ASSOCIATION (YOUR INDUSTRY
ASSOCIATION), JOIN NOW.
APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP IS CONTAINED IN THIS
NEWSLETTER
A FEW MELBOURNE CUP FACTS AND FIGURES
First run in 1961 under the banner of the
Victorian Turf Club and won by Etienne de
Mestre-trained Archer, who beat the
favourite Mormon by six lengths. The
prize was 1240 pounds and the trophy a
gold watch.
***
Archer came back the following year to
beat Mormon, this time by eight lengths,
a record margin that still stands.
***
De Mestre would go on to train three
other winners of the Melbourne Cup –
Tim Whiffler (1867), Chester (1877) and
Calamia (1878).
Hyperno (1979), Kingston Rule (1990),
Lewt’s Elope (1991), Saintly (1996). Rogan
Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008).
***
In 1972 the race was altered to the metric
distance of 3200m, 18.7m or 61.5ft short
of two miles.
***
Kingston Rule holds the metric race record
of 3:16:30.
***
Bobby Lewis and Harry White are the
most successful jockeys with four wins
each.
***
***
Trainer Bart Cummings claimed the first of
his 12 Melbourne Cups in 1965 with Light
Fingers.
***
The following year stablemate Galilee was
the only horse to prevent Light Fingers
making it back-to-back Cups and in 1967
Red Handed gave Cummings his third
straight victory.
***
Cummings other winners are Think Big
(1974, 1975), Gold and Black (1977),
Four-year-olds have the best record of any
age group in the race. Having won the Cup
on 44 occasions. Other age groups are
three-year-old (23), five-year-old (43), sixyear-old (31), seven-year-old (10) and
eight-year old (2).
***
The oldest horses to win the race were
the eight-year-olds Toryboy (1865) and
Catalogue (1938).
***
SOME SAYINGS * * * *
“In the steady gaze
of the horse shines
a silent eloquence
that speaks of love
and loyalty,
strength and
courage. It is the
window that
reveals to us how
willing is his spirit,
how generous his
heart”. Author
Unknown.
The horse. Here is nobility without
conceit, friendship without envy, beauty
without vanity. A willing servant, yet
never a slave”. Ronald Duncan.
“A horse is worth more than riches”.
Spanish Proverb
“A canter is a cure for every evil”.
Benjamin Disraeli.