Original Blog Post:
I've been here a fair while, more than 70 years in fact, and in that time I've been to race meetings all across Australia and New Zealand.
I was leaning on the fence when Cardigan Bay started from 78 yards and won the 1963 Auckland cup, I was lucky enough to be a members guest at Gloucester Park when Mt Eden butchered the start and gave them "officially" 80 yards start, seemed more like 120 to those that were there, and still brained 'em. Live, or thru the magic of TV, I have been lucky enough to see Vain break their hearts in a disdainful performance in his slipper win and I recall fondly the way So You Think put them away in his second Cox Plate, and Winx in her second. I thought that Placid Ark was a bully of the highest order with both his Flemington Autumn runs in the '87 season.
There was the dominance of Might and Power in his C'field cup win and the '66 Melbourne cup of Gallilee, all of these falling into what I consider to be "smack their bums,and put them in their place" kind of runs.
I saw either live or on TV or both, in some cases horses the likes of Kingston Town, Octagonal, Sunline, Northerly, Maykibe Diva, the pacers Christian Cullen and Blacks a Fake and many many others who have or who should have been labelled champions, including the unforgettable Black Caviar, BUT NEVER have I witnessed a horse of any age or gender, win with the ease and authority that WINX did in the Ryder Stakes on Saturday, the 18th March 2017.
Not saying others have not done as good, or better, some thru courage and toughness, some through longevity {Manikato}, for whatever reason floats your boat, but I personally put this race down as the best performance I have ever witnessed on an Australian racetrack.
If something gets your juices flowing and you feel it ranks better, let me know. I wont argue, I'll just enjoy the memories with you.
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