27/05/16
With it being Group 1 Doomben 10000 day tomorrow, I thought it would be a good idea to turn the clock back 20 years to 1996 to see what transpired on the day.
All the following information in respect of results was taken from the annual publication Australian Race Results 1st August 1995 to 31stJuly 1996, which was published by “Racing Services Bureau, a division of Victoria Racing Club”.
Doomben 10000 day 1996 was run on Saturday 11 May. The weather was listed as being “fine” but the track was rated “heavy”. And of course back in that era we had some sanity in the thoroughbred racing industry, instead of this crap nowadays where track managers and stewards alike think they can accurately rate a track to 10% via some crazy one to 10 rated system that someone dreamt up. So in the modern day it’s all so silly it defies belief. Tracks sit at the one rating – generally a “good 4” for days, then on race day miraculously get upgraded after the first to a “good 3”. Or the track is a good 4 on race morning because of one of those “big dews” that strike on race days and kept he track in that four range, yet by the end of the race day they are nearly breaking track records.
There’s no sign of penetrometers in these 1996 results. I fancy “they” may not have had penetrometers 20 years ago either – and that would be another plus. The penetrometer readings race clubs put out are so predictable. One day down the track, possibly in my memoirs, I may put up a story on what happened one particular day at a city thoroughbred racetrack, that is domiciled along the eastern seaboard, in respect of a “false” track rating that was issued and the associated “false” penetometer reading that was issued with that track rating, so that a particular horse would start at a particular meeting. Those connected with the horse were encouraged to start the horse because of the let’s say “better than expected” track rating – and the horse went missing in action at a short quote, as the horse wasn’t a wet tracker. The vast majority of industry participants would be mortified by the events of that day. Let me just say publicly, since that incident, “I’m very wary about the accuracy of track ratings and penetrometers readings issued on race mornings”.
Interestingly nine races were run on Doomben 10000 day in 1996 – this year there are only eight events – with the first set to jump at 12.07pm, whilst the last will exit the barriers at 4.37pm.
So here are the results of the nine races from Doomben 10000 day 1996, which was incidentally the last year that it was run as a handicap. The following year (1997) it changed to a weight-for-age event:
R
RACE/TIME/MARGIN
HORSE/HOOP/TRAINER
WT
PL
SP
1
F&M Handicap
1330 metres
Espresso – L. Olsen – A. Bailey
57.5
1
3/1 EF
1.21.87 – nose x 2 lengths
Serene Joy – S. Howison
52.0
2
3/1 EF
Prizemoney $30,000
Majestic Fire – M. Aspinall
52.0
3
7/1
2
3YO Open Handicap
1200 metres
Judge Dredd – D. Beadman – J. Conlon
55.0
1
6/1
1.13.15 – 3 lengths x sh nk
Spectacular Light – J. Taylor
55.5
2
9/1
Prizemoney $30,000
Brettic – E. Wilkinson
53.5
3
13/2
3
QRIS 2YO Fillies
1200 metres
Mother’s Gift – L. Dittman – P. Quinnell
55.0
1
9/2
1.13.90 – 4.5 lengths x nose
Valiant Queen – G. Watson
52.0
2
25/1
Prizemoney $30,000
Pirate Magic – D. Beadman
52.0
3
33/1
4
2YO C&G Handicap
1200 metres
Crafty Guest – J. Flanders – D. Clark
53.0
1
5/2 F
1.13.48 – 3.75 lengths x ½ nk
Count Max – P. Wolfgram
53.0
2
33/1
Prizemoney $30,000
Super Espion – L. Dittman
53.5
3
13/4
5
Coca Cola Classic – Group 3
1200 metres
Flavour – L. Cassidy – J. Hawkes
55.0
1
2/1 F
1.13.03 – ½ nk x ½ nk
Foreign Minister – R.S. Dye
55.0
2
6/1
Prizemoney $125,000
La Snippette – J. Byrne
52.0
3
5/1
6
Doomben Classic – Listed
Kidman’s Cove – L. Cassidy – M. Mair
55.5
1
10/1
1.21.54 – sh hd x 0.75 length
Ravarda – L. Dittman
55.5
2
4/1
Prizemoney $64,000
Quick Flick – D. Beadman
55.5
3
9/4
7
Welter Handicap
1330 metres
Fond Return – G. Palmer – A.W. Doyle
56.0
1
9/2
1.22.12 – 0.75 length x 1.5 lengths
Power Walk – M. Pelling
53.5
2
4/1 EF
Prizemoney $30,000
El Bandito – D. Hayse (a)
53.0
3
16/1
8
Doomben 10000 – Group 1
1330 metres
Suntain – M. Pelling – B. Howlett
51.0
1
20/1
1.21.08 – 0.50 length x 1.25 lengths
Encores – B. York
51.5
2
11/1
Prizemoney $500,000
Quick Return – G. Watson
49.5
3
200/1
Persian Flyer – D. Beadman
52
4
9/1
Loader – C.W. Johnson
53.5
5
20/1
Monopolize – L. Olsen
54
6
11/2
Shame – L. Cassidy
52.5
7
9/1
Flight to Fantasy – R.S. Dye
51.5
8
15/1
Pimpala SonA. Russell
51.0
9
16/1
Victoria Park – J. Taylor
51.0
10
7/1
Cutler – P. Wolfgram
49.5
11
25/1
Chief de Beers – L. Dittman
55.0
12
6/4
Green Sweeper – S. Howison
49.0
13
66/1
9
Group 3 Chairmans Handicap
2020 metres
Juggler – D. Beadman – G. Waterhouse
55.5
1
4/5 F
2.9.63 – 2.75 lengths x 2 lengths
Priceless Asset – R.S. Dye
51.5
2
10/1
Prizemoney $100,000
Telltina – M. Pelling
51.5
3
10/1
In respect of the Doomben 10000, the minimum handicap weight in 1996 was noted as being 49kgs, whilst in 2016 the weight-for-age scale applies.
In 1996 the Doomben 10000 was worth $500,000 in total prizemoney – in 2016 it’s worth $750,000 meaning it’s gone up 50% in 20 years. By comparison the Queensland Oaks of 1996 was worth $282,500 all up and this year it’s worth $535,000 – or 89.38% more. That may be an interesting theme for a story for me – what these Group races were worth back 20 years ago in comparison to now.
It is correct that four races were run over 1330 metres, not the normal 1350 metres, on the day, possibly because the barriers may have been moved because of the “heavy” rated track.
It is correct that the third placegetter Doomben 10000 – Quick Return – started at 200/1.
In respect of bonuses won on the day, it was advised in the aforesaid results that in Race 3 Valiant Queen won a “$7,000 QRIS bonus” and Juggler in Race 9 won a “$9,750 VOBIS bonus”.
The only claiming apprentice that rode on the day and rode a placegetter was David Hayse who claimed 3kgs when he ran third on the grey son of the grey stallion Spectacular Spy – El Bandito – in Race 7. These days David rides in Central Queensland and I see that apart from one race, he’s got a full book of rides at the TAB meeting in Mackay tomorrow.
Arguably the biggest subsequent thoroughbred achiever that was placed on Doomben 10000 day in 1996 was the grey mare that ran third in the last race – Telltina. One year earlier in her racing career she’d won the Listed Exhibition Handicap at Eagle Farm. When retired to stud she produced two smart black type horses – firstly Tellem which won two Weetwood Handicaps (2005 and 2007) as well as a Glasshouse Handicap at Caloundra (2004, whilst another of her progeny, Tellson, won a Meynink Stakes at Eagle Farm in the Year 2000, a Golden Stakes at Doomben in 2001 and a Powerhouse Classic at the same track in 2002. Telltina was aged 18 when she departed this life on 6/10/08.
Telltina’s dam was Bernalla and she won the 1979 version of both the Group 3 Gold Coast Cup and the then Listed Toowoomba Cup. Apart from her daughter Telltina – Bernalla produced Startell and he won the Listed 2002 Brisbane Handicap at Eagle Farm and Listed 2001 Weetwood Handicap in Toowoomba.
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