October
DecemberBrian wasn't to blame
Just thought I would add to John Adams’s excellent column by completing his snippet on the hostile attack given to Jockey Brian Gilders on Persian Opera 50 years ago at Moonee Valley.
John was spot on. However, what he didn’t add was that on returning to scale Gilders’s colours were splattered with blood. The horse had bled and being the brilliant horseman that Brian was, he sat quietly on it, hoping it may reach the line in time but was unluckily grabbed by Mr Lou, going under by a neck.
Even owner Keith Gregory was furious until Persian Opera returned to the second place stall, where he offered Gilders an apology.
How do I recall all this? I was on track with the son of the owner of Mr Lou, who was trained by George Hanlon. A very lucky win indeed.
Goldsborough Valley (Qld)