October
JuneBernie was best
It was interesting to read the account (3/6) of Paul Richards’s top 10 Queensland gallopers of all time.
I agree with his top two — Gunsynd and Bernborough.
However, I would reverse the order, with Bernborough on top.
As a six-year-old and seven-year-old Bernborough old strung together his 15 straight victories in three states with enormous handicap weights and has been described by many old-time judges as the equal of Phar Lap.
Paul spoke about the controversial 1946 Caulfield Cup, when this great Queenslander suffered four checks under Athol Mulley’s inferior ride. Mulley was immediately sacked by connections.
Then of course there were the two bookmakers who were banned from ever fielding again in Victoria after they bet 3/1 each way, when other fielders only offered 6/4 and 7/4. (That tells you something.)
On that Caulfield Cup day, Bernborough was also quoted at 6/4 to win the Melbourne Cup and was to be asked to carry the highest weight ever given — 10 stone, 10 pounds (68kg).
Gunsynd deserves to be in the top bracket and it’s worth a visit to the tourism centre at Goondiwindi to view a full record of all of his outstanding wins.
I notice that Lough Neagh was rated in 10th spot. Maybe he deserves to be higher up the calender because of his outstanding weight-carrying records over a six-year period. He amassed 32 wins and 44 placings, carrying up to 9st 9lb (61.2kg) in sprints, beating Peter Pan and winning the Chipping Norton Stakes three times.
I really appreciated the research that Paul put into the overall summary, which made great reading.
Tingoora (Qld)