October
NovemberWires crossed
Recently I read in these pages that the great racehorse Dhaulagiri was rescued by Harry White, who cared for him in retirement.
I fear the correspondent, Michael O’Connor, may have confused the horse with other horses Harry looked after when their racing days came to an end, mainly his Melbourne Cup winners, Think Big and Hyperno.
Dhaulagiri, who won the 1961 Cox Plate after finished second to Tulloch the year before (he also beat Tulloch in the 1961 St George Stakes), was a big, imposing entire who on retirement was sold to French interests.
He stood at stud in France but without much success and was later declared infertile. According to some reports he may have finished up on a butcher’s table.
As for last week’s question from John Singh on whether Harry White ever rode Dhaulagiri, I severely doubt that could have happened. I’m sure Harry would have been too young and Geoff Lane was more or less glued to his backside.
Dhaulagiri, extremely well named by High Peak from Solar Circle (Dhaulagiri is the seventh-highest peak in the Himalayas), was trained throughout his career by then top trainer Brian Courtney. He raced against the likes of Tulloch and Lord.
Unfortunately, Michael, I’ll never know for sure what eventually happened to Dhaulagiri, but I wish you were right.
Armadale (Vic)