Favourite All Time race

[Phoenix]

If you had to narrow it down all the way to one race, which would you say is your favourite of all time.

Mine is Chandon's win in the 1994 Australian Pacing Championship up at Parklands (my fav track). It was a stand start race over the 2609m. Sunny, brilliant day.. Tuesday afternoon on the Gold Coast..

Chandon, trained and driven by the legend Vic Frost, started from the 10m handicap with other tough runners like Ultra Jet (American import), Medowie Prince, Valley Champ and Young Mister Charles. There was also a Kiwi horse Nippon Home.

Don't remember who led because I was only watching Chandon. There were huge expectations on him after switching to the Frost camp. I remember Chandon galloping when the strands were released and there were some other gallopers..

Once Chandon got down pacing, he tacked on and stayed at the tail of the field until around the 800m or so.. when Frost pulled Chandon out at least 4 or 5 wide and unleashed a blistering sprint and went right past the entire field and was well clear in the straight, and got a bit tired but was too far in front of the chasing local Mighty Mostest and the Victorian Twighlight Warrior.

Great race..

Four days later Chandon backed up at Albion Park to win the QPC and did it in similar style... waiting till the 800m and Frost pulled him out very wide again and just caned the field and won again, this time beating Ultra Jet and Mighty Mostest.

[Phoenix]

The build up to that year's Miracle Mile was immense.. Chandon got an early invite and was an early favourite to take out the famous sprint.

I remember lying on my bed and tuning in to 2KY on the Monday night of Miracle Mile week and caught Greg Radley in the middle of a conversation and was talking about a horse being scratched from the Miracle Mile. I prayed it wasn't Chandon but my hopes were quickly dashed when Chandon's name was mentioned. I was devastated and even more so when Radley said that Chandon would never race again because of an injury to one of his legs.

[aussiebreno]

Blackie 4th Inter. Theres been so, so many races just as great but being at the track made it that bit extra special for me.

[peacheymagic]

Maybe not my favourite race but probably the best performance I have seen on the big stage was Flashing Red's 2007 NZ cup win. The horse had basically been written off as he hadn't won any lead up races, his last win was the Auckland Cup back in March, he was 10 years old and was considered to be past his best consequently he was paying $23 on the tote.

He was running at the back of the pack for the majority of the race and then with about 1200 to go went 3 wide and remained there for the rest of the race, with 400m to go he was past by Monkey King and Tribute, at this stage im sure even his biggest fan didn't think he could win. The monkey had a great trip and put half a length on flashing red yet as the winning post got closer flashing red clawed his way back and ended up winning by a neck.

I remember being on track and couldn't believe my eyes and then heard the time 357.8 and Flashing Red had spent the majority of the last lap 3 wide, very rarely do horses win when doing this much work and never in a NZ cup should a horse be able to win after that sort of run, yet Flashing Red had done it as a 10yo and off 15m. What a phenomenal training effort, and to consider what Monkey King has gone on to do with the run he had for Flashing Red to be able to muster enough strength to surge past him really makes him a true NZ cup champion.

[peacheymagic]

Here is a replay of the race if anyone wants to witness a great NZ cup performance http://racevideo.hrnz.co.nz/Videos/2007/11/13/20071113-03210-0256.wmv

[Flashing Red]

Maybe not my favourite race but probably the best performance I have seen on the big stage was Flashing Red's 2007 NZ cup win. The horse had basically been written off as he hadn't won any lead up races, his last win was the Auckland Cup back in March, he was 10 years old and was considered to be past his best consequently he was paying $23 on the tote.

He was running at the back of the pack for the majority of the race and then with about 1200 to go went 3 wide and remained there for the rest of the race, with 400m to go he was past by Monkey King and Tribute, at this stage im sure even his biggest fan didn't think he could win. The monkey had a great trip and put half a length on flashing red yet as the winning post got closer flashing red clawed his way back and ended up winning by a neck.

I remember being on track and couldn't believe my eyes and then heard the time 357.8 and Flashing Red had spent the majority of the last lap 3 wide, very rarely do horses win when doing this much work and never in a NZ cup should a horse be able to win after that sort of run, yet Flashing Red had done it as a 10yo and off 15m. What a phenomenal training effort, and to consider what Monkey King has gone on to do with the run he had for Flashing Red to be able to muster enough strength to surge past him really makes him a true NZ cup champion.

Couldn't have said it better myself and it is my favourite race of all time and really it should be one of the greatest runs of all time, out of any race and any where. The old buggar even pricked his ears after the finish line, like he could have went another lap.

I was there at Blackie's 4th inter win, that was pretty special too. That was my first "live" inter, and what a one to be my first!

[craig]

I would have to say when Golden Reign won the Inters in NZ....to come from last and to sustain the sprint the way he did, will always stick in my mind....also when Be Good Johnnie won his first Mircle Mile....just love the horse and considering all the hoof problems he has had so he is all heart...

[Flashing Red]

I would love to see a replay of Mount Eden's Miracle Mile - he was the horse that lost all that ground at the start and still won, right? Have yet to find it on the internet.

Saw Christian Cullen's Miracle Mile win the other day on Sky. I hadn't seen it before - boy was he impressive!

[Neil]

Inky Lord's 1989 NZ Cup for me - getting knocked over and flashing down the outside to win as a 4yo

[justdoit]

Super Impose winning the Cox Plate as an 8 year old, defeating Lets Elope.

[peacheymagic]

Another performance I remember is Sly Flyin's debut as a 2yo he galloped out and lost a heap of ground yet somehow managed to win. This performance made me think he could be something special and to see him go on and become a great 2yo, 3yo and grand circuit horse was something.

[triplev123]

I've got two races, they were about 8 days apart and both races were won by the same horse, Christian Cullen's Miracle Mile/Truer Memorial double. Speed over the short course, toughness over the distance. Incredible stuff. I doubt I'll see anything like it again.

[nat]

I always remember 1997 Inter Dominion finals just a great night of racing Pride of Petite getting them on the line what a race and the next race the pacers final and Our Sir Vancelot winning with Rainbow Knight charging at him on the line. But its hard to narrow them down I loved the Westburn Grant, Fanco Ice and Franco Tiger era listening to them battle it out in the big races on the radio,watching the Miricle Miles on the ABC TV and Sports World replays on sundy morning Oh how things have changed

[gedlees no:1 fan]

id have to say knight pistols win in the harley davidson trot in sweeden and his trotting grand prix win as well.
and ananz winning her 12th straight victory 12

[Ziggy]

I know its recent but Id have to say Smoken Up defeating the Great Blacks a fake in the 2010 Miracle mile. phenomenal! In saying that I'm young so don't have a great memory archive of all of the great horses from the past. :)

[Phoenix]

I always remember 1997 Inter Dominion finals just a great night of racing Pride of Petite getting them on the line what a race and the next race the pacers final and Our Sir Vancelot winning with Rainbow Knight charging at him on the line. But its hard to narrow them down I loved the Westburn Grant, Fanco Ice and Franco Tiger era listening to them battle it out in the big races on the radio,watching the Miricle Miles on the ABC TV and Sports World replays on sundy morning Oh how things have changed

Westburn Grant.. Franco Ice.. Franco Tiger..... what an era.. unforgetable..

[nat]

Yeh Westburn Grant the Ozzy flagship, Franco Ice still one of the most exciting horses to me greatness curtailed by injury.

[Big K]

Im showing my age but I think Pure Steel's victory over Rip Van Winkle in the 1978 A G Hunter Cup is one of the best races I've seen or enjoyed.I think the build up was what made it so good with Rip and Steelo having some good clashes earlier and varied opinions over who might be the best pacer.Vanderkemp when asked about Pure Steels toughness said "put him outside my horse and see how tough he is".So it was to be in this race and with an excellent commentary it will stick in my mind forever.If you havent had the opportunity to watch it do yourself a favour and chase it up.

Cheers

[The Escape Club]

Poppy's 1982 Kilmore Cup win.

Actually you could put in a number of his wins. A freak who made a lot of horses look second rate but was plagued with problems throughout his career.

Saw many at the Showgrounds in Melbourne as a young fella during a real golden era.

[Richard prior]

Listened to Mount Edens Miracle Mile as a real young fella and watched the replay a lot of times over the years, He must have lost at least 50 or 60 metres easy at the start of the race, Unbelievable run. The replay is available on You Tube Flashing, Punch in Mount Eden Miracle Mile. This performance has become imprinted in my memory forever.

[Big Max]

Blacks a fake,Be Good Johnny and Flashing Red in the winter cup at AP a few years ago.Sustained power pretty much from the word go and on top of that one of the best race calls you'll ever hear by Mr David Fowler.
Ps Happy 50th David

[Mighty Atom]

Listened to Mount Edens Miracle Mile as a real young fella and watched the replay a lot of times over the years, He must have lost at least 50 or 60 metres easy at the start of the race, Unbelievable run. The replay is available on You Tube Flashing, Punch in Mount Eden Miracle Mile. This performance has become imprinted in my memory forever.

Hi Richard, Absolutely mind boggling to think that a horse could give a quality field a huge start and a beating, it just couldn't be achieved today over a mile. Brilliant horse Mount Eden but at times very frustrating mixing his gait at the start. My favourite race of all time was the 1980 AG Hunter Cup win by Pure Steel ( his third ). I think the race caller was Brian Markovic and he had the adrenaline pumping from start to finish - brilliant call with quips like Paleface Adios leads at the bell with the ''tungsten terror'' moving up alongside, and, they're going hellishly hard down the back straight. Another: Koala King is in a half - nelson grip but he can't get out and finally around the turn, Pure Steel goes to Paleface but the Koalas after him, he's flying, Pure Steel is hanging on ,he's pulling out everything,Koala King can't get to him and Pure Steel wins his third Hunter Cup. Breathtaking. Shame the race is not on you tube but I taped the race and still have it stored away somewhere.

[thepacingman]

Mount Eden's miracle mile. For me, head and shoulders above anything else. Like the race finish, Mount Eden first daylight second.

Also a mention for Noodlum in the Qld Derby. Great run that night. Again lost a lot of ground early and still won. As an aside, interesting name being former NZ PM spelt backwards.

[Danno]

Funny you mention the Qld Derby Stephen, my uncle the late Jack Halverson trained and drove the second placegetter " Mullion Cove" and had a photo of the finish on his loungeroom wall, pretty proud of his horse getting beaten only a neck by the superstar that "Noodlum" was. When showing off his photo he always liked to say " but I won't mention tha Noodlum lost 150 metres at the start"

Cheers Dan.

PS I also reckon Mount Edens Miracle Mile was the most freakish performance as well, unforunate that the world did not get to see the best of him, pure ability wise he was the best of his time in the world IMO.

[brent_L]

HAIL THE KING. Knight Pistol (60m) beating Noopy Kiosk (10m) in track record time in mid 97. And if I remember correctly, the odds were pretty juicy as well, what with the second horse being odds on.

It was also pretty amazing hearing the replay on sky of Maoris Idol winning his first race start.

[Richard prior]

Knight Pistol was a great horse in an era that included Pride of Petite, Buster Hanover and Wagon Apollo, All great trotters. I have the race you were talking about on a DVD and Knight Pistol really give it to the new kid on the block, Noopy Kiosk. Maori's Idol was unbelievable.

[Greg Hando]

For mine it was Christian Cullen in the MM.Treated the field with contempt and completely demoralised the field.