CHAMPION sprinter and five-time Queensland Horse of the Year, Buffering, was one of four new inductees elevated into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame at the 2017 UBET Queensland Thoroughbred Awards in Brisbane on Saturday, September 9.
Buffering joined champion trainer Peter Moody – of Black Caviar fame – champion jockey Ken Russell, and racing associate PJ O’Shea as the latest champions of the sport to be permanently written into the history books.
The inductees were chosen by an expert panel of judges comprising of members of the media and Queensland racing officials.
Hall of Fame Inductee (Horse) – Buffering
“IRON horse” Buffering, prepared by champion Brisbane trainer Robert Heathcote, amassed more than $7 million in prizemoney after he was bought for just $22,000 at the 2009 Magic Millions QTIS Sale.
“The Buff” saluted seven times at Group 1 level, with his career highlights including two Moir Stakes (2014 and 2015) at Melbourne’s Moonee Valley racecourse and two Winterbottom Stakes (2013 and 2016) at Perth’s Ascot racecourse.
His crowning glory came in 2016, when he captured the imagination of the public in taking the Group 1Al Quoz Sprint on Dubai World Cup night. All up, Buffering had 54 starts for 19 wins and 17 placings.
Hall of Fame Inductee (Trainer) – Peter Moody
PETER Moody’s career took him all the way from Wyandra in south west Queensland to Royal Ascot. A three-time Victorian Metropolitan Trainers’ Premier, Moody was guided by the likes of Tommy “TJ” Smith, Colin Hayes and Bill Mitchell, before opening his own satellite stable in Brisbane.
The first of his 56 Group 1 wins came with Amalfi in the 2001 Victoria Derby, after which he moved his operation to Victoria full-time. Moody will best be remembered for preparing champion sprinter Black Caviar, as she captured the imagination of the entire country en-route to 25-consecutive wins (15 at Group One level).
Proving he wasn’t a ‘one horse wonder’ trainer, Moody provided five Australian Horse of Year winners in six years – Typhoon Tracy (2010), Black Caviar (2011, 2012, 2013) and Dissident (2015).
Interviewed by Radio TAB racecaller David Fowler, Moody commented: “It’s an unbelievably humbling experience. You’ve got your Dawsons’, Atkins’, Mayfield-Smiths’, McLaughlans’ (in the Hall of Fame) who are not only greats of Queensland racing but Australian racing. To be recognised alongside them is something beyond my wildest dreams. It’s an absolute honour.
“I love Queensland. I’m an unbelievably parochial Queenslander. My family has grown-up entwined in Victoria these days but I love the opportunity to be able to get home and catch up with the family. It was special to have my Mum here with me tonight as well. Thank you very much to Racing Queensland and all of the sponsors,” he said.
Hall of Fame Inductee (Associate) – PJ O’Shea
PATRICK Joseph O’Shea and Eagle Farm Racecourse both began their existence in 1865. Affectionately known as “PJ”, O’Shea bred and raced horses for more than 35 years in Queensland.
Treasurer of the QTC in the early 1900s and chairman from 1935 to 1947, O’Shea was also a well-known owner, racing the likes of Syce Lad, Loganius, Sheila’s Lad, Canning Queen and Lady Buzzard.
His legacy in racing lives on with Queensland’s top weight-for-age staying race, the PJ O’Shea Stakes, named in his honour.
Hall of Fame Inductee (Jockey) – Ken Russell
MONTO-born jockey Ken Russell dominated Central Queensland racing in the 1970s, chalking up 500 winners in the central districts before relocating to the Gold Coast. He quickly earned the moniker the ‘King of the Coast’, winning the Gold Coast premiership four times before relocating to Brisbane where he won the Metropolitan Premiership.
He then moved to Sydney and went on to win several of Australia’s major races. His Group 1 wins include the AJC Doncaster, AJC Spring Champion Stakes, George Ryder Stakes, QTC Oaks, QTC Derby and the SAJC Goodwood. Russell died in a fall at Sydney’s Rosehill racetrack in October 1993.
Winx's streak hits 20 with 13th Group 1 win
CHAMPION mare Winx extended her unbeaten streak to 20 and won a 13th Group 1 race when she won the George Main Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday, September 16.
Connections feel the 6YO mare is right on track for her main mission of the Cox Plate, and will likely have one more run before the weight-for-age championship.
A $230,000 purchase for Magic Bloodstock at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud, Winx has sent her earnings soaring past $13.47 million.
As a yearling Winx was selected on behalf of owners Peter and Patty Tighe, Richard Treweeke and Debbie Kepitis by leading bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster.
By the deceased sire Street Cry from Vegas Showgirl – a Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale purchase – Winx was bred by Fairway Thoroughbred, the breeding arm for John and Deb Camilleri.
Meanwhile, Vegas Showgirl gave birth to a sibling of the champion mare at Segenhoe Thoroughbreds on Saturday night, September 16.. By Exceed And Excel, the filly foal is the seventh foal from Vegas Showgirl who has also produced Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes winner El Divino. Segenhoe's Peter O'Brien tweeted: "On the day her daughter Winx wins 20 straight Vegas Showgirl foals a sister to the champion by Exceed And Excel. Mother and daughter well."
Kropp claims fourth Dalby Cup
TOOWOOMBA trainer Matt Kropp made a successful return to his old stomping ground to claim his fourth Dalby Cup (1400m) with Zip To The Moon on Saturday, September 9.
Racing Queensland webnews reports Kropp trained for 20 years at Dalby before relocating to Toowoomba four years ago. By Dusty Moon from the Rebelgaze mare Miss Buttercup, Zip To The Moon was originally trained by Barry Squair and Jason Judge in Toowoomba before Kropp leased the 6YO gelding from his previous owner. Kropp’s previous Dalby Cup winners were Billy Goat, Modern Al and Uncle Jan.
Earlier the historic weight for age maiden Plough Inn Cup (1400m) was won by the Ben Currie-trained Magic Kitty who had placed in three of her previous six starts. A 4YO mare, Magic Kitty is by the Group AJC Doncaster Handicap winner Over from the Rocket To Mars mare Loopy.
The win continued the recent good run from Currie who claimed last season’s Toowoomba trainers’ premiership. Currie has been in spectacular form over the past few months and landed four winners at the last Toowoomba meeting on September 2.
Apprentice Hannah English and her partner trainer Glen Richardson teamed to win the Dalby Machinery Centre Open Handicap (1200m) with top-weight Klammer. a 6YO son of Snitzel, Klammer was originally trained in Sydney by Gerald Ryan winning three times at Hawkesbury and Canberra before joining the Richardson stable in Nanango in December. It was Klammer’s fourth win under Richardson’s care from 14 starts.
Racing educator appointed to RQ role
RACING Queensland (RQ) has appointed one of Australia’s most experienced racing industry educators and jockey welfare administrators, Maurice Logue, to lead its education department into a new era of racing industry training in Queensland.
RQ CEO Dr Eliot Forbes said Mr Logue took up the important leadership position as Manager of Education and Jockey Welfare in mid-August.
“Maurice has a well-deserved reputation in a wide range of roles in the racing industry starting out as an apprentice jockey before a successful career as a jockey with more than 750 wins over his riding career. In his roles Maurice has demonstrated excellence at building relationships across industry groups and delivering educational strategies to enhance the outcomes for all participants,” Dr Forbes said.
Mr Logue was the GM of Workplace Development, Education, Employment, Industry Welfare and Safety for Racing NSW since 2006 as well as performing as a manager for the Championships Canterbury Park Quarantine Centre since 2012.
