Winooka

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Winooka
SireWindbag (AUS)
GrandsireMagpie (GB)
DamKanooka (AUS)
DamsireThe Welkin (GB)
SexStallion
Foaled1928
CountryAustralia
ColourBay
BreederPercy Miller Kia Ora Stud
OwnerH.C. Taylor
A.J. Mathews & W.A. Macdonald
TrainerTim Brosnan
Mick Polson
Record39: 15, 7, 6
Major wins
Futurity Stakes (1933)
Doncaster Handicap (1933)
All Aged Plate (1933)
C.W.Cropper Handicap (1933)
Pimlico Baltimore Handicap (1933)
Pimlico Autumn Handicap (1933)

Winooka (foaled 1928) was a bay Australian thoroughbred stallion who raced for 5 seasons from a two-year-old to a six-year-old including America recording major wins from 6 furlongs to 1 mile and winning jockeys being Stan Davidson from Newcastle and Sydney Australian Racing Hall of Fame inductees Jim Pike and Edgar Britt.[1][2][3]

Breeding[edit]

Winooka was bred by Percy Miller Kia Ora Stud Scone in the Hunter Valley. Sire Windbag (AUS) winner of 1925 VRC Melbourne Cup with major winners including the champion miler Chatham 1932 & 1934 MVRC WS Cox Plate, 1932 & 1933 Epsom Handicap and Liberal 1932 VATC Caulfield Guineas, 1932 VRC Derby and VATC Underwood Stakes.[4]

Dam Kanooka (AUS) won the 1925 AJC Gimcrack Stakes at Randwick Racecourse.[5][6]

Racing career[edit]

Winooka was purchased at the 1930 Sydney yearling sales for 290 guineas by H.C. Taylor from Scone and originally trained in Brisbane by Tim Brosnan of Lough Neagh fame. After 2 starts was sold to new owners W.A. McDonald and A.J. Mathews for 1,000 guineas who were well known Sydney bookmakers.[7]

Winooka raced between 1930 and 1935 winner of 3 Group 1 races in the modern era the 1933 VATC Futurity Stakes, Caulfield 7 furlong record, 1933 AJC Doncaster Handicap carrying 63 kg in Australasian record time, 1933 AJC All Aged Plate by 5 lengths and second 1935 VATC Oakleigh Plate carrying 66 kg.[8][9][10]

Winooka as a five year old was shipped to the United States with trainer Mick Polson and jockey Edgar Britt to compete in nine highly publicised races winning two 'Match Races' at Tanforan Racetrack, San Francisco and Longacres Racetrack Seattle and two other races at Pimlico Racecourse, being the 1933 Baltimore and Autumn Handicaps under management of colourful Australian sporting entrepreneur and horse racing identity Rufe Naylor.[11][12]

With Jim Pike up, Winooka's final race was the 1935 Doncaster Handicap. During the race he was galloped on and both his hind tendons were cut.[13] He subsequently recovered and was retired to stud in New South Wales.[14]

Trainer Mick Polson 1886-1957 was originally from Melbourne his stables were located at Kogarah near Moorefield Racecourse, Sydney and later at High Street Randwick also trained wonder miler Fuji San winner of 17 races including the 1925 AJC Doncaster Handicap, 1926 Tatts Tramway Handicap carrying 63 kg and 1927 AJC All Aged Stakes also second to Amounis 1926 AJC Epsom Handicap carrying 61 kg. Mick Polson was mentor to the champion jockeys Edgar Britt and the dynamic Billy Lappin who was tragically killed in 1940.[15][16][17]

Australian Starts: 30 starts 11 wins, 6 seconds, 5 thirds

American Starts: 9 starts 4 wins, 1 second, 1 third[18]

Image gallery[edit]

1933 racebooks[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Arrold, Tony (1983). More Champions (First ed.). Sydney N.S.W.: Tralca. pp. 244–246. ISBN 0959445811. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  2. ^ Australian Racing Hall of Fame. "Edgar Britt Jockey". www.racingvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  3. ^ Australian Racing Hall of Fame. "Jim Pike Jockey". www.racingvictoria.com.au. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  4. ^ National Library of Australia (22 July 1939). "Windbag Sire". No. 12. The Australasian - Melbourne. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  5. ^ Pedigreequery. "Winooka Breeding". pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  6. ^ Australian Stud Book. "Winooka Pedigree". www.studbook.org.au. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  7. ^ National Library of Australia (1 April 1931). "Winooka Brisbane Sale". No. Page 2. Referee Sydney NSW. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  8. ^ National Library of Australia (27 Feb 1933). "Winooka Caulfield Record". No. Page 6. The Age. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  9. ^ National Library of Australia (19 April 1933). "Winooka a Champion Miler". No. Page 9. Sydney Mail. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  10. ^ National Film and Sound Archive. "Winooka wins Doncaster Handicap". nfsa.gov.au. Retrieved 20 December 2020.
  11. ^ Australian Dictionary of Biography. "Rufe Naylor Biography". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  12. ^ Racehorsetalk. "Winooka USA". www.racehorsetalk.com.au. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  13. ^ "Champion Winooka Has Made His Final Run". The Sun. No. 1673. New South Wales, Australia. 21 April 1935. p. 29. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "THE TURF. THE TAN CROSSING AT ELWICK". The Mercury. Vol. CXLIII, no. 20, 207. Tasmania, Australia. 31 July 1935. p. 12. Retrieved 24 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ National Library of Australia (29 March 1933). "Fuji San Retired". No. Page 2. The Picton Post NSW. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  16. ^ National Library of Australia (29 August 1940). "Mick Polson Trainer". No. 10. Sydney Sportsman. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
  17. ^ National Library of Australia (12 February 1940). "Billy Lappin Tribute". No. Page 1. Sydney Sportsman. Retrieved 18 December 2020.
  18. ^ Racehorsetalk. "Winooka Race Records". www.racehorsetalk.com.au. Retrieved 20 December 2020.