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36.
A horse of the century remembered
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11/07/2002 |
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Racing
& Breeding News
Brian
Russell Bloodstock Media Service
Phone
(02) 654 3051, Fax (02) 6541 1022, July 8, 02
The death of Luskin Star at the age of 27 at the Newhaven Park Stud last week brought back memories of some of the most awesome displays by a two-year-old ever witnessed in Australia. In particular they were the efforts of this Hunter Valley bred horse in annexing the Sydney juvenile triple crown of Golden Slipper, Sires' Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes in the autumn of1977.
In the final leg of the triple crown, the son of the Segenhoe Stud based Star Kingdom sire Kaoru Star and the Idomeneo mare Promising, looked as though he was heading for defeat as he loafed along near lead. However, a tap on the shoulder from jockey John Wade saw the colt unleash an unbelievable burst of acceleration and career away to a six lengths victory.
In the previous four weeks he had taken out the Golden Slipper by seven lengths in race record time and then the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes in Australian record time. The performances saw many experts rate him as the best two-year-old of all time, even better than Todman.
He added to his reputation with two more startling runs at the Brisbane winter carnivals, setting two more course records in winning the QTC Sires' Produce Stakes and Marlboro Stakes. All told he raced nine times at two for eight wins and a shock defeat - second - on the home track in the Newcastle Northern Slipper.
Trained by former prominent Hunter Valley jockey Max Lees, Luskin Star added five more races from eight starts at three including the Caulfield Guineas, the Galaxy and Expressway Stakes at Randwick, the STC Phar Lap Stakes and Newcastle Cameron Handicap - new track record time.
At stud he has been responsible to date for over 450 winners of 1600 races and $22.4million. A good sire son is Covetous, a resident at David Baxter's Macquarie Stud at Wellington, but his greatest legacy as a sire is through his daughters.They include the dams of Merlene (won the Golden Slipper), Shovhog (second Golden Slipper) and Clang (sire of this year's Slipper winner Calaway Gal).
Luskin Star was the first horse ever bred by Hunter Valley tyre merchant Jim O'Neill. Though valued at under $10,000 when offered unsuccessfully at a Sydney Easter sale, Jim was well rewarded for his success by securing good returns for Luskin Star's siblings including a full sister, Amunani, which sold for $500,000 in Sydney.
Racing
& Breeding News
Brian
Russell Bloodstock Media Service
Phone
(02) 654 3051, Fax (02) 6541 1022, July 8, 02
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