Darley Flying Start

Also known as Godolphin Flying Start

See: Godolphin Flying Start | Leading to Success

Featured Image: Godolphin Flying Start Graduates 2022 featuring Angus Robertson of Scone

Back L to R: Tommy Lyon-Smith, George Broughton, Donncha McCarthy, David Skelly, Angus Robertson

Front L to R: Erin McLaughlin, Devon Dougherty, Brigitte Murphy, Marine Moussa, Solene Hudbert, Samantha Bussanich

Education has been the lynchpin of my life. I’ve documented this quite extensively in my prolix ramblings in both ‘hard copy’ and online. A fellow ‘Ten-Pound-Pom’ of my generation reminded me we were the luckiest generation – ever. We were the beneficiaries of the largesse of the immediate Post-WWII Government in the UK. Everyone, except the electorate, expected this to be headed by wartime leader and national hero Winston Churchill. It wasn’t. It was Labour PM Clement Attlee. He instituted social reforms which included the National Health Service (NHS) and ‘free’ secondary and tertiary education. How lucky were we? Churchill said of Attlee: “He was a very modest man with a lot to be modest about”. I’ll leave that evaluation to better judges!

Godolphin (Darley) Flying Start is one of the most select and ‘elite’ compacts I have encountered in over 60 years of continuing professional development. I’m privileged to have played a small part myself in the early days.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/junling-sun-in-scone/

By now the world of thoroughbred racing and breeding is infiltrated by many outstanding graduates of the training program. Some of these come from privileged backgrounds such as a member of the aristocratic Sackville family in England and the grandson of Hollywood Mogul Louis B Mayer. Others are from a range of backgrounds and countries representing a large personal and geographic spectrum indeed.

Two local Scone identities are distinguished beneficiaries of the program. These are Adrian Bott (ex-Segenhoe Stud) and Angus Robertson of ‘Turanville’, Scone. The latter boasts a long and distinguished pedigree in both pastoral and thoroughbred enterprises. Thomas Cook owned Turanville over a century ago. He was one of the Hunter Valley’s most prominent breeders of horses. Angus’s great grandfather purchased ‘Turanville’ in 1938 and was directly associated with both the formation of the Scone Race Club (1944) and the Scone Cup Races first run in 1947. His legacy prevails in spades!

Not to be outdone, Angus has another historic legend on the distaff side of the family.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/the-melbourne-cup-1915-australias-first-lady-owner/

Junling Sun in Scone

Featured Image: Darley Flying Start pen picture of Junling Sun.

It may come as a surprise, but Junling Sun aka ‘Jimmy’ has a close association with Scone. He was resident here at ‘Willowgate Hall’, Kingdon Street in 2008.

I first met Junling Sun (‘Jimmy’) in 2004 when I was with a group from the Australian Stock Horse Society on an exploratory trade mission to the People’s Republic of China. CEO Steve Guihot led the ‘charge to China’ accompanied by Ray Hynes, Mike Thew (Scone TAFE), Terry Blake, Duncan & Jill Macintyre, Craig Young (Gloucester) and a few other interested parties. It was an eye-opening expedition to the then emerging PRC.

One of the most impressive individuals we met was Junling Sun. He was an undergraduate student at the Nanjing Agricultural University and delivered a most enthusiastic address in perfect English to our group. We all agreed he was a ‘find’ and should be nurtured as a significant contact.

Through the aegis of TAFE NSW, we invited ‘Jimmy’ to visit Australia funded with a ‘travelling fellowship’ arranged by Mike Thew, then head of SCONE TAFE Campus. The first thing we discovered was that Jimmy was not as proficient at English as we thought! He’d learned his address in Nanjing by rote and carried it off with aplomb. Nonetheless the trip was great success. My great friend and professional colleague Derek Major at Agnes Banks gave him the sobriquet ‘Jimmy’ which delighted him! Until then we didn’t know whether to call him ‘Sun’ or ‘Junling’? He was very gregarious. In retrospect ‘Sunny’ would have been apposite.

Fast forward a few short years to 2008. Through foundation CEO Ollie Tait I developed an association with Darley Australia, then newly established at ‘Kelvinside’, Aberdeen. Sheikh Mohammed, the ruler of Dubai, had developed a grand vision of global hegemony in the esoteric world of Thoroughbred Racing & Breeding. Few individuals on the planet could ever have nurtured such a far-sighted concept! It’s worked.

See: | Australia (darley.com.au)

See: Godolphin Flying Start | Graduates of 2008 – Godolphin Flying Start

Through and early association suffice it to say I managed to ‘orchestrate’ an application for Junling Sun access the intake for 2008. Ollie Tait was the catalyst , conductor and Master of Ceremonies.

The Sewer of Social Media II

“Perhaps the greatest threat to civilization”

Featured Image: ‘Welcome to X’ Wilcox SMH 22/04/2024

Here we are. My @smh@theage cartoon.

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/the-sewer-of-social-media/

Recent ‘convergence of atrocities’ (Peter Hartcher, ‘Nation must look in the mirror’, SMH 20/04/24) has honed in on the social media companies who provide the platforms for ‘ratbags and their ilk’ to coordinate their criminally egregious agendas. The stabbings at Bondi Junction and the knifing at Wakeley shortly thereafter were disastrous sequelae to horrendous acts of violence. While apportioning of blame is a burning hot topic, a cautionary tale is to take a step back and contemplate. “The social media companies reflect the world in which we live” (SMH correspondent 22/04/24).

Ian Biggs writes in ‘Comment’ SMH April 23, 2024:

“With or without: A social dilemma”:

“In the wake of a pair of stabbings earlier this month, misinformation and hate on social platforms made the fallout far worse. And yet, millions of us remain hooked. If we wanted to, we could leave it behind? From experience – and anecdotal evidence – the answer is “not easily”, but it’s worth trying. I did; and I succeeded!

Dr Eliot Forbes heads NZ Racing Integrity Board

I’m always intrigued when a fellow professional aspires to high office in the racing industry. Especially as I once nurtured hopes for similar situations for myself! In fact, I ‘ran a place’ in seeking at least two of the positions cited in the dossier below. I was unsuccessful in Tasmania and with the Australian Stud Book. Fellow veterinarian John Digby ‘trumped me’ in the latter, a wise choice by the combined administrators, the AJC & VRC. I was invited to join the Harness Racing Board when Brian Judd and Barry Rose were in charge but declined.

Featured Image: Dr Eliot Forbes

See: https://www.justhorseracing.com.au/news/international-racing/dr-eliot-forbes-heads-nz-racing-integrity-board/811075

Posted by: Bernard Kenny at 3:34pm on 22/4/2024

Posted in: International Horse Racing

“I am honoured to accept the role of Chief Executive of the Racing Integrity Board,” said Dr Eliot Forbes, “as Integrity is a critical enabler for the success of the racing industry.”

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LONHRO

(Octagonal-Shadea)

Born: December 10, 1998

Black-brown horse

Race Record: 36 starts: 26-3-2

Prizemoney: $5,790,510

Group 1 wins: 11

MAJOR WINS

Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Australian Cup, Caulfield Guineas, George Ryder Stakes (twice), Caulfield Stakes (twice).

HONOURS

Australian Horse of the Year – 2003-04, Australian Champion Sire – 2010-11.

Equine Walk of Fame, Scone

‘Lonhro’ is one of only two thoroughbreds to have been allocated two (2) plaques in the Scone Equine Walk of Fame. The other is ‘Vain’. In the opinion of the scrutineers, they were the only two outstanding individuals to attain ‘Championship’ status on the racetrack and also Champion Thoroughbred Stallion. ‘Lonhro’ was actually the only stallion to achieve championship status based at the famed thoroughbred nursery ‘Woodlands’, Denman although he had relocated to Darley, Aberdeen by the time he was ‘crowned’.

See: ‘The people’s champ’: Hawkes, Beadman lead tributes to Lonhro (racenet.com.au)

See also: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/equine-walk-of-fame/

LONHRO

By Ray Thomas

Hall Of Fame trainer John Hawkes has paid the ultimate accolade to champion Lonhro by describing him as the “complete thoroughbred”.

“Lonhro did it on the racetrack and did it at stud,” Hawkes said.

“There are not many horses that can do it on both sides of the fence like he did.

“He was a champion racehorse and then a champion at stud. He did it all.”

The Hall of Fame trainer was moved to pay tribute to Lonhro after learning of the great horse’s passing on Friday.

Hawkes said Lonhro took on and beat the best of his era including Sunline, Makybe Diva, Grand Armee, Defier, Private Steer and Shogun Lodge.

“I define a champion by the quality of horses they beat during their career and Lonhro took on some outstanding horses and beat them all,” Hawkes said.

“In my opinion, his three greatest wins were in the Australian Cup, his second George Ryder Stakes win and the day he ran down Sunline in the Caulfield Stakes.

“The Australian Cup was something I will never forget because he struck plenty of trouble in the straight and still got up to win.

“The day he won the Ryder, I don’t think a horse anywhere in the world could have beaten him. Grand Armee was in great form but Lonhro sprinted straight past him.

“Then there was Lonhro’s win over Sunline. It was a two-horse race and he had to really dig deep to win.

“Lonhro’s record speak for itself, he was one of the superstars. I would like to have one like him in the stable now.”

Godolphin Australia’s Ross Cole confirmed Lonhro’s passing on Friday afternoon.

“It is with a heavy heart Godolphin Australia announces the passing of former Darley stallion, Lonhro,” Cole said.

“A wonderful contributor to the Australian racing and breeding worlds, and as ‘the people’s champion’ Lonhro will be forever remembered for what he was able to achieve on the racetrack.

“Lonhro had a huge and well-earned following, and he earnt the admiration and respect of everyone within our Godolphin teams over his years as a Darley Stallion and in his retirement.

“We were honoured to have him as part of our operation.”

Lonhro was a December foal when born at Woodlands in 1998. He was the son of another Hawkes-trained champion, Octagonal.

During an outstanding 35-start career, Lonhro won 26 races, 11 at Group 1 level including the Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield Stakes (twice), Mackinnon Stakes, Chipping Norton Stakes (twice), George Ryder Stakes (twice), Queen Elizabeth Stakes, CF Orr Stakes and George Main Stakes.

Darren Beadman was Lonhro’s regular rider and made mention of the champion’s incredible win in the Australian Cup 20 years ago as one of the highlight of the champion’s career.

“People still approach me in 2024 to discuss the Australian Cup, it’s a testament to how he captured so many people’s imagination, which speaks volumes about his career,” Beadman said.

“It’s a very sad day. It was a shock when Ross (Cole) rang and told me. It brought a tear to my eye. He will be a horse that gets talked about for generations to come, remembered not just for his victories on the track but also for being the people’s horse.

“He was very dynamic in his racing career, his acceleration, and the way he won with superiority and toughness. He oozed class. He was class with a capital C.”

Lonhro was voted Australian Horse of the Year in 2003-04 then at stud became Champion Sire in 2010-11.

He was the first horse since the legendary Vain in 1984 to win both titles.

At stud, Lonhro has sired 86 stakes winners of 168 stakes races including 12 individual Group 1 winners, including champion Pierro, Denman, Exosphere, Impending, Kementari, Beaded and Lindermann.

Lonhro’s best son, Pierro, was a five-time Group 1 winner and made a clean sweep of the 2012 juvenile triple crown comprising the Golden Slipper, ATC Sires Produce Stakes and Champagne Stakes.

Coolmore Stud’s Pierro is continuing the Lonhro legacy at stud and has already sired 34 individual stakeswinners including Pierata, Arcadia Queen, Levendi and Regal Power.

Pierro is also the sire of the Winx yearling filly which sold for a world record $10 million at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sales earlier this month.

Bert Lillye Runyonesque Touch

Featured Image: Courtesy of the Australian Media Hall of Fame

I thought I’d have to put Bert Lillye next to Max Presnell in the “Racing Writer’s Barrier Stalls”

“A prolific and versatile racing writer with a Runyonesque touch” (Wayne Peake)

See: Bert Lillye – The Australian Media Hall of Fame (melbournepressclub.com)

See: Bert Lillye | Racing Victoria

See: Biography – Albert John (Bert) Lillye – Australian Dictionary of Biography (anu.edu.au)

Albert John (Bert) Lillye (1919–1996)

by Wayne Peake

This article was published online in 2020

Albert John Lillye (1919–1996), sports journalist and racing administrator, was born on 9 July 1919 at Paddington, Sydney, only child of New South Wales-born Cecil Florence Myrtle Lockhart, née Smith, and Tasmanian-born Albert Lillye, wharf labourer. Bert recalled living opposite the Rosebery Park pony racecourse and watching races from the roof of his home. He was educated at Chatswood Public and Chatswood Boys’ Intermediate High schools. Aged fourteen, he left home and became a copy-boy on Smith’s Weekly, the Referee, and the Arrow—the latter two papers largely devoted to horseracing.

At the Presbyterian Manse, Hurstville, on 3 July 1941 Lillye married Amelia Bernice ‘Bonnie’ Kendrigan, a printer. On 1 October 1941 he began full-time duty in the Citizen Military Forces for service in World War II. He was employed as a cook in support units in New South Wales and Queensland. When stationed near Toowoomba he watched the promising colt Bernborough on the track. In 1942 he had twice briefly absented himself without leave to attend race meetings but in September 1945, having been refused a posting to be near his sick wife, he absconded for forty days and was court martialled on return. Discharged in November, he returned to Smith’s Weekly. He then worked at the Sydney Morning Herald for thirteen years before being lured to the Daily Mirror for five years. In 1969 he returned to the Herald and was racing editor until he retired in July 1984.

A prolific and versatile racing writer with a Runyonesque touch, Lillye obtained tip-offs in bars and stables and produced topical copy for the dailies and well-researched columns for the Sunday papers. In addition he wrote countless uncredited features for Turf Monthly and Racetrack magazines. He delighted in documenting the behind-the-scenes world of racing, including his visits to stud farms, and bemoaned the passing of the racetrack characters who abounded before the Totaliser Administration Board era of regulation.

In November 1961 Lillye learnt that the champion racehorse Martello Towers and several others were lost, feared drowned, in the flooded Nepean River. He recruited a photographer-driver and headed for Windsor. They tracked down Martello Towers and several other missing horses, and were instrumental in their rescue, which he reported in Turf Monthly. In 1973 the Australian Jockey Club, acting on his suggestion, set up an exhibition at Randwick racecourse. At about the same time he began recording the history and folklore of both pony and AJC-registered racing in his ‘Backstage of Racing’ column in the Sun-Herald. A selection would be republished in book form in 1985.

Lillye was tall and broad-shouldered, with an unabashed Australian accent. In later life he wore thick framed glasses. He was jovial and avuncular and mentored many fledgling racing journalists, including Steve Crawley and John Holloway. Introducing them to trainers, jockeys, and administrators, he also tutored them in the bonhomie of drinking which he considered part of the craft of racing journalism. He formed close friendships with his mates from the track and participated in social cricket matches between jockeys and journalists. An ardent gambler, he was noted for charging through betting rings to place bets. For his articles he was twice awarded (1979, 1983) the Sydney Turf Club’s Golden Slipper writers’ prize.

Since 1976 Lillye had taken an active interest in the Kembla Grange racecourse, near his Woonona home. After its controlling club was placed in receivership, he and the sports administrator Keith Nolan formed the Illawarra Turf Club and lobbied for government support, helping to secure the long-term future of the site. He became vice-president of the ITC and a trustee of the Kembla Grange recreation reserve. In the early 1980s his story featured on the television program This Is Your Life, and his portrait by Craig Taylor was commissioned by John Fairfax Ltd. Survived by his wife and their son and two daughters, Lillye died on 18 February 1996 in the Illawarra Regional Hospital, Wollongong, and was cremated. He had attended Kembla Grange races the previous afternoon. At the course, a lounge in the grandstand and an annual race was named after him. He was inducted into the Australian Racing (2015) and Australian Media (2018) halls of fame.

Research edited by Nicole McLennan

Select Bibliography

• Crawley, Steve. ‘A Thirst for the Good Oil of the Turf.’ Australian, 27 February 1996, 17
• Lillye, Bert. Backstage of Racing. Sydney: John Fairfax Marketing, c. 1985
• [Lillye, Bert.] ‘Here’s How We Found Martello Towers!!’ Turf Monthly, January 1962, 2–5, 9
• Lillye, Mervyn. Personal communication
• National Archives of Australia. B884, N24441
• Presnell, Max. ‘Bert Lillye.’ Australian Media Hall of Fame, Melbourne Press Club. Accessed on 18 December 2019. https://halloffame.melbournepressclub.com/article/bert-lillye. Copy held on ADB file

Additional Resources

• Trove search
• on the costs of racing, Sunday Herald (Sydney), 8 May 1949, p 3 (Magazine Section)
• development of harness racing at Harold Park, Recorder (Port Pirie, SA), 9 January 1952, p 1
• edits the Australian Racehorse Trainers’ journal, Newcastle Morning Herald (NSW), 15 January 1954, p 12
• interviewed on the best Melbourne Cup, Canberra Times, 3 November 1985, p 77
• visits the Canberra track, Canberra Times, 26 August 1987, p 36

Related Entries in NCB Sites

• Hickey, Noel Fraser(related entry)

Citation details

Wayne Peake, ‘Lillye, Albert John (Bert) (1919–1996)’, Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lillye-albert-john-bert-27101/text34653, published online 2020, accessed online 20 April 2024.

‘The last of the great turf writers’: Max Presnell’s time at the Herald comes to an end.

After a staggering 67 years, Presnell has written his last column.

By Andrew Webster

APRIL 19, 2024

See: Max Presnell’s time at The Sydney Morning Herald comes to an end (smh.com.au)

Featured Image: Max Presnell ‘On Golden Pond’

It’s fabulous article by Andrew Webster. Max says he will never retire because it IS the journey of his life. Like his late great mate Bert Lillye, he will live on in memory. There are tributes galore from far greater racing critiques than me. They include James Cummings, Les Bridge, Jim Cassidy, Ron Quinton, Ian Craig, Kerrin McEvoy, Darren Beadman, Craig Young, Peter V’landys, Robbie Waterhouse, Greg Radley, Ken Callander, Chris Waller, Gai Waterhouse, Ray Murrihy, Peter McGauran,

I will only remark that it’s been an honour to have Max as an official guest at our annual ‘Bletchingly Lunch’ during the Royal Easter Show. He always richly augments the field.

One comment is from “Wookey” who wrote:

Featured Image: ‘Vain’ by Michael Jeffery with Pat Hyland up. Courtesy of the Australian Turf Club

The table appears to highlight the ‘relative demise’ of some of our recent champion stallions with advancing age. This is both to be expected and anticipated. However, the ‘decline’ (in numbers) appears to show a rather rapid deterioration when compared to previous epochs.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/todman-and-sellwood-set-the-standard-for-other-champions/

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/slipper-champions-well-ahead-of-current-crop/

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/two-year-old-pool-the-shallow-end/

• Written Tycoon Foaled 2002           Rising 22 (in 2024)
• Snitzel Foaled 2002           Rising 22 (in 2024)
• I Am Invincible Foaled 2004           Rising 20 (in 2024)

Max Presnell has volunteered the opinion that our recent and current crop(s) of 2-year-olds do not compare favourably with recent iterations. Both ‘Written Tycoon’ and ‘Snitzel’ have produced Golden Slipper Winners. I Am Invincible is yet to do so despite producing prolific numbers of ‘juveniles’ in his stud career. In each case the presiding ‘plenipotentiary’ of each aged stallion as measured by statistical results has dropped away. That is, they are ‘generating’ fewer individuals of races won.

Although the number of foals (‘offspring’) by each has been exponentially greater than previous generations (x4 – x6) this increase is not expressed in the current championship tables?  Have attitudes to 2yo racing changed? Have the administrators of racing implemented subtle modifications? Do we produce and market yearlings as we used to; or are other factors at work possibly attuned to the reduction in the number of ‘commercially used’ thoroughbred stallions and the logarithmic explosion in number of mares covered by each?

Tara Madgwick has produced some ‘alarming statistics’ (See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/two-year-old-pool-the-shallow-end/ ) which beg the question(s) of selecting and purchasing  young thoroughbreds.

All this raises many questions; some without answers. They range between ‘esoteric to exoteric’, ‘scientific to anecdotal’ and ‘practical to virtual’.

1. Is the narrowing of the ‘genotype’ justified?
2. Are we pushing popular (‘commercial’) stallions beyond what is reasonable?
3. Is the product we are generating (‘foals’) natural or artificial?
4. Are feeding regimes appropriate for optimal development of both the unborn foetus and growing foals?
5. (Some feeding regimes are predicated on maximal rather than optimal growth & development).
6. Are we pushing the early evolution of the conceptus too much?
7. Are the marketing strategies of the principal sales companies most appropriate for sales, commerce and the viability of the breed/’whole herd’?
8. Does marketing mean manipulation?
9. Does ‘genuine’ rate a mention?
10. The antonym of ‘genuine’ is meretricious. It’s sobering consideration.
11. Are the early race programs of the principal clubs best suited for competing young thoroughbreds?
12. Is all this a consequence of ‘going too often to the well?
13. ‘Timeform’ Phil Bull’s (remember him?) ultimate accolade was a horse was GENUINE. Does this still apply?

In a season when he will break Snitzel’s record the champion sire I Am Invincible has >90% of his winnings in dollar terms in races <1200m – 1600m. At these distances he is the leading sire. There are a few winners (c. 5% $-earnings) at race distances 1600m – 2000m where he stands 7^th in this category. At race distances 2000m+ I Am Invincible does not appear in the top 100 sires. This means he does not produce stock capable of competing in the traditional ‘Group Classic Races’ which are run at these metric distances.

Pontifical Mugwumpery

I wish I’d thought of that!

I’ve already done something on the ‘Sewer of Social Media’ and ‘Word Puzzles’.

See: https://sconevetdynasty.com.au/the-sewer-of-social-media/

After Paul Hennessy and his unique and colourful vernacular, I thought I’d go to the other end of the etymological spectrum. This is it!

Copious Stream of Pontifical Mugwumpery (I wish I’d thought of that!)

Laudator Temporis Acti

Featured Image: John Reith “Wuthering Height”, a despotic and self-righteous Scot!

A peculiar anthologic maze, and amusing literary chaos, a farrago of quotations, a mere olla podrida of quaintness, a pot pourri of pleasant delites , a florilegium of elegant extracts, a tangled fardel of old world flowers of thought, a fagot of old fancies, quips,  facetiae, loosely tied”. (Holbrook Jackson, Anatomy of Bibliomania) by a laudator temporis acti,” a “praiser of the past” (Horace, Ars Poetica 173).

See: Laudator Temporis Acti: Copious Stream of Pontifical Mugwumpery

Winston Churchill, speech to the House of Commons (February 22, 1933):

“These well-meaning gentlemen of the British Broadcasting Corporation have absolutely no qualifications and no claim to represent British public opinion. They have no right to say that they voice the opinions of English or British people whatever. If anyone can do that it is His Majesty’s Government; and there may be two opinions about that. It would be far better to have sharply contrasted views in succession, in alternation, than to have this copious stream of pontifical, anonymous mugwumpery with which we have been dosed so long”.

Winston Churchill was ‘firing bullets’ at the head of the BBC John Reith. Sir John Reith, Lord Reith of Stonehaven (1889-1971) was General Manager/ Managing Director, British Broadcasting Company 1922-1927 and then the first Director-General of the newly incorporated British Broadcasting Corporation.

On Page 205 “The Climate of Treason,” by Andrew Boyle, he (WC) referred to Reith as “Wuthering Height”, a despotic and self-righteous Scot!

Reith is identified with the BBC’s public service aims to educate, inform, and entertain. A Scottish engineer, he became General Manager of British Broadcasting Company in 1922. He resisted the US commercial radio model and campaigned for the BBC’s Royal Charter. He hated the idea of television but allowed its development. He resigned in 1938 to become the Chairman of Imperial Airways.

During World War II he was MP for Southampton, Minister of Information and Minister of Works. Later he led various commercial and public organisations but felt unappreciated and under-employed. He publicly criticised competition in broadcasting and falling standards until he died.

Redoubtable Thoroughbred Sextet @ Coogee c. 1970

Featured Image. ‘Sextet’ @ Miller’s OCEANIC HOTEL (Coogee) in the ‘Back o’ the Moon Room’ c. Easter 1970. Supplied by Paul Hennessy

The ‘Back O’ the Moon Room’ was promoted as ‘for the best in Cabaret-Style Entertainment’. This redoubtable sextet of colourful racing personalities appears to be making the most of their opportunities, probably connected with the Wm Inglis & Sons Thoroughbred Easter Yearling Sale in 1970. The appellation ‘sextet’ refers to the number of people present rather than any prurient insinuation. All were, had been, or were destined for disparate careers in the ‘magnetic’ thoroughbred industry. All of them signed the numbered cover brochure provided by Aviation Photography Pty Ltd, International Terminal, Kingsford-Smith Airport, Sydney NSW. Reprints of the photograph were obtainable for $1:00 per copy.

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