Date posted August 23, 2010 | Posted by Michael Ford | Filed under
Racing and Breeding,
Staff FavouritesMichael Ford, the Keeper of the Australian Stud book reminds us of the deeds of Rising Fast.
Sure, he won the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the one season, but what is not mentioned is what else he won during the spring of 1954.
Rising Fast started off winning the Feehan Stakes, 18 September, 12 days later he was runner-up in the Underwood Stakes, two days later won the Turnbull Stakes. Then, 11 days later won the Caulfield Stakes, three days later he won the CAULFIELD CUP, seven days later he won the COX PLATE, seven days later the Mackinnon Stakes, three days later the MELBOURNE CUP, and four days later the CB Fisher Plate (now the Queen Elizabeth Stakes).
Nine starts in seven weeks for eight wins and one second. Rising Fast’s exploits a season later were better than most horses since but not as good as 1954: wins again in the Caulfield Cup, Mackinnon Stakes and CB Fisher Plate, won the Herbert Power, second in the Turnbull, Underwood, Caulfield Stakes and Melbourne Cup.
Why didn’t he win a second Melbourne Cup? He carried 10.0 or 64kg, and Toparoa beat him carrying only 7.8 or 48kg.
What a horse!
