The arrival of August 1st marks the birthday of every Australian Thoroughbred each year, and 2014 marks a particularly special year for several of the nation’s most memorable and loved performers.
Pierro is one of champion stallion Lonhro's high-achieving progeny. Photo: Steve Hart
Arguably the biggest landmark for Australian runners chalking up another year in 2014, 1997 World Champion stayer Might And Power today celebrates his 21st birthday.
Might And Power secured an impressive total of seven Group 1 titles through his standout racing career, arguably highlighted by his Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double in 1997.
Returning to racing in typically brilliant form in 1998, the Zabeel gelding took out the Mercedes Classic, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Doomben Cup, Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate, g his name as one of Australia’s best-ever Racehorses.
Racing through to his seven-year-old season in 2001, Might And Power has since spent his days at the Living Legends Centre for retired champion racehorses in Melbourne.
Also celebrating a milestone year, three-time Melbourne Cup champion Makybe Diva has this year reached her 15th birthday.
Known largely for her three back-to-back victories in the Race that Stops a Nation from 2003-2005, the Desert King mare secured a total of seven Group 1 victories; retiring from the sport following her final Melbourne Cup triumph to take up a lucrative career as a broodmare, and is currently in foal to fellow Group 1 champion All Too Hard.
Breaking double figures in 2014, Weekend Hussler was without doubt the nation’s standout performer over the 2007/2008 racing season; winning both the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes in during his maiden racing preparation, before returning to 2008 to win all of the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, Group 1 Newmarket Handicap, Group 1 Randwick Guineas and Group 1 George Ryder Stakes in succession over the autumn.
Charging home to win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes most notably through the 2008 spring, Weekend Hussler was retired from racing after contesting just two race starts over the 2010 calendar.
Celebrating his sweet sixteenth in 2014, current Darley sire Lonhro won an impressive 11 Group 1 races throughout his memorable racing career.
Breaking through for his maiden victory at the highest level of Australian racing in the 2002 edition of the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes; continuing to build in class and form on his way to a comfortable triumph in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes.
It was the 2003 and 2004 racing calendars that truly stamped Lonhro has one of the country’s best ever, claiming a further nine incredible Group 1 titles on his way to being named Australian Horse of the Year and World Champion Miler before being promptly retired into a career as a stud.
Having since produced several Group 1 champions including the likes of Pierro, Lonhro continues to play a key role in the high-quality of the Australian racing industry.
