We can all trace our love for racing to a special event or set of circumstances. For me it was listening to the radio as a small boy some 60 years ago and being enchanted by the magic of words. Blonde Sprite, Quite Able, Melodic, Isfahan, Fountainhead, Cadiz, Commanding, Minglow.. are names which resonate over the years.
Just yesterday I thought of those radio commentaries as Minglow’s descendant Showbeel won the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham. I’ve been privileged to have been involved in the recent fortunes of the family, being asked to advise on the matings which produced both Showbeel and her dam, the Galileo mare Showileo.
And all this happened because of Minglow’s daughter, the immortal Show Gate, the most memorable thoroughbred I’ve ever seen. Her performances at the 1974 New Zealand Cup carnival are the stuff of legend. On day one she wins the Stewards Handicap beating top sprinter Soliloquy over 1200 whilst giving her 11.5kg. The following Wednesday it’s the time-honoured Canterbury Gold Cup over 2000, beating the good mare Sobeit after getting into a remarkable amount of trouble in the running. Three days later there’s the Churchill Stakes over 1600. She carries 56.5 kg and comfortably beats top sprinter-miler Auditor who’s in receipt of 5.5kg.
Fast forward to 1997. I’d been having some success recommending matings to clients and decided that the time was right to publish an analysis of the yearling sale catalogues, the aim being to identify youngsters with the pedigrees to win good races. 1997 was a trial. My top selection was a chestnut filly by Lord Ballina out of the Balmerino mare, Show Queen, herself a daughter of Show Gate. When the sale results were posted I contacted Frank Ritchie who had signed for the filly and he passed on the contact details of Terry Archer, her purchaser.
The filly was named Showella. She didn’t look much like Show Gate but was good enough to win two Group 1 events and over $500,000. She’s also turned out to be an outstanding broodmare, leaving three SWs from five foals.
One of her non-winners is the Galileo mare Showileo. Not short on ability, she was seriously field-shy and soon retired to stud. After beginning her career with some promising offspring, she’s now made a significant contribution to her illustrious family.
Nowadays I yell at the TV set rather than listen to the radio, but the thill is just the same.
