Andrias and Kats Clause were two worthy inductions into the Tasmanian Racing Hall of Fame last week but, as racehorses go, they were almost polar opposites.
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One was a gelding - a tough, dour stayer.
The other a mare - an out-and-out sprinter who never won beyond 1400m before becoming a success at stud.
Andrias was ridden to many of his wins by Hall Of Fame jockey Pat Allan who described him as "a true iron horse".
"He had to be to run so well in three consecutive Launceston Cups," Allan said.
The Len Dixon-trained stayer began his Launceston Cup journey when third to quality horses Summer Fleur and Strident King in 1980.
The following year, he won the Hobart Cup before finishing second to Anzaas in the Launceston Cup then turning the tables of his fellow Hall Of Famer in the Duke Of Norfolk at Flemington.
His winning turn in the Launceston Cup finally came in 1982 when he beat subsequent Hobart Cup runner-up Another Streaker and Victorian visitor Lavaro.
Andrias, bred and raced by football legend Darrel Baldock and his family, also won the Longford Cup and two Hobart Turf Club Cups at Elwick.
FROM SLOW STARTER TO STAKES WINNER
Kats Clause was slow to show her racing potential, starting only three times as a two-year-old and winning only two lowly restricted-class races at three.
However she blossomed as a four-year-old, winning successive races at Caulfield after finishing second to Nuclear Free in the Bow Mistress and third to Nuclear Free and Venus A Go Go in the Queen Of The Turf (now the Vamos).
She returned the following season as a five-year-old to win at Flemington and cap her career with victory in the group 3 Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield.
Raced by her breeder Dr John Burke and trained by Royson Carr, Kats Clause was then retired to stud. She has so far had seven foals to race and they have all won.
Her stand-out performers have been Mister John who beat Kenjorwood in the 2013 Tasmanian Guineas and Mister Songman, winner of the 3YO Cup and 3YO Trophy at Mowbray and a $125,000 race at Randwick for Gai Waterhouse when he scored by seven lengths in near track record time.
Unfortunately, Mister John's career was restricted to just 14 starts and the injury-troubled Mister Songman raced only 12 times.
Kats Clause's other winners have been Sir Simon, Sir Joey, Lady Jane, Rabbit Clause and Miss Elizabeth.
Her most recent foal to go to auction (online) was a yearling colt by Your Song purchased by Adam Trinder for $21,000 earlier this month.
DISPUTE OVER APPRENTICES
The Tasmanian Jockeys Association is in dispute with the Office Of Racing Integrity over the licencing of apprentices to ride in races.
TJA general manager Kevin Ring said that 'until recent times' jockeys had normally been consulted but that was no longer happening.
"Senior jockeys ride against the new apprentices as they come through the trials and are in the best position to gauge when they are ready to ride in races," Ring said.
"They are certainly not happy that they are no longer being consulted because it's a safety issue.
"I have raised the matter with (Tasracing chief executive) Paul Eriksson but he said it was the responsibility of ORI and its stewards.
"So we want further discussions with ORI because we'd like it sorted as soon as possible."
Ring said that if ORI didn't return to a more consultative process, jockeys may take action.
OLIVER CALLS FOR CHOICE ON VACCINE
Damien Oliver, the senior statesman of Australian jockeys, has expressed reservations about a Racing Victoria mandate that all participants will soon have to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Oliver told the racing.com web site that although he supported vaccination and was double-vaccinated himself, he wasn't sure it should be mandatory.
"I can understand them wanting everyone to be vaccinated (but) whether it's made mandatory, I'm not certain about that," he said.
"Everyone should be given a choice."
Under the new set of rules announced by Racing Victoria, every participant must have at least one vaccination dose by October 16 in order to enter a racing facility.
That includes racetracks, training venues and even Racing Victoria's offices.