Super Impose
Super Impose | |
---|---|
W S Cox Plate (1992) | |
Honours | |
Australian Racing Hall of Fame (2007) Super Impose Bar at Randwick Racecourse | |
Last updated on 6 November 2009 |
Super Impose (5 October 1984 – 23 March 2007)
Breeding
Foaled in
The beginnings (1986–1987)
The
Racing record
Three-year-old season (1987–1988)
Super Impose entered training as a three-year-old and made a winning debut in a
Four-year-old season (1988-1989)
Super Impose again resumed at Seymour, in early September, and finished third in a progressive. His next five starts produced as many defeats but included seconds in the Grey-Smith Stakes and the
Back in Melbourne, in the new year, Super Impose raced at
Five-year-old season (1989-1990)
In a campaign leading to the
Super Impose opened the new year with a string of placings and was scratched from his main mission, the Mercedes Classic, when wet weather again closed in on Sydney's autumn carnival. He was entered a week later in the Doncaster Handicap carrying topweight of 57 kilograms, and 'the weather held'.[8] Super Impose came from the tail of the field on the home turn to defeat Shaftesbury Avenue. He was ridden in the Doncaster by Bruce Compton, who gained the ride only after higher-profile jockeys had taken other mounts, with doubts over whether Super Impose would take his place in the field. This was Compton's first and only ride on the horse, but his tactics and the horse's 'amazing zip'[8] provided a template for success in the big Randwick 'mile' races over the next 18 months.
Six-year-old season (1990-1991)
Super Impose resumed in the
Facing the prospect of a lifetime ban from Australian racing if he bled for a second time, Super Impose reappeared in the new year and won one of his three starts - the Chester Manifold Stakes - in Melbourne. In Sydney, he won the
Super Impose had had the best season of his career, with four Group One wins, including the Epsom and Doncaster Handicaps, and his dam, Pheroz Fancy, was named New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 1991.[9]
Seven-year-old-season (1991-1992)
Now a veteran of 53 starts, Super Impose again resumed in the Warwick Stakes and defeated Livistona Lane and Royal Creation before an unplaced run in the
After the Epsom Handicap, Super Impose campaigned in Melbourne and finished second to Shaftesbury Avenue,
Super Impose opened the new year with a second placing to Quick Score in the Apollo Stakes and defeated him second-up with a rails-hugging win in the Chipping Norton Stakes (both run at Randwick Racecourse, instead of their usual venue, Warwick Farm). He was then unplaced in the last four runs of his campaign, including the Doncaster Handicap, where he finished sixth under topweight of 62.5 kilograms and gave 15 kilograms to the winner, Soho Square.[14]
Eight-year-old season (1992-1993)
In his final campaign, Super Impose again resumed in the Warwick Stakes but was denied a record-equalling third win in the race by Shaftesbury Avenue - who was appearing for the first time since the previous year's Japan Cup and never raced again. Super Impose was then placed in the Chelmsford Stakes and the Hill Stakes, and finished fourth in the Epsom Handicap, under topweight of 61.5 kilograms. He broke an eight-race losing run in the
In the Cox Plate, veteran jockey Greg Hall took the ride on Super Impose, with Mick Dittman booked to ride the hot favourite, Naturalism. The 'stellar field'[8] of 14 included 12 multiple Group One winners. Kinjite and Slight Chance alternated in the lead, with Naturalism drifting toward midfield, and Let’s Elope, Better Loosen Up, and Super Impose near the rear. The pace was slow, and the field was tightly packed entering the final 800 metres. Suddenly, Palace Reign clipped heels, and put Naturalism, Sydeston, and Rough Habit out of the race in a chain reaction, while the remainder of the field made for the home turn. Let’s Elope loomed up with 'a mighty run out wide', stalked by Super Impose, with Better Loosen Up in a pocket to the inside. Better Loosen Up had to check when Let’s Elope rolled in, and Super Impose came at the leaders to Bryan Martin's call of 'Super! I think Super Impose a nose to Let’s Elope in the Cox Plate'.[6][15]
The win took Super Impose to an Australasian record $5.6 million in prize money and gave him the rare feat of Group wins at each of the eight city racetracks in Sydney and Melbourne. He finished his career with a 15th placing in Subzero's Melbourne Cup, 10 days later, but fans simply displayed the reverse-side of their giant banner, which read 'Bad luck Super. We still love you'.[6] He was officially retired in February 1993.
In retirement (1993–2007)
Super Impose made guest appearances at various racetracks, including Randwick for the Epsom and Doncaster Handicap parades, and Moonee Valley for a Night of Champions in 2005 with Subzero, Doriemus, Saintly, and Brew. He appeared small later in life due to a sway back, common in old horses, but enjoyed running in the paddocks of Glenlogan Park Stud in Queensland as a 'nanny'[16] to some of the farm's young horses.
Due to infirmities associated with old age, Super Impose was humanely euthanised in 2007 at the age of 22. He was buried at Glenlogan Park Stud with a tribute stone and plaque erected in his memory.[17]
In 2007, Super Impose was posthumously inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Pedigree
Sire Imposing (AUS) 1975 |
Todman Ch. 1954 |
Star Kingdom (IRE) 1946 | Stardust (GB) |
---|---|---|---|
Impromptu (IRE) | |||
Oceana (GB) 1947 | Colombo (GB) | ||
Orama (GB) | |||
Hialeah 1963 |
Arctic Explorer (GB) 1954 | Arctic Prince (GB) | |
Flirting (GB) | |||
Kuch Parwani (AUS) 1957 | Landau (IRE) | ||
Resignation (AUS) | |||
Dam Pheroz Fancy (NZ) 1978 |
Taipan (USA) 1963 |
Bold Ruler (USA) 1954 | Nasrullah (IRE) |
Miss Disco (USA) | |||
Ritmar (AUS) 1956 | Star Kingdom (IRE) | ||
Magic Ring (NZ) | |||
Pheroz Jewel 1970 |
Pakistan II (GB) 1958 | Palestine (GB) | |
Tambara (GB) | |||
Pheroz Pride (NZ) 1962 | Alcimedes (GB) | ||
Pheroz Girl (NZ) |
See also
References
- ^ Racing Victoria - Super Impose
- ^ Australian Stud Book - Summary for Super Impose
- ^ Australian Racing Museum and Hall of Fame
- ^ Super Impose's full race record
- ^ Family C-23: Winnie Retrieved on 8 May 2009
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Crawley, Steve (1993) 'Super Better Best', Raceplay, 87-93 Thislethwaite Street, South Melbourne, Victoria, 3205, VHS cassette/DVD
- ^ 1989 Melbourne Cup result
- ^ ISBN 0-7255-2261-5
- ^ New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Archived 5 February 2007 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Doncaster Handicap results
- ^ Epsom Handicap results
- ^ Only Gunsynd, who carried the equivalent of 60.5 kilograms in the 1972 Doncaster Handicap, has carried more weight to victory in either race since 1936
- ^ 1991 Melbourne Cup result
- ^ Soho Square went on to win six other Group races, including the Chelmsford and the Expressway Stakes at weight-for-age
- ^ 1992 Cox Plate result (Note: Due to a successful protest by the rider of Better Loosen Up (fifth past the post) against Let's Elope (second past the post), Let's Elope was relegated from second to fifth, Better Loosen Up was promoted from fifth to fourth, Slight Chance from fourth to third, and Kinjite from third to second)
- ^ "Super Impose still showing the way at 20". The Sydney Morning Herald. 24 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
- ^ Historic miler put down at 23
External links
- Super Impose's pedigree and partial racing stats (Note: Pedigree Query incorrectly shows Super Impose as being foaled in Australia)
- Super Impose - Profile of a Champion
- More photos of Super Impose
- Link to videos of Super Impose at YouTube
- Freedman Racing (Trainer's web site)