Winx our racing queen but does Crafty Cruiser deserve his place in best horses of the decade?

Which horses will be best remembered by racing fans from this decade? Michael Manley investigates, but he’s not necessarily using ability as his measuring stick but also popularity and longevity.

It’s completely subjective, but Herald Sun racing writer Michael Manley has put up his hand at the challenging task of comprising a list of the most memorable racehorses of the past the decade.

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1. WINX (43 starts: 37-3-0 $26,451,175)

How could she not fill the top spot? She was a phenomenon. Rated with Phar Lap as Australia’s greatest racehorse. She could get in a sticky situation and still get up to win. Thirty in a row, four Cox Plates is something we will never see again.

There can be no argument why Winx has to sit at the top of the totem pole.

2. BLACK CAVIAR (25: 25-0-0 $7,953,936)

In time racing historians will look at her record and suggest she’s on a par with Winx but for the moment she’s a little in the shade such because she’s been retired longer. Bottom line is she had 25 starts and was never beaten. She also went to England and although she was well below her best physically she still won the Diamind Jubilee. She also travelled more in Australia and had to contend with Hay List.

3rd CHAUTAUQUA (32: 13-7-4 $8,821,935)

The grey flash had his flaws but no horse possessed his closing speed. His win in the Black Caviar Lightning, his three wins in the T.J Smith Stakes and his win in Hong Kong were extraordinary as on each occasion he came from a seemingly impossible position to win with a spine tingling finish. Throw in his colour and then his quirky antics he’ll be remembered for many years. No greater tribute than becoming part of the racing vernacular as he’s replaced Bernborough as the go to horse when wins are achieved from a mile back.

4th HARTNELL (58: 13-14-9 $7,469,499)

For five years in a row he appeared at the Melbourne spring and then the Sydney autumn carnivals and performed well each time. He was an English toff who initially looked a star with a win in the Turnbull Stakes followed by placings in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. He then didn’t quite live up to expectations but then morphed into a favourite for Aussie racegoers as he was never far away at the top level. He went out in true style with a placing in the Mackinnon Stakes as a nine-year-old.

Hartnell was a model of consistency at the highest level. Sadly for the Godophin star, he always seemed to run into one better.

5th HAPPY CLAPPER (44: 12-12-5 $7,241,100)

He didn’t manage to win in Melbourne but he’s been a perennial top performer in Sydney for many seasons. He also trained by the likeable knockabout trainer Pat Webster. Five seconds to Winx, a Doncaster, a Epsom and $7 million in the bank is testimony to his talent. He also won his last start as a nine-year-old.

6th THE CLEANER (58: 19-12-4 $1,349,771)

The tough Tasmanian will be remembered for his tenacious front-running racing style as much for his knockabout likeable trainer, the late Mick Burles. He got found out at the top level but it’s the package which has made him memorable.

Racing loves a battler and trainer Mick Burles and his popular horse The Cleaner covered all bases with that criteria by the length of the Flemington straight.

7th REDZEL (36: 15-8-2 $16,093,500)

He’s won more money than any other sprinter. He’ll go down in history as the winner of the first two Everests so in effect he’s the 21st century Archer for Sydney. He’s honest, tough and courageous but no superstar.

8th SO YOU THINK (23: 14-4-1 $8,003,546)

Under the care of the immortal Bart Cummings his second Cox Plate win came in 2010.

He also won the Mackinnon Stakes and finished third in the Melbourne Cup that spring before he headed to Aidan O’Brien’s stable and won five Group 1 races.

9th BUFFERING (55: 20-9-8 $7,300,194)

Tough Brisbane sprinter who competed at the highest level for six years. He won seven Group 1 races and also won at that level in Dubai. Amazingly before he won his first Group 1 he had many placings at that level.

Queenslander Buffering took forever to break his Group 1 duck but when he did it was like a dam bursting with Group 1 success coming at regular intervals thereafter.

Equal 10th (The Jumpers) BASHBOY (56: 18-10-3 $1,094,943)

/WELLS (58: 15-5-9 $1,318,722)

In another time this pair would have been back page news. As it stands they were the star jumpers of the decade both winning three Grand National Steeplechases. Bashboy also finished second in one and Wells also finished third.

12th CRAFTY CRUISER (158: 12-21-20 $1,017,201)

Crafty Cruiser began his career on September 10 2010 and he last appeared at Terang on November 18 as a 12-year-old. In that time he’s raced 158 times and covered close to 400 kilometres in his races. No horse can match him for longevity and that’s why he’s in.

Some might think Crafty Cruiser is an odd inclusion but when you debut in 2010 and you’re going around it’s fair to say you’ve earned your stripes.

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Special mentions to all Melbourne Cup winners headed by the locals Prince Of Penzance, Vow And Declare and also Red Cadeaux and Prince Of Arran.

Also for various reasons Extra Zero, Tom Melbourne, Lord Of The Sky and Lasqueti Spirit.

Originally published as Winx our racing queen but does Crafty Cruiser deserve his place in best horses of the decade?