Rosehill Gardens, Sydney’s most punter friendly racecourse, and today’s Hill Stakes, is testimony to John Nicholson, who died recently and epitomised those who put their heart and soul into the Sydney Turf Club.
Perhaps this year Nicho was not involved in the Hill Stakes program being superior to Melbourne’s Caulfield Guineas card, long regarded as possibly the best of the season.
Yes, Caulfield may have better horses, Broadsiding, Mr Brightside and Another Wil but not superior races, particularly the $2 million Hill Stakes.
Yesterday Broadsiding was $1.55 in the Caulfield Guineas, Mr Brightside (Might And Power) $1.60 while Another Wil easier at $2.8 for the Toorak. Another Wil promises to be in the trifecta of short priced winners in the 145-year history of the sprint, the others being Tobin Bronze ($2) in 1967 and More Joyous (2.30) in 2010.
Only Group two, the Hill Stakes, 1900 metres, has an edge on Caulfield Group one Toorak (1600m), with the extended Sydney spring, taking the gloss off it.
Mind you most Hill Stakes chapters have been exceptional, going back to 1921 although lacking Tulloch, Kingston Town and Winx. Consider Peter Pan, Phar Lap, Saintly and more recently Cascadian, Verry Elleegant and Think It Over which questions how the Toorak has a superior Group status?
Back in 1974 the Hill Stakes was held earlier on September 24 with the significance of being the first day radio station 2KY took on the major networks broadcasting Sydney races with their own team, headed by a youngster Ian Craig.
It was won by Leica Lover, from Passetreul and Battle Heights third, without doubt superior to the present edition. However the Tapp-Craig Stakes today is a feature of program, recognising two of the great and most recognisable voices of the turf.
With the Tapp-Craig Stakes Rosehill has bigger, stronger fields, promoting greater betting turnover on the track that now has more of buzz, from the race going, and horse playing rather than the more social Royal Randwick.
Sure, the generals, particularly George Ryder, the MacArthur of the STC, have been given their due respect as have the non-commissioned officers, CEO’s Pat Parker and Michael Kenny, but the foot soldiers, including Nicho, John Jeffs, Lindsay Davies and Lindsay Murphy on ground level contributed much out of passion as well as necessity.
The Alan Brown Stakes, another highlight today, carries the name of a former and effective chairman while Vale John Nicholson is 2000 metres with three New Zealand- bred hopes which would have suited him.
Nicho did considerable promotional work in New Zealand, and was a honorary. Bonecrusher and the Ritchies come to mind. Later he spotted a young talent over there and recommended Chris Waller. Waller owes much to the STC. Sell Rosehill and Waller would be well placed moving his home base to Melbourne.
Nicho was first sighted at Rosehill as an assistant judge in 1977 and progressed to a title that included manager of Racing and Wagering.
During the Jim Fleming’s STC reign, every Monday the chairman would hold a meeting asking the staff to produce new ideas, regardless of how erratic and weird they appeared.
Thus hurdle racing had a short Rosehill stint in 1985 with Nicho carrying the flag, three years later came the International Tancred when overseas entrants were enticed to start in the Rosehill weight-for-age event.
The Quarantine facilities made it very difficult for them and they were cannon fodder for Beau Zam an outstanding three-year-old in 1988. The idea lasted another year but was then deemed too expensive.
After the last at Rosehill thirsty pressmen would be entertained in the director’s bar with the stipendiary stewards, officials and even AJC committeemen, always Big Jack Ingham, thrashing out the events of the day.
During a session did Nicho tell me he hailed from Moree and early days in Sydney fished before dawn on Bondi Beach?
Did I regale him that he had more chance of catching a tuna near the Icebergs than making the International Tancred work?
But laconic, more right than wrong, he played the STC hand.
Ground troops, handicappers, racecourse mangers and the like, were allowed to participate. Currently it evolves around Peter V’Landys, the strong man of racing and Rugby League.
Today Rosehill is on centre stage because of V’Landys spring offensive, that has taken the shine off Caulfield even with benefit of Sydneysider Broadsiding.
Do you want to take a $1.55 about Broadsiding?
Kingsley Bartholomew, from the Wolfden outfit and one of Australia’s biggest punters, doesn’t. “Caulfield first time, and gets back in the field” … he opined on Racing.com. Nor is he enthusiastic about Mr Brightside at $1.60 …“vulnerable at 2000 metres”.
4 Responses
Hi Max
John Nicholson, was a great executive, he had the respect of trainers, all over Australia and New Zealand.
We had a long history with John, from our racing days till I became his Boss,
Bill and Lesley Picken
Fine and much served tribute to John Nicholson
STC stood for a sterling turf crew
in that era
I worked under John Nicholson from 85-88 at the STC. I was a racing clerk and he was the racing manager. My first ever ‘real job’ out of high school. Interesting character. Passionate and dedicated to the sport. A good boss. His liquid lunch every Friday with Larry Lovric sticks in my mind. He had a good sense of humour, if not a bit dour at times. As long as you did the right thing by John, he did the right thing by you. Many good memories from those days. RIP boss.
That’s Nicho.
Cheers,
Max