FEATURE
special importance for both the Cummings and Peters families as it would see horses the ilk of Taj Rossi; Saintly (1996 VRC Melbourne Cup; MVRC W.S Cox Plate); Storm Queen (1966 STC Golden Slipper; VATC Caulfield Guineas etc) and even Stormy Passage (1958 SAJC SA Derby) emerge. Stormy Passage was the first Melbourne Cup runner for Cummings back in 1958. It would also produce Dark Eclipse, a winner of the 1980 STC Golden Slipper. On talking further about Taj Rossi, Bart Cummings had this to say in a book written by the great Les Carlyon called The Master . “He (Taj Rossi) was a great type, except for a plain head, an inheritance from his boof- headed father Matrice. More importantly, he was tough, incredibly so. He hit his head on the starting stalls before the Caulfield Guineas, bringing up a lump as big as a cricket ball, yet still ran fourth. During the spring he just kept walking up, week after week, and winning. He won the Victoria Derby, the Sandown Guineas and Ascot Vale Stakes against his own age. Against all comers he won the Cox Plate and George Adams Handicap (now the Kennedy Champions Mile) at Flemington.” On 1 July, Flemington will once again host the final of the Taj Rossi Series – a $160,000 Listed race held over 1600m for 2YOs. There will be two heats conducted at Flemington (20 May and 17 June); two at Sandown (31 May and 14 June) with further heats conducted regionally in Swan Hill (9 June) and Bendigo (18 June). Whilst there have been many horses grace the hallowed turf at Flemington, few could do it in the manner that Taj Rossi did. He raced in an era which included other top 3YOs the like of Imagele, Grand Cidium and Leica Lover. Through the popular Taj Rossi Series, his memory lives on.
TAJ ROSSI
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS Champion Racehorse of the Year 1973-74 VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) MVRC W.S Cox Plate (2000m) VRC George Adams Handicap (1600m) VRC Ascot Vale Stakes (1200m) MVRC Moonee Valley Stakes (1600m) VATC Sandown Guineas (1600m)
Bay Foaled
1970
Sire Matrice Dam Dark Queen Trainer J.B Cummings Owners Vic and Lila Peters
TOTAL STARTS WINS 2NDS 3RDS TOTAL PRIZEMONEY
21
9
1
4
$208,980
2023 TAJ ROSSI SERIES
HEAT VENUE DATE
RACE
1
Flemington Sat 20 May $130k 2YO SWP 1400m (N/C)
2
Sandown Wed 31 May $50k 2YO Handicap 1400m (N/C)
3
Swan Hill
Fri 9 Jun
$125k 2YO SWP 1300m (N/C)
4
Sandown Wed 14 Jun $50k 2YO Fillies Hcp 1300m (N/C)
5
Flemington Sat 14 Jun $130k 2YO Open Hcp 1400m
6
Bendigo Sun 14 Jun $35k 2YO Open Hcp 1600m
Final
Flemington Sat 1 Jul
$160k Listed 2YO Open Hcp 1600m (N/C)
26
INSIDE HEADQUARTERS ISSUE 2 2023
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker