TAJ ROSSI
Taj Rossi, ridden by Roy Higgins gets up to beat Leica Lover in the 1973 Victoria Derby. (News Ltd / Newspix)
owner John Valmorbida who is married to Michelle, a daughter of Vic and Lila Peters. The Peters and Valmorbida families have been long-time friends for many years. Lunar Flare is also raced by Frank Kraps and long-time successful owner and Melbourne real estate authority, Jack Bongiorno.
“There was nothing Taj Rossi couldn’t do that spring (1973)” - Bart Cummings
From a breeding perspective, Taj Rossi was by Matrice, a high class sprinter miler which would win the 1956 SAJC Goodwood Hcp as well as the 1956 VRC Cantala Stakes and the 1956 and 1957 VRC Linlithgow Stakes. He sired 24 stakes-winners including Taj Rossi, Manihi, Toltrice, Pago Pago and La Trice – all high-class performers. From Dark Queen (by Coronation Boy), this is a thoroughbred family which would hold 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 being 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 (2011). “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
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