Redcraze

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Redcraze (born 1950) was a champion thoroughbred racehorse who raced both in Australia and New Zealand, winning major races in both countries.

A chestnut son of the Hyperion stallion Red Mars from the mare Myarion he is considered one of the finest horses not to win a Melbourne Cup, despite three attempts.

Often asked to carry big weights in handicap races his big frame and amazing recuperative powers saw him race until he was seven.

Originally trained by Syd Brown in New Zealand he was transferred to the stables of Tommy Smith in Australia as a late five-year-old.

It was in the care of Tommy Smith that he realise his huge potential.

Perhaps his greatest effort was when he ran second in the 1956 Melbourne Cup to the quality staying mare Evening Peal. As Redcraze usually raced at the tail of the field he produced a big finish, coming from the rear and just failing to win by a half-neck. What made the performance amazing is that he was carrying a handicap of 10st 3lb (65kg) conceding 2st 3lb (14kg) to the winner.

He was retired following an unplaced effort in the 1957 Melbourne Cup. His prize money at the time was an Australian record.

[edit] Race Record

86 starts - 32 wins, 11 seconds, 9 thirds

[edit] Major Wins

Redcraze won the following major races:

In New Zealand

• 1955 WRC Summer Cup – (12f)
• 1955 WJC Wanganui Cup – (12f)
• 1955 MaRC Awapuni Gold Cup – (10f)
• 1955 ARC Nolan Handicap – (12f)
• 1955 ARC Oliver Nicholson Handicap – (11f)
• 1955 HBJC Ormond Gold Cup – (10f)
• 1956 WRC Hutt Handicap – (1m)
• 1956 ARC Nolan Handicap – (12f)
• 1956 ARC Oliver Nicholson Handicap – (11f)

In Australia

• 1955 VRC Turnbull Stakes – (12f)
• 1956 QTC O’Shea Stakes – (10½f)
• 1956 QTC Brisbane Cup – (2m)
• 1956 STC Hill Stakes – (8½f)
• 1956 AJC Colin Stephen Stakes – (12f)
• 1956 Metropolitan Handicap – (13f)
• 1956 VATC Caulfield Stakes – (9f)
• 1956 VATC Caulfield Cup – (12f)
• 1957 QTC O’Shea Stakes – (10½f)
• 1957 STC Hill Stakes – (8½f)
• 1957 VATC St George Stakes – (9f)
• 1957 VRC Queen’s Plate – (10f)
• 1957 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes – (12f)
• 1957 STC Rawson Stakes – (9f)
• 1957 AJC Autumn Stakes – (12f)
• 1957 MVRC W.S. Cox Plate – (10f)

[edit] References

• Redcraze's pedigree and partial racing stats