Gurner's Lane
Encyclopedia
Gurner's Lane was a Thoroughbred
racehorse who was the 1983 champion
. He is best remembered for winning the Caulfield
and Melbourne Cup
s double in 1982. Gurner's Lane was just the seventh of 11 horses to complete this rare double.
Foaled in New Zealand, and trained by Geoff Murphy, Gurner's Lane was sired by Sir Tristram
out of Taiona, who also produced the Group One
winners Sovereign Red and Trichelle (both full siblings), and was named New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 1981 and 1983. Gurner's Lane was the first of three Melbourne Cup winners by Sir Tristram, preceding Empire Rose
(1988) and Brew
(2000), and was bred on the same cross as Empire Rose, as both were out of Sovereign Edition mares.
and was fourth in The Metropolitan. Ridden in the Caulfield Cup by Brent Thomson, at 53.5 kilograms, Gurner's Lane defeated Gala Mascot and Veloso. He was penalised two-and-a-half kilograms for this victory, which took his Melbourne Cup weight to 56 kilograms. For a four-year-old gelding, this was just one kilogram below weight-for-age, and, relative to the weight-for-age scale, was the same weight as the older Kingston Town
, then a winner of 13 Group One races. Turning for home in the Melbourne Cup, Kingston Town sprinted clear for his jockey, Malcolm Johnston, and appeared likely to win until Mick Dittman brought Gurner's Lane through on the rails to bring 'sadness to a million lovers of racing'. In the early part of 1983, Gurner's Lane broke down, but had done enough to be named Australia's champion racehorse
. After a lengthy break, Gurner's Lane returned to the track but failed to recapture his best form and was retired.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse who was the 1983 champion
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
. He is best remembered for winning the Caulfield
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
and Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
s double in 1982. Gurner's Lane was just the seventh of 11 horses to complete this rare double.
Foaled in New Zealand, and trained by Geoff Murphy, Gurner's Lane was sired by Sir Tristram
Sir Tristram
For the Knight of the Round Table, see Tristan.For the ship of the same name see RFA Sir Tristram Sir Tristram was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group One winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners...
out of Taiona, who also produced the Group One
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
winners Sovereign Red and Trichelle (both full siblings), and was named New Zealand Broodmare of the Year in 1981 and 1983. Gurner's Lane was the first of three Melbourne Cup winners by Sir Tristram, preceding Empire Rose
Empire Rose
Empire Rose was one of the most popular Thoroughbred mares to race in New Zealand and Australia. She was a gigantic chestnut, only just fitting into the barrier stalls in Melbourne....
(1988) and Brew
Brew (horse)
Brew is a small, plain bay Thoroughbred gelding who won the 2000 Melbourne Cup for trainer Mike Moroney and jockey Kerrin McEvoy. Brew carried the lightweight of 49.5 kilos, and defeated the veteran Yippyio and the stablemate Second Coming...
(2000), and was bred on the same cross as Empire Rose, as both were out of Sovereign Edition mares.
Racing career
Prior to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, Gurner's Lane had won the VRC and AJC St Legers, during the autumn of 1982, and had run third in the AJC Derby. Returning at four years, he won the Newcastle Gold CupNewcastle Gold Cup
The Newcastle Gold Cup is a Newcastle Jockey Club Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 2300 metres. It is held annually at Broadmeadow Racecourse in Newcastle, New South Wales in September...
and was fourth in The Metropolitan. Ridden in the Caulfield Cup by Brent Thomson, at 53.5 kilograms, Gurner's Lane defeated Gala Mascot and Veloso. He was penalised two-and-a-half kilograms for this victory, which took his Melbourne Cup weight to 56 kilograms. For a four-year-old gelding, this was just one kilogram below weight-for-age, and, relative to the weight-for-age scale, was the same weight as the older Kingston Town
Kingston Town
Kingston Town was an outstanding Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who won a record three Cox Plates and 11 other Group One races in a career spanning from 1979 to 1982...
, then a winner of 13 Group One races. Turning for home in the Melbourne Cup, Kingston Town sprinted clear for his jockey, Malcolm Johnston, and appeared likely to win until Mick Dittman brought Gurner's Lane through on the rails to bring 'sadness to a million lovers of racing'. In the early part of 1983, Gurner's Lane broke down, but had done enough to be named Australia's champion racehorse
Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year
The Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year is awarded to the Thoroughbred horse who is voted to be the champion horse within an Australian racing season. This award is open to all racehorses racing within Australia, regardless of age and sex, and includes overseas performances.This award...
. After a lengthy break, Gurner's Lane returned to the track but failed to recapture his best form and was retired.