Mr Tiz
Encyclopedia
Mr Tiz was a champion New Zealand
thoroughbred
racehorse. He is best known for his three consecutive wins in the Railway Stakes
(1,200 metres) at Ellerslie, the country's premier sprint race for thoroughbreds. Mr Tiz remains the only horse has achieved this feat. Furthermore, he also won New Zealand's other major sprint race, the Telegraph Handicap
(1,200 metres) on two occasions.
Trained at Matamata by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan, the Australian-bred gelding raced 36 times for 17 wins, two seconds and six thirds. Dave O'Sullivan, one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand racing history, labelled Mr Tiz "the greatest racehorse I've ever trained".
Mr Tiz showed his potential from very early in his career, being placed in his first two starts before a maiden win at Paeroa at his third raceday appearance. From there, his career took off - he won the Hawke's Bay Guineas
in just the fourth start of his career.
But it was as a four-year-old, in the 1988-89 season, that his true ability was observed. He dead-heated with another excellent New Zealand sprinter, Westminster, in the Railway. Three weeks later, he won his first Telegraph, completing a rare Railway-Telegraph double. Incredibly, in winning the Telegraph, he also dead-heated - this time with Festal.
He won both races again in the 1989-90 season, and completed his unprecedented Railway treble in 1991. That win has been claimed as one of the greatest sprint victories in New Zealand. Carrying 59kg, Mr Tiz was severely checked and all but fell at about the 600 metre mark, and went to the back of the field. Yet from that impossible position, under a huge weight - and in a sprint race - Mr Tiz, ridden by regular jockey Lance O'Sullivan
, stormed along the rail to win. The style of the win was "absolutely unforgettable". Later in the month, he finished second in the Telegraph, carrying a crushing 60.5kg - and handicap weight given due to his brilliance.
Three months later came arguably his greatest performance. Unlike stayers, few New Zealand sprinters cross the Tasman and have success against the best Australian sprinters in their own backyard. In April 1991, Mr Tiz won the The Galaxy
in Sydney, one of the premier sprint races in Australia. Just like the Railway victory a few months before hand, what made this win more remarkable was the manner in which he won the race. Near the back of the field at the home turn, and seemingly in a hopeless position with 300 metres to run, Mr Tiz showed a breathtaking turn of foot and made up an extraordinary amount of ground to record one of the greatest wins by a New Zealand horse on Australian soil. His trainer, Dave O'Sullvan, recounts: "I still can't believe how he won the Galaxy. He had 10 horses in front of him and he nearly fell trying to make his run. It was incredible. I still get the video out from time to time and it never fails to amaze me".
In the last start of his career, Mr Tiz finished third in the Group 1 Gadsden at Flemington
in Melbourne.
In a country were stayers are more esteemed than sprinters, Mr Tiz is well considered a champion in his class. He is honoured with a race carrying his name at Ellerslie
, the scene of his historic Railway treble. The Mr Tiz Trophy is a listed stakes race for three-year-old horses over 1200m. It is run on the third and final day of Auckland Cup Week
, the most prestigious week of racing on the New Zealand calendar.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
thoroughbred
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. He is best known for his three consecutive wins in the Railway Stakes
Railway Stakes (New Zealand)
The Railway Stakes is a Group One New Zealand horse race. Held at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, it is held over 1200 metres one of New Zealand's feature sprint races....
(1,200 metres) at Ellerslie, the country's premier sprint race for thoroughbreds. Mr Tiz remains the only horse has achieved this feat. Furthermore, he also won New Zealand's other major sprint race, the Telegraph Handicap
Telegraph Handicap
The Telegraph Handicap is a Group One New Zealand horse race. Held at Trentham in January, it is held over 1200 metres and is New Zealand's premier sprint race. In 2009, the race's prize money was quadrupled to $1,000,000, making it New Zealand's equal richest open age race along with the Auckland...
(1,200 metres) on two occasions.
Trained at Matamata by Dave and Paul O'Sullivan, the Australian-bred gelding raced 36 times for 17 wins, two seconds and six thirds. Dave O'Sullivan, one of the most successful trainers in New Zealand racing history, labelled Mr Tiz "the greatest racehorse I've ever trained".
Mr Tiz showed his potential from very early in his career, being placed in his first two starts before a maiden win at Paeroa at his third raceday appearance. From there, his career took off - he won the Hawke's Bay Guineas
Hawke's Bay Guineas
The Hawke's Bay Guineas is a major Thoroughbred horserace in New Zealand for three year old horses. In 2003 the stake was boosted to $100,000 and the race was moved to the first Saturday in October, meaning that it is run on the same day as the Spring Classic....
in just the fourth start of his career.
But it was as a four-year-old, in the 1988-89 season, that his true ability was observed. He dead-heated with another excellent New Zealand sprinter, Westminster, in the Railway. Three weeks later, he won his first Telegraph, completing a rare Railway-Telegraph double. Incredibly, in winning the Telegraph, he also dead-heated - this time with Festal.
He won both races again in the 1989-90 season, and completed his unprecedented Railway treble in 1991. That win has been claimed as one of the greatest sprint victories in New Zealand. Carrying 59kg, Mr Tiz was severely checked and all but fell at about the 600 metre mark, and went to the back of the field. Yet from that impossible position, under a huge weight - and in a sprint race - Mr Tiz, ridden by regular jockey Lance O'Sullivan
Lance O'Sullivan
Lance Anthony O'Sullivan was one of New Zealand's best-known jockeys, now retired.He won a record number of races totalling 2479, mainly in the 1980s including the 1989 Japan Cup on champion mare Horlicks, which broke the world record over 2400m...
, stormed along the rail to win. The style of the win was "absolutely unforgettable". Later in the month, he finished second in the Telegraph, carrying a crushing 60.5kg - and handicap weight given due to his brilliance.
Three months later came arguably his greatest performance. Unlike stayers, few New Zealand sprinters cross the Tasman and have success against the best Australian sprinters in their own backyard. In April 1991, Mr Tiz won the The Galaxy
The Galaxy (horse race)
The Galaxy is an Australian Jockey Club Group One Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1100 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in April...
in Sydney, one of the premier sprint races in Australia. Just like the Railway victory a few months before hand, what made this win more remarkable was the manner in which he won the race. Near the back of the field at the home turn, and seemingly in a hopeless position with 300 metres to run, Mr Tiz showed a breathtaking turn of foot and made up an extraordinary amount of ground to record one of the greatest wins by a New Zealand horse on Australian soil. His trainer, Dave O'Sullvan, recounts: "I still can't believe how he won the Galaxy. He had 10 horses in front of him and he nearly fell trying to make his run. It was incredible. I still get the video out from time to time and it never fails to amaze me".
In the last start of his career, Mr Tiz finished third in the Group 1 Gadsden at Flemington
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
in Melbourne.
In a country were stayers are more esteemed than sprinters, Mr Tiz is well considered a champion in his class. He is honoured with a race carrying his name at Ellerslie
Ellerslie Racecourse
Ellerslie Racecourse is the main racecourse in Ellerslie, Auckland, New Zealand for thoroughbred racehorses. It is an undulating, grass circuit of approximately 1,900 m.-History:The first race meeting was held at Ellerslie on 25 May 1874...
, the scene of his historic Railway treble. The Mr Tiz Trophy is a listed stakes race for three-year-old horses over 1200m. It is run on the third and final day of Auckland Cup Week
Auckland Cup Week
Auckland Cup Week is one of New Zealand's major racing carnivals. Held in Auckland in the first week of March, the carnival includes Thoroughbred, Harness, and Greyhound racing. The carnival was first run in 2006. The main features are the Auckland Cups for each code, with the thoroughbred version...
, the most prestigious week of racing on the New Zealand calendar.