|
Post
Office Box 67 Fulham Gardens SA
Phone: 0412 208 011 |
Oakbank
Easter Carnival |
|
| Often
seen as a warm up to the Great Eastern Steeplechase the Von Doussa has a long history of
its own. First run in 1877 when it was won by Charley it is only one year young than the
Great Eastern. The first jockey to ride three winners of this race was J O'Connor in 1905
(The Rake), 1906 (Gulfer) and 1907 (Bush Boy). The 1942 Grand National Hurdle winner Saul
was the first to win that race and the Von Doussa when he was successful in 1945.
The Champ was the next double winner in 1977 before Chocolate Royal dominated the Von Doussa Steeple. He won the race for three years running in 1978, 79 and 1980. During this time Chocolate Royal ventured to Melbourne to record a second in the 1978 Grand National Steeple and a 3rd in the same race in 1979. The Von Doussa-Great Eastern double was won again in 1983 by Venite who then headed to Warnambool to take out Australia's other renown cross country race the Grand Annual. The last horse to complete the double was Light Hand in 1996. The last horse to win multiple Von Doussa Steeplechases is Spinning Waggon in 1993 and 1994. In 1997 Brutambo caused a huge upset when the favourite suffered a fatal fall at the last jump leaving Brutambo to win the race paying 30-1. The following year Palace Symphony who had been placed in the Caulfield Guineas and Bill Stutt Stakes as a 3yo was successful.
Superstar jumper Moon Chase won the 1999 Von Doussa after having won the 1998 Grand National Hurdle and finishing third in the 1998 AV Hiskens Steeple. Later in the season he won the Moonee Valley Hurdle and also claimed the weight carrying record for a win over jumps. He returned to Oakbank for the Von Doussa in 2000 but it proved to be his last run in a race with the huge weights taking their toll on his legs. He was retired soon after last years Easter carnival. Gilligan won the race in 2000 but will not be returning to defend his title in this years event. |
|
| All photos featured on my reports are available for sale. Please email for details to barnesphotography@bigpond.com | |
| Barnes Photography Home Page
| About Jenny Barnes Equestrian Stories Index | Racing Stories Index Oakbank Easter Carnival 2001 Race Preview - Index |
|
That year the race was run
as a steeplechasers flat at Morphettville. In 1952 Royal Pentazia became the first horse
to win both the Von Doussa and the Great Eastern Steeplechase. This feat was repeated by
the great jumping mare Tory Star in 1958 and again by Blue Gum in 1962. Koorashalli
completed the double in 1965 as did Robin Star in 1968. Club Spirit in 1971 won the Von
Doussa before heading to Victoria for a second in the Grand National Steeple. 
In 1997 Palace Symphony had won the Grand National
Steeplechase. His last appearance at Oakbank was in the Great Eastern Steeplechase where
he was in contention coming to the last jump but fell after clipping the top of the fence.
Palace Symphony was retired soon after when being injured while preparing to represent
Australia in a jumps race overseas.