Horse Racing: 2005 Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fastnet Rock

Fastnet Rock overpowered Alinghi in the straight to win by a neck. Fastnet Rock carried a weight of 54.5 kg for a time of 57.37 seconds on a slow track over 1000 m. There was a feeling of deja vu, as only a year earlier, Fastnet's trainer Paul Perry had won the race with Choisir with Glen Boss also on board.

It was a stroke of luck that the race was not cancelled, as Melbourne was hit with its worst 36 hour period of rain in history. Flemington, however, survived the elements, and by the time the first race had started the track had been upgraded from heavy to slow.

Answer: Christine Puls

Christine Puls rode Our Dashing Dane (fondly known as 'Tiny' by his connections) to a record-breaking win. The five year old gelding was an emergency, only getting a run after one Riley Redwing was scratched. He beat Under The Bridge by a length and three quarters, setting a new record that will stand forever as the Hobart Cup will never be run over 2100 m again. Our Dashing Dane was bought at auction by trainer Jason Clifford for only $2500.

Answer: Ballet Society

Ballet Society dumped Blake Shinn at the start of the race won by champion filly Alinghi. She won the race with Damien Oliver on board by two lengths carrying 52 kgs and running 1:8.77 over a good track. It's a wonder how Ballet Society would have done if she had kept her rider, as she was the first past the post, yet disqualified for being riderless.

Answer: Winning Belle

Winning Belle came 2nd, beaten by a length to super horse Makybe Diva. The Diva proved to everyone that she was not past her peak by winning the million dollar race over 2000 m. She also set a track record of 1:58.73 for the 2000 m. Winning Belle proved her worth, and in any other year would have won the race handsomely.

Answer: True

The Gai Waterhouse trained Shamekha beat a tough field that included rivals Fastnet Rock and Alinghi to win the G1 race over 1200 m. Gai had actually been considering scratching the mare, as the slow track was not to her favour. The decision was made for her, however, when she failed to meet the scratching deadline of 7:30 am! Shamekha was definitely not favoured by the punters and was set to pay out $26 for the win. Alinghi came a surprising fourth, making it her first unplaced run in her 16 career starts.

Answer: Patezza, Court's In Session and Danni Martine

Patezza won the race by a length to Court's In Session, with Danni Martine only a long head behind him. Patezza was an outsider, paying $21 for the win and ran the 1600 m from barrier 16. The gelding settled at the rear, and hit the front with 50 m to go. The 6 year old carried 54.5 kg for a time of 1:35.98 on a dead track.

Answer: Grand Armee

Grand Armee won the Queen Elizabeth Stakes by a strong two and a half lengths to Delzao, becoming only the second horse since the Australian champion Tulloch to win the race back-to-back.
What made it even more special was that Gai Waterhouse trained Grand Armee, and her father, Tommy Smith, trained Tulloch. Grand Armee proved his champion status by recording his 5th G1 win of the season, a feat only bettered by Kingston Town, who won 6 during the 1979 - 80 season. Armee carried a heavy 58kg to make a time of 2:02.66 on a dead track over 2000 m.

Answer: Makybe Diva

Makybe Diva dominated the awards in 2005, taking out the titles of Champion Racehorse, Champion Stayer and Most Popular Horse. She beat Mummify 144 votes to 1 for the Champion Stayer award and gained a 32% vote to win Most Popular Horse ahead of Elvstrom (29%), Count Ricardo (22%), Plastered (12%) and Grand Armee (3%). Grand Armee won the title of Champion Middle Distance Horse by 106 votes to Elvstrom's 32. Fastnet Rock won Champion Sprinter by 104 votes, beating long time rival Alinghi who only had 31 votes.

Answer: Mummify

Mummify came a very brave third in the race after breaking down on the home straight and breaking his leg. The champion stayer was trained by Lee Freedman and ridden by Danny Nikolic in the tragic race that saw the end of one of the greats of Australian racing. He was buried at Lee Freedman's property at Rye.

Answer: False

The Diva raced into legendary status by winning her third consecutive Melbourne Cup. The calling at the finish will not easily be forgotten. "And a champion becomes a legend!" the caller cried as Makybe Diva raced to the wire to win the race by 1.3 lengths to On A Jeune.

It was definitely the most amazing victory of the year, and maybe even in history. A bronze filled statue of the amazing mare was made and unveiled on the 30th October 2006. However, her time of 3:19.79 was not enough to beat the track record.

The connections surprised the racing world by retiring the grand mare after the race, making her final win the greatest of her career.