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Gloaming  -  Profile of a Champion
Bay Gelding Born 1915
by The Welkin out of Light
Page 2

 Sydney racegoers anticipated seeing the wonder horse from New Zealand race in the spring of 1921 and attempt to break Desert Gold's record of 19 consecutive victories.  But again he was to arrive and then head home without a run after contracting a severe flu.  Once again he recovered in time to return to racing in November. 

A field of 7 lined up for the Fielding Stakes over 5 furlongs and Gloaming again showed the opposition a clean pair of heels winning by two lengths from Rational with Rouen third.  Following the same program as the previous season he then again won the Oroua Stakes carrying 61kg from Tommy Rot with Hula Girl third.

He was now equal with Desert Gold with 19 consecutive wins.  He faced three opponents in the Islington Plate and another victory was anticipated.  In a sensational race Thespian ran an Australasian record time in defeating Gloaming over the mile with Silver Link third.  Gloaming had his revenge in the Auckland Plate where he defeated Sasanof by 3 1/2 lengths with Raven third and Thespian unplaced.

Gloaming again defeated Thespian in the Egmont Stakes with Pirouette the only other runner before they clashed again the next day in the Hawera Stakes.  The only two runners in the mile event Gloaming was again victorious by 3/4 length.  He then went on to win the Taranaki Stakes and Jackson Stakes again before heading to the North Island Challenge Stakes.  In the race Gloaming carried 64kg and defeated Rational (60kg) by two lengths with lightweight Ares third.

To finish the season Gloaming then won the Challenge Stakes at Canterbury again carrying 62kg, Hawkes Bay Stakes, and finally the JD Ormond Memorial Gold Cup.  Had he not met defeat behind Thespian in the Islington Plate Gloaming would have recorded 29 wins in a row.

Gloaming finally made it back to Sydney without a problem but now he was a 7yo and the new star of the Australian racing was Beauford.  The two champions lined up in four clashes during the Sydney carnival. First up in the Chelmsford Stakes Gloaming led with Beauford just off the pace.  By the 1200m Tressayr joined Gloaming then Soorak moved up three wide.  Well into the straight Gloaming finally shook off the pair but Beauford was starting to make ground.  Gloaming tried valiantly but the younger horse had the momentum and went on to win by a length with David third.

The next clash was a week later in the Hill Stakes and despite the field of 8 it was considered round to between the two heavyweights.  This time Beauford went to the front with Gloaming just off the pace.  Around the home turn gloaming moved up to third before storming down the outside to win by 1 1/4 lengths from Beauford with Soorak third.

With each horse on one win round three was eagerly anticipated as the upcoming Spring Stakes over 1 1/2 miles the only racing topic in Sydney.  In the race Violoncello led Beauford and Gloaming by the 1700m.  As Gloaming went to moved forward the leader veered outwards taking Gloaming towards the outside fence as Beauford took the advantage offered and raced away in front along the rails.  By the 800m Beauford was travelling well in front of Gloaming who was steadily making ground.  In the home straight Beauford was well in front but Gloaming started to charge home.  Gloaming was quickly overhauling Beauford but the post loomed too soon and the leader held on by a neck with four lengths back to Specialty in third.  The speculation that had Gloaming not met with the interference he would have won created great excitement of a fourth clash in the Craven Plate.  The crowds packed into Randwick to see the two superstars clash again in a fourth 'match race'.  Violoncello led early but soon Gloaming and Beauford were matching strides.  By the 1600m Beauford took over by three lengths to Gloaming.  Around the turn Gloaming moved to within a length of Beauford and starting to make his charge.  By the 200m Beauford was in front by half a length but Gloaming dug deep and ran on strongly.  In the last few stages Gloaming proven the tougher of the two and came away to win by three lengths with Violoncello in third place.  The clashes remained at two all.  In winning Gloaming claimed the greatest Australian stakeswinner record in passing Carbine's earnings.

Gloaming then headed home with plans for the New Zealand Summer carnival as in the previous years but after winning the Champion Plate by a length from Winning Hit the old horse lost condition and was spelled.

In the Spring of 1923 Gloaming was prepared for another Australian assault.  The 8yo landed in Sydney ready to start his campaign but in trackwork he ricked a joint and his connections chose not to risk the chance of further injury so as in 1920 and 1921 he went home without a race.  There was great disappointment amongst the Australian racegoers as it was felt that as an 8yo it was probably his final visit. However after another spell Gloaming was ready to return to the racetrack in January 1924 some 15 months after his last start.

His first start back was the Waterloo Stakes at Trentham over 6 furlongs and only two horses opposed the champion.  Gloaming was too good winning by a neck from Glentruan with Nigger Minstrel third.  Three weeks later he lined up in the Middle Park Stakes at Canterbury and was too good for Murihaupo and Top Score.

A week later Gloaming again defeated Glentruan and Tamatete in winning the Jackson Stakes for the third time.  After a month's break Gloaming lined up against only one other Quiscent in the North Island Challenge Stakes.  Burdened with 64kg to Quiscent's 43.5kg Gloaming showed he was returning to his best winning by 6 lengths.

Three weeks later he lined up for the Challenge Stakes at Canterbury against only two opponents Razzle Dazzle and Galliard.  Disaster hit at the start when Gloaming was well behind the line as the race started and lost 10 to 12 lengths.  Gloaming chased hard but the head start was too great with Razzle Dazzle just hanging on to win by a half head with Galliard three lengths away third.

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