15 CHAMPIONS MILE 1990 SHAFTESBURY AVENUE 35 YEARS AGO One of the most versatile horses trained by Bart Cummings was Shaftesbury Avenue. Quick enough to win sprint majors like the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap, Shaftesbury Avenue was also adaptable enough to run third in a Japan Cup over 2400 metres. He was a star performer for Cummings winning 13 of his 28 race starts. He was unlucky not to run better in a Cox Plate after he appeared to slip on the turn out of the straight the first time. However, it was his win in the 1990 Honda Stakes (Champions Mile) that defined his brilliance over a middle-distance and the craftsmanship of Australian and New Zealand Racing Hall of Famer, Jim Cassidy, who jumped from a wide gate, pushed forward and took the lead, controlling the race in the process. On entering the straight Cassidy would have all runners off the bit, kicking clear with about 300 metres left to run. In the closing stages Cassidy and Shaftesbury Avenue opened up a three to four length margin. He kicked off his following autumn campaign in style, capturing both the 1991 Lightning Stakes and the 1991 Newmarket Handicap, landing a seventh Lightning and eighth Newmarket for Cummings. (Martin King/Sportpix)
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODA1NTI=