The Chief Who Ruled Doomben

He was simply known as ‘The Chief’ – especially in Brisbane and absolutely at Doomben.

And as they run the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday, no horse is more appropriately linked to the race than The Chief, who was known in the racebook as Chief De Beers.

Yes, Bernborough won it. Manikato and Takeover Target, too. A few won it twice, like Falvelon, Black Onyx and the popular Apache Cat, but there was no greater Doomben hero than The Chief.

Why? He won 20 races in his career and all of them were at Doomben. And no-one can explain why.

When he walked across the road to Eagle Farm, just 1.2 kilometres from winning post to winning post, seemingly built on similar soil and water supply, it was as if Superman’s kryptonite hit The Chief. He raced there eight times and was virtually treated as a scratching by the punters, never starting shorter than $9.

But when he was at Doomben, he was Superman. The record speaks for itself: 38 starts for those 20 wins. He ran in five Doomben 10,000s, winning as a three-year-old in 1995 from gate 17 for Mick Dittman, who hustled down to 51kg.

It took another three years to win it again with Darling Downs’ toiler Kenny Waller aboard, upsetting the $1.90 favourite General Nediym at odds of $11.

Fittingly, it was Dittman who would ride him in his last career start and, fittingly too, the 1999 Doomben 10,000, where he ran fourth. He would retire to become a police horse and eventually a resident of the Living Legends farm in Melbourne.

Dittman won seven races on The Chief, only bettered by Alan Russell (eight), the heavyweight apprentice turned senior who was also linked to Falvelon early in his career. Waller shared in one other win apart from the 10,000; while trivia buffs need to know Brad Richardson, Chris Maund and Gavan Duffy for the others to carry the yellow with the orange ‘V’ and cap of Barry Greenup and his family.

The Chief carried up to 64.5kg to win his races, was seen at Flemington, Moonee Valley and Caulfield without success, and also twice (naturally, without success) at the Gold Coast. However, only nine times did The Chief finish out of the top four placings in a 51-start career.

He was handled by Bill Calder, Brisbane’s version of Jack Denham, not as taciturn but similarly old-school and reserved – think the archetypal trainer of yesterday; horse and owner first, media and public second.

The Greenups retired The Chief in 1999 and he went to the Queensland Police, where The Chief he was exposed to all areas of mounted police duties that include operational, community policing, public relations and ceremonial activities.

Chief completed numerous operational patrols, a number of ceremonial escorts, such as the Royal Queensland Show opening, the appointment of the Queensland Governor, and attended numerous community events.

The Chief had a distinguished career in the police force, including serving as the designated governor’s police horse. A Vice Regal send-off was held for The Chief in December 2012, prior to his arrival at Living Legends, which is where he resides today, near Melbourne Airport, alongside Melbourne Cup heroes Might And Power, Brew, and also Apache Cat and Fields Of Omagh.

When Barry Greenup, whose colours were seen in Melbourne when he sent Ready To Top to Peter Moody, looked back on The Chief’s life, he had a simple reflection: “If you’ve got a horse winning at Doomben and there are races to suit him at Doomben, you naturally head in that direction.”

They did that 20 times with joy and another 18 with endeavour. He remains the undisputed king of Doomben and whoever wins Saturday’s Doomben 10,000, where Azkadellia is the favourite, will join The Chief’s name in the history books but never reign over him.

– www.g1x.com.au

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