Faster Than Lightning (11 page)

Phar Lap:
chestnut gelding, bred in New Zealand 1926 (sire Night Raid, dam Entreaty)

Although he was born in New Zealand, Phar Lap is a true Australian horse-racing legend. Like the cricketer Don Bradman, Phar Lap brought hope and excitement to Australian people during the difficult time of the Depression in the 1930s. Incredibly, when Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup in 1930, it was only a few days after criminals had tried to shoot him.

Phar Lap (which means ‘lightning’ in Thai) was known as ‘Big Red’ or the ‘Red Terror’, but was called ‘Bobby’ by his strapper, Tommy Woodcock. The horse became a national hero, winning thirty-six
of his fifty races in Australia. Then he headed overseas, where he won the prestigious Agua Caliente Handicap, the richest race in North America.

Tragically, he died two weeks afterwards. Some people believed Phar Lap had been poisoned, although others thought the horse had died because of a stomach condition. It was discovered after Phar Lap’s death that his heart weighed 6.2 kilograms, nearly twice the average weight of 3.2 kilos.

Over the years, the legend of Phar Lap has kept on growing, and songs, books and films have been written about ‘Australia’s Wonder Horse’. His body is preserved at the Melbourne Museum, where it is one of the most popular exhibits, and his heart is in the National Museum in Canberra.

Carbine:
bay stallion, bred in New Zealand 1885 (sire Musket, dam Mersey)

Carbine was probably the greatest horse to race in Australia in the nineteenth century. He managed thirty-three wins from forty-three races, including a famous victory in the 1890 Melbourne Cup, which he won in record time. For most of Phar Lap’s career, one of the questions people kept asking was—is he as good as Carbine?

Carbine hated rain on his ears and nose and had a special canvas covering for his head if he was racing in the rain. He also liked to bite strangers!

Because Carbine was so successful, it’s not surprising that he sometimes wanted to stop and show off in front of the crowd. His trainer, Walter Hickenbotham, used to hurry him up by flicking open his umbrella at the horse’s legs. Carbine’s skeleton is preserved at the Australian Racing Museum in Melbourne. So is the umbrella!

Makybe Diva:
bay mare, bred in England 1999 (sire Desert King, dam Tugela)

When Makybe Diva won the 2005 Melbourne Cup, everyone at the Flemington racecourse knew they had witnessed Australian sporting history. Makybe Diva, who had also won the Cup in 2003 and 2004, became the first horse ever to win the ‘race that stops a nation’ three times. That victory took her earnings to an amazing $14.5 million, an Australasian (Australia and New Zealand) record. The horse’s owner, Tony Santic, announced Makybe Diva’s retirement straight after the race.

Lee Freedman, who trained the horse, claimed that most people would never again see such a champion performance. ‘Go and find the smallest
child on this course,’ he said. ‘There will be the only example of a person who will live long enough to see that again.’

Makybe Diva is named after five women employed by her owner—Maureen, Kylie, Belinda, Diane and Vanessa—but she’s known as ‘Esme’ or ‘The Mare’ to her friends.

Second in the action-packed adventure and mystery series about the
Clued-Up Six.

The new principal at the high school is talking up the Tubeworks—an amazing new adventure park with coloured and themed pipes that children can venture into to experience extraordinary rides. He is also promoting the national
Whatever, Wherever
competition—a TV game show in which the winner chooses ‘whatever’ they want and ‘wherever’ they want to go.

But something is not quite right. First, Gabby, one of the most powerful swimmers, loses the State Swimming Trials to Andrea Taylor. Second, Hannah, the brightest kid in school, loses the
Whatever, Wherever
playoff to David Evans. Neither Andrea nor David has the natural ability to beat the girls. How have they done it? Could it be linked to the strange events happening at the Tubeworks?

Gabby, Hannah and the Clued-Up Six set out on a dangerous mission to uncover the truth.

The authors would like to thank Liana Spoke and Lisa Berryman from HarperCollins in Melbourne for their continued support, enthusiasm and wonderful guidance throughout this journey. To Patrick Mangan in Sydney, whose careful, patient and expert editing, as well as his friendly manner, made the whole editing process…almost a pleasure! Special thanks to Andrew Bell, whose keen eye and imaginative suggestions created Gale Force; and the Convent Gallery in Daylesford, which is one of our regular meeting spots. Pam would like to thank Michael for his light-bulb ideas. Michael would like to thank Pam for switching the light bulb on!

M
ICHAEL
P
ANCKRIDG
E is the author of the bestselling Toby Jones cricketing adventure series. He lives in Geelong, Victoria. His main interests include a wide variety of sports, music, reading and keeping fit. He has worked as a teacher for just over twenty years and currently teaches part-time at Geelong College.

Visit Michael’s website at www.michaelpanckridge.com.au

P
AM
H
ARVEY
lives in Bendigo with her husband, two children, two dogs, two goldfish, two ducks, fifteen chooks and a ghost horse. Pam works as a physiotherapist, a TAFE teacher and other bits and pieces. She’s enthusiastic about a lot of things—including books, chocolate and getting up in the morning—and wears a bracelet made out of spoons. Pam has been writing since 1993.

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