Rogan Josh (horse)
Encyclopedia
Rogan Josh is an Australian Thoroughbred
racehorse, who won the 1999 Melbourne Cup
when ridden by John Marshall for the trainer Bart Cummings
.
Rogan Josh was purchased for $13,000 by owner Wendy Green and began his racing career in Western Australia. His first start was at Bunbury
as a four year-old, and after winning 4 of his first 5 starts he headed to Ascot
where his final run for the campaign resulted in a fourth placing.
As a five year-old, and now trained by Colin Webster, Rogan Josh worked through his classes in Perth recording another four wins before heading to the 1998 Pinjarra Cup. Over 2200 metres Rogan Josh passed the post a nose in front to win the Listed Pinjarra Cup and two weeks later recorded a neck win in the Group 3 Bunbury Cup.
Set for the Perth Carnival he was second in the Group 2 C B Cox Stakes
at 2400 metres weight-for-age before finishing second to King of Saxony in the Group 2 Perth Cup
at 3200 metres. Colin Webster had a strong belief that Rogan Josh was good enough to run in the Melbourne Cup because of his ability to run 3200 metres. After a brief three start autumn campaign which included a second in the 1999 Bunbury Cup (the race he won the year before), Rogan Josh was then transferred to Bart Cummings and a tilt at the 1999 Melbourne Cup. Cummings liked the fact that Rogan Josh was lightly raced even though he was now a seven-year-old.
When Melbourne Cup markets were first released in August 1999 he was a 250/1 chance. His first start for Bart was in the Aurie's Star Handicap
- a 1200 metre sprint down the Flemington
straight in which he finished 7th. His next start was the Feehan Stakes where he finished 10th, and a fortnight later he finished 7th in the JRA Cup
. He then showed some form on Caufield Guineas Day when ridden by Darren Gauci he won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes by two lengths. Ridden by Chris Munce
, a week later, he led turning for home before being run down finishing fourth behind Sky Heights in the Caulfield Cup
. After his run in the Caulfield Cup, it was obvious that Rogan Josh had staying ability, plus he already had form at 3200 metres with his second in the Perth Cup earlier in the year, and he would be real threat in the Melbourne Cup - particularly with his weight of 50 kg - his odds shortened to 15/1. Suddenly everyone wanted to know more about Bart's Perth horse.
Once Rogan Josh was assured of a start in the Melbourne Cup, Bart Cummings entered him to run in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes on Victoria Derby as his final lead-up race. John Marshall was chosen to ride him and Rogan Josh caused an upset by winning the Mackinnon at odds of 12/1. After his Mackinnon win Rogan Josh became 6/1 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup and finished strongly to beat the Goldolphin trained Central Park and win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup three days later. The win was Cummings's 11th Melbourne Cup. Rogan Josh only had one more start in Australia: a 7th in the Sandown Classic 11 days after the Melbourne Cup before finishing a brave fourth in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin (Group 1 2400m WFA) in December 1999. He was then retired after breaking down during training in the Autumn of 2000 and is only the third Western Australian horse to win the Melbourne Cup with Blue Spec (1905) and Black Knight (1984) being the other WA Melbourne Cup winners. Of his 37 career starts he had 19 starts at Group/Listed level for five wins, two 2nd's and two 3rd's.
He will always be remembered as a country galloper who took on the best weight-for-age and handicap horses in the eastern states and succeeded. In 2006 Rogan Josh was moved to the Living Legends Retirement Park where he spends the rest of his days with other retired high profile Group 1 winning racehorses
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse, who won the 1999 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
when ridden by John Marshall for the trainer Bart Cummings
Bart Cummings
James Bartholomew 'Bart' Cummings, AM is one of the most successful Australian racehorse trainers. He is known as the Cups King, referring to the Melbourne Cup, as the he has won the 'race that stops a nation' a record 12 times....
.
Rogan Josh was purchased for $13,000 by owner Wendy Green and began his racing career in Western Australia. His first start was at Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
as a four year-old, and after winning 4 of his first 5 starts he headed to Ascot
Ascot Racecourse, Western Australia
Ascot Racecourse is the major racecourse in Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately 8 kilometres east of the Perth central business district, with the headquarters of the Western Australian Turf Club positioned directly opposite....
where his final run for the campaign resulted in a fourth placing.
As a five year-old, and now trained by Colin Webster, Rogan Josh worked through his classes in Perth recording another four wins before heading to the 1998 Pinjarra Cup. Over 2200 metres Rogan Josh passed the post a nose in front to win the Listed Pinjarra Cup and two weeks later recorded a neck win in the Group 3 Bunbury Cup.
Set for the Perth Carnival he was second in the Group 2 C B Cox Stakes
C B Cox Stakes
The C B Cox Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged 3 years old and upwards, over a distance of 2400 metres at Ascot Racecourse, Perth in December...
at 2400 metres weight-for-age before finishing second to King of Saxony in the Group 2 Perth Cup
Perth Cup
The Perth Cup is Western Australia's premier Thoroughbred horse race and is held at Ascot Racecourse on New Year's Day each year. It has been run since 1887....
at 3200 metres. Colin Webster had a strong belief that Rogan Josh was good enough to run in the Melbourne Cup because of his ability to run 3200 metres. After a brief three start autumn campaign which included a second in the 1999 Bunbury Cup (the race he won the year before), Rogan Josh was then transferred to Bart Cummings and a tilt at the 1999 Melbourne Cup. Cummings liked the fact that Rogan Josh was lightly raced even though he was now a seven-year-old.
When Melbourne Cup markets were first released in August 1999 he was a 250/1 chance. His first start for Bart was in the Aurie's Star Handicap
Aurie's Star Handicap
The Aurie's Star Handicap is a Listed Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1200 metres. It is held annually down the 1200 metre Straight Course at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne in August...
- a 1200 metre sprint down the Flemington
Flemington Racecourse
Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is Australia's richest horse race. The racecourse is situated on low alluvial flats, next to the Maribyrnong River...
straight in which he finished 7th. His next start was the Feehan Stakes where he finished 10th, and a fortnight later he finished 7th in the JRA Cup
JRA Cup
The JRA Cup is a MVRC Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held under open handicap conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 2040 metres. It is held annually at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne in September. The total prize money is...
. He then showed some form on Caufield Guineas Day when ridden by Darren Gauci he won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes by two lengths. Ridden by Chris Munce
Chris Munce
Chris Munce is a highly successful Thoroughbred horse racing jockey who was convicted in Hong Kong on 1 March 2007 of taking bribes in exchange for racing tips.- Overview :...
, a week later, he led turning for home before being run down finishing fourth behind Sky Heights in the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
. After his run in the Caulfield Cup, it was obvious that Rogan Josh had staying ability, plus he already had form at 3200 metres with his second in the Perth Cup earlier in the year, and he would be real threat in the Melbourne Cup - particularly with his weight of 50 kg - his odds shortened to 15/1. Suddenly everyone wanted to know more about Bart's Perth horse.
Once Rogan Josh was assured of a start in the Melbourne Cup, Bart Cummings entered him to run in the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes on Victoria Derby as his final lead-up race. John Marshall was chosen to ride him and Rogan Josh caused an upset by winning the Mackinnon at odds of 12/1. After his Mackinnon win Rogan Josh became 6/1 second favourite for the Melbourne Cup and finished strongly to beat the Goldolphin trained Central Park and win the Group 1 Melbourne Cup three days later. The win was Cummings's 11th Melbourne Cup. Rogan Josh only had one more start in Australia: a 7th in the Sandown Classic 11 days after the Melbourne Cup before finishing a brave fourth in the Hong Kong Vase at Sha Tin (Group 1 2400m WFA) in December 1999. He was then retired after breaking down during training in the Autumn of 2000 and is only the third Western Australian horse to win the Melbourne Cup with Blue Spec (1905) and Black Knight (1984) being the other WA Melbourne Cup winners. Of his 37 career starts he had 19 starts at Group/Listed level for five wins, two 2nd's and two 3rd's.
He will always be remembered as a country galloper who took on the best weight-for-age and handicap horses in the eastern states and succeeded. In 2006 Rogan Josh was moved to the Living Legends Retirement Park where he spends the rest of his days with other retired high profile Group 1 winning racehorses