Wenona Girl
Encyclopedia
Wenona Girl was a leading Australia
n Thoroughbred
racemare that had 27 wins over distances ranging from 4½ furlongs to 1½ miles. She won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one
(G1) races. Wenona Girl’s principal wins included the VRC Sires Produce Stakes
, AJC Sires Produce Stakes
, George Adams Handicap
, One Thousand Guineas
, VATC Futurity Stakes, AJC George Main Stakes
, AJC All Aged Stakes
, AJC Adrian Knox Oaks Stakes
, Rawson Stakes
and Rosehill Guineas
, all of which were later classified as G1 races. At the time of her retirement she was the highest stakes winning mare to have raced in Australia. At stud she was a good broodmare. Wenona Girl was later inducted into Australian Racing Hall of Fame
.
, Wilkes
(FR), her dam was the good racemare, Golden Chariot by Golden Sovereign (IRE). Golden Chariot won the VATC One Thousand Guineas and was the dam of two other stakes-winners, Emblem and Grammar Lad both sired by Wilkes. Wenona Girl was line-bred
to Teddy
in the fourth generation (4m x 4f).
. McCarten won the Sydney trainers' premiership four times in succession and finished second to Tommy J. Smith ten times.
to Sky High
and won the AJC Sires Produce Stakes from Persian Lyric and Sky High. Wenona Girl finished her two-year-old season with a tally of eight starts for 6 wins and 2 seconds.
from Sky High and Persian Lyric, ran second (by a ½ length) in the Canterbury Guineas
to Persian Lyric with Sky High third and won the Rosehill Guineas
from Sky High and Persian Lyric. Wenona Girl was unplaced in the AJC Australian Derby which was won by Persian Lyric from Le Storm and Sky High. She won the Flight Stakes
over 1 mile (1,600 metres) at Randwick Racecourse
in Sydney
. Racing in Melbourne Wenona Girl won the 1,000 Guineas from Impulsive and Lady Sybil, the Wakeful Stakes
from Glimpse and Smokeview and was third behind Lady Sybil and Smokeview in the VRC Oaks.
In the autumn of 1961 Wenona Girl won the Ranvet Stakes from Persian Puzzle and the New Zealand
mare, Key and then won the AJC Adrian Knox Oaks Stakes
. Wenona Girl finished her three-year-old racing season with a tally of 15 starts in principal races for 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third.
and won the Tatts Tramway Handicap
. In the autumn of 1962 Wenona Girl won the C F Orr Stakes
and was then second, by a half head, to New Statesman in the Oakleigh Plate
. Returning to Sydney she ran second to Kilsherry with Fine and Dandy finishing third to her in the All Aged Stakes
.
(w.f.a.) Canterbury Stakes and followed by a third to Sky High and Tipperary Star in the (w.f.a.) Warwick Stakes. She ran third in the Tramway Handicap behind Bogan Road and Birthday Card. Wenona Girl finished to Bush Bell with Fine and Dandy third in the Theo Marks Quality Handicap, AJC Daily & Sunday Telegraph Stakes, and had another second to Rochdale, with New Statesmen third in the Epsom Handicap
, and yet another second in the George Main Stakes
. Wenona Girl the won the AJC Challenge Stakes before she finished second in the C F Orr Stakes to Aquanita, won the VRC Lightning Stakes from Proud Miss and Sky High; and won the VATC Futurity Stakes from Kilsherry. Back in Sydney she won AJC Malayan Racing Association Cup and the All Aged Stakes from Silver Bore.
Wenona Girl finished her three-year-old racing season with a tally of 16 starts in Melbourne and Sydney races for 4 wins, 6 seconds and 4 thirds.
and VRC Lightning Stakes. During the autumn in Sydney Wenona Girl won the G1 races, the STC Rawson Stakes, for the second time and finally won the All Aged Stakes, with Time and Tide (Fine and Dandy¹s brother) in third place.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Thoroughbred
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...
racemare that had 27 wins over distances ranging from 4½ furlongs to 1½ miles. She won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one
Group One
Group One or Group 1 is the term used for the highest level of Thoroughbred and Standardbred stakes races in many countries. Group One races may be run under handicap conditions in Australia but in Europe weight-for-age conditions always apply. Races may be also restricted to age groups or a...
(G1) races. Wenona Girl’s principal wins included the VRC Sires Produce Stakes
VRC Sires Produce Stakes
The VRC Sires Produce Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two year olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, at Flemington Racecourse in March each year. The total prizemoney is A$302,000...
, AJC Sires Produce Stakes
AJC Sires Produce Stakes
The AJC Sires Produce Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horserace for two year olds at set weights run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April. The race was first run over one mile in 1867 and won by Glencoe...
, George Adams Handicap
Emirates Stakes
The Emirates Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horserace held as part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in early November. The race is over 1600 metres and is held at Flemington Racecourse...
, One Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas
The Thousand Guineas is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies at set weights run over a distance of 1600 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne on a Wednesday in October.-Distance:...
, VATC Futurity Stakes, AJC George Main Stakes
George Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
, AJC All Aged Stakes
All Aged Stakes
The All Aged Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April or May...
, AJC Adrian Knox Oaks Stakes
AJC Oaks
The AJC Oaks is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old fillies at set weights contested over 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April. The AJC Australian Oaks is the premier staying race for three-year-old fillies during the Sydney autumn racing carnival. Total...
, Rawson Stakes
Ranvet Stakes
The Ranvet Stakes is a 2000 metre weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race for three year olds and over, run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney Australia, early in March each year...
and Rosehill Guineas
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
, all of which were later classified as G1 races. At the time of her retirement she was the highest stakes winning mare to have raced in Australia. At stud she was a good broodmare. Wenona Girl was later inducted into Australian Racing Hall of Fame
Australian Racing Hall of Fame
The Australian Racing Hall of Fame is part of the Australian Racing Museum which documents and honours the horseracing legends of Australia. The museum officially opened in 1981 and created the Hall of Fame in 2000....
.
Breeding
She was sired by the Leading sire in AustraliaLeading sire in Australia
The list below shows the leading sire of Thoroughbred racehorses in Australia for each season since 1883–84. This is determined by the amount of prize money won by the sire's progeny during the season.----- References :* -See also:...
, Wilkes
Wilkes (horse)
Wilkes was an French Thoroughbred racehorse who became a leading sire in Australia. He had two victories, over 1,500 metres in the Prix Sans Souci at Maisons-Laffitte and the 2,000 metres Prix Edgard de la Charm at Saint-Cloud, for 1,446,200 francs in stakes.-Breeding:He was by the successful...
(FR), her dam was the good racemare, Golden Chariot by Golden Sovereign (IRE). Golden Chariot won the VATC One Thousand Guineas and was the dam of two other stakes-winners, Emblem and Grammar Lad both sired by Wilkes. Wenona Girl was line-bred
Inbreeding
Inbreeding is the reproduction from the mating of two genetically related parents. Inbreeding results in increased homozygosity, which can increase the chances of offspring being affected by recessive or deleterious traits. This generally leads to a decreased fitness of a population, which is...
to Teddy
Teddy (horse)
Teddy was a French racehorse and an influential sire, especially for lines in Italy, France, and the United States. He is considered one of the most influential sires in the 20th century.-Racing career:...
in the fourth generation (4m x 4f).
Racing career
Wenona Girl was trained by Maurice McCarten who also trained the brilliant sprinter, TodmanTodman
Todman was one of the greatest Australian Thoroughbred racehorses and an important sire. He was perhaps best known as the winner of the inaugural STC Golden Slipper in 1957, being the first of Star Kingdom’s five successive winners of the race...
. McCarten won the Sydney trainers' premiership four times in succession and finished second to Tommy J. Smith ten times.
At two years
She won her first start, the 1959 AJC Gimcrack Stakes followed by with a win in the VRC Sires Produce Stakes and AJC Sires Produce Stakes. In Melbourne in the early autumn she was second (by 1½ lengths) in the Merson Cooper Stakes to Impulsive. She then returned to Sydney, finishing second (by 1½ lengths) in the Golden SlipperGolden Slipper
The Golden Slipper Stakes is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race for two year old horses held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney run over 1,200 metres on turf at set weights. It is the premier two year old race in Australia and is the world's richest race for two-year-old Thoroughbreds....
to Sky High
Sky High (horse)
Sky High was an outstanding Australian Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Some of his major race victories include the 1960 STC Golden Slipper Stakes, 1960 VRC Derby, 1961 and 1962 VRC Lightning Stakes and the 1961 AJC Epsom Handicap.-Breeding:...
and won the AJC Sires Produce Stakes from Persian Lyric and Sky High. Wenona Girl finished her two-year-old season with a tally of eight starts for 6 wins and 2 seconds.
At three years
As a three-year-old Wenona Girl won the Hobartville StakesHobartville Stakes
The Hobartville Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race, for three-year olds at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney every February...
from Sky High and Persian Lyric, ran second (by a ½ length) in the Canterbury Guineas
Canterbury Guineas
The Canterbury Guineas was a thoroughbred horse race held over 1900 metres at set weights for 3 year old horses. The race was held in March each year as part of the Sydney Autumn Carnival at Canterbury Park Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.-Race History:...
to Persian Lyric with Sky High third and won the Rosehill Guineas
Rosehill Guineas
The Rosehill Guineas is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race run annually in March at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. A race for three-year-olds at set weights, it is contested on turf over a distance of 2000 metres .-Distance:...
from Sky High and Persian Lyric. Wenona Girl was unplaced in the AJC Australian Derby which was won by Persian Lyric from Le Storm and Sky High. She won the Flight Stakes
Flight Stakes
The Flight Stakes is an AJC Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three year old fillies, at set weights, run over a distance of 1600 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in October...
over 1 mile (1,600 metres) at Randwick Racecourse
Randwick Racecourse
Royal Randwick Racecourse is a racecourse for horseracing in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, New South Wales. Randwick Racecourse, is operated by the Australian Jockey Club and known to many Sydney racegoers as headquarters...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. Racing in Melbourne Wenona Girl won the 1,000 Guineas from Impulsive and Lady Sybil, the Wakeful Stakes
Wakeful Stakes
The Wakeful Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run under set weights with penalties conditions, over 2,000 metres at Flemington Racecourse on VRC Derby Day...
from Glimpse and Smokeview and was third behind Lady Sybil and Smokeview in the VRC Oaks.
In the autumn of 1961 Wenona Girl won the Ranvet Stakes from Persian Puzzle and the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
mare, Key and then won the AJC Adrian Knox Oaks Stakes
AJC Oaks
The AJC Oaks is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horserace for three-year-old fillies at set weights contested over 2,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April. The AJC Australian Oaks is the premier staying race for three-year-old fillies during the Sydney autumn racing carnival. Total...
. Wenona Girl finished her three-year-old racing season with a tally of 15 starts in principal races for 7 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third.
At four years
That spring as a four-year-old mare, Wenona Girl ran second to Sky High in the Canterbury StakesCanterbury Stakes
The Canterbury Stakes is a Group 2 Australian Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and upwards at weight for age, over a distance of 1300 metres. It is held annually at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.-Race History:...
and won the Tatts Tramway Handicap
Tramway Quality Handicap
The Tramway Quality Handicap is a Tattersalls NSW Group 3 Australian Thoroughbred quality handicap horse race for three year olds and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in September...
. In the autumn of 1962 Wenona Girl won the C F Orr Stakes
C F Orr Stakes
The C F Orr Stakes is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1400 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Prizemoney in 2010 is A$400,000...
and was then second, by a half head, to New Statesman in the Oakleigh Plate
Oakleigh Plate
The Oakleigh Plate is a Group 1 Australian thoroughbred open handicap horse race, run over a distance of 1100 metres at Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne in February. Its prizemoney in 2010 was A$351,000...
. Returning to Sydney she ran second to Kilsherry with Fine and Dandy finishing third to her in the All Aged Stakes
All Aged Stakes
The All Aged Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for Age, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney in April or May...
.
At five years
For the second successive year Wenona Girl ran second to Sky High in the weight for ageWeight for Age
Weight for Age is a term in Thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. It means that a horse will carry a set weight in accordance with the Weight for Age Scale. This weight varies depending on the horse’s age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the year...
(w.f.a.) Canterbury Stakes and followed by a third to Sky High and Tipperary Star in the (w.f.a.) Warwick Stakes. She ran third in the Tramway Handicap behind Bogan Road and Birthday Card. Wenona Girl finished to Bush Bell with Fine and Dandy third in the Theo Marks Quality Handicap, AJC Daily & Sunday Telegraph Stakes, and had another second to Rochdale, with New Statesmen third in the Epsom Handicap
Epsom Handicap
The Epsom Handicap is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race held over 1,600 metres at Randwick Racecourse. It is one of the major races of the Sydney Spring Carnival. Many great milers have won the race, including Chatham, Gunsynd, and Super Impose, who was also a dual winner of the...
, and yet another second in the George Main Stakes
George Main Stakes
The George Main Stakes is a Group 1 Australian Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 1600 metres at RandwickRacecourse, Sydney in September. Total prize money for the race is A$303,300....
. Wenona Girl the won the AJC Challenge Stakes before she finished second in the C F Orr Stakes to Aquanita, won the VRC Lightning Stakes from Proud Miss and Sky High; and won the VATC Futurity Stakes from Kilsherry. Back in Sydney she won AJC Malayan Racing Association Cup and the All Aged Stakes from Silver Bore.
Wenona Girl finished her three-year-old racing season with a tally of 16 starts in Melbourne and Sydney races for 4 wins, 6 seconds and 4 thirds.
At six years
Wenona Girl was third in the Canterbury Stakes behind Kevejon and Sky High, second in the Warwick Stakes to Cele’s Image, second in the Liston Stakes behind Nicopolis and third in the Hill Stakes behind Toi Port and Sky High. Returning to Sydney she won the (w.f.a.) George Main Stakes before going to Melbourne and winning VRC Linlithgow Stakes (now the VRC Salinger Stakes), VRC George Adams StakesEmirates Stakes
The Emirates Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horserace held as part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in early November. The race is over 1600 metres and is held at Flemington Racecourse...
and VRC Lightning Stakes. During the autumn in Sydney Wenona Girl won the G1 races, the STC Rawson Stakes, for the second time and finally won the All Aged Stakes, with Time and Tide (Fine and Dandy¹s brother) in third place.
Racing summary
Wenona Girl had a total of 68 race starts for 27 wins (including 22 principal race wins [now known as Stakes Races]), 19 seconds and 7 thirds for earnings of AU£70,825. She defeated Sky High seven times.Stud record
Wenona Girl was the dam of 7 foals, 4 raced for 3 winners including:- Day Girl chestnut filly 1965, by Todman, Unraced, dam of Touched By Love (dam of 9 winners)
- Special Girl chestnut filly 1966 by Todman, 8 wins 5 to 7 f. and $21,075
- Star Studded chestnut filly 1967 by Star Kingdom, a Sydney winner and dam of Star Bolt (10 wins 1,200 to 2,000 m. and $53,180)
- Gooree Girl chestnut filly 1970 by Todman, unraced
- Condagain (also known as Incorrigible) bay or brown colt 1974 by Convamore (IRE)
- St. Claude brown colt 1973 by Convamore (IRE)
- Pilmuir (NZ) (1978), dam of Kinjite (NZ) winner of AJC Epsom Handicap and $2.2 million in stakes, sire of 9 stakes-winners.