GREAT HARNESS HORSES 1960-1980
KOALA KING
Koala King was bred by C.Archer and Don Flynn. He was by Koala Frost from Tawain and was the 5th foal of this mare who was bred by D.D.Moore of NZ, who was, if my memory serves me correctly, the owner of Caduceus, the 1960 Inter Dominion winner. Offered for sale at the 1974 Sydney Yearling Sales, like Pure Steel was in 1973, he was bought by Ray and Faye Wisbey for just $1300!
Koala King, trained and driven by Kevin Robinson, had his first start on 11-2-75 in a 2yo race at Bulli, running 2nd to Becky James. Ten nights later he had his first start at HP and ran 2nd again, this time to Noble Gem. Back at Bulli 4 days later, he won his first race beating Becky James and Miracle Step. It was the first of 5 consecutive wins. He next won at Fairfield on 24-3-75 and 3 nights later won the Country 2yo Championship at HP beating Miracle Step and Texas Ranger. Three weeks later he was in the ACT and won the Canberra Sapling Stakes and 20 days later won a heat of the Penrith Kindergarten Stakes, however he finished 2nd in the final to Boney’s Brother. He then went back to HP and ran 2nd in a heat of the Challenge Stakes and the following week ran 4th in the final. At his last 2yo start he ran 7th in the Golden Horseshoe at Menangle. As a 2yo Koala King had 11 starts for 5 wins and 4 seconds, a pretty promising start to what was to become
a stellar career.
He resumed 5 months later in a 3yo race at Menangle, winning first up, and 2 weeks later, on 29-12-75, he won again, this time at Bankstown. Four nights later he contested the Sires Produce at HP running 2nd in his heat and the following week ran 3rd in the final behind Fiery Guy and Ronrobin. A month later he ran 2nd at Menangle but 3 nights later won at HP before winning again, this time at Bankstown. On 6-3-76 he travelled to Melbourne and contested a heat of the Victorian Derby, running 2nd and the next week ran 6th in the final to High Advice. Back to Sydney on 2-4-76, he ran 3rd in a heat of the NSW Derby and the following week won the Consolation from Dimante Hanover. In this race he sat in the 1×1 and sprinted very quickly at the 600 metre mark to win easily.
Two weeks later he won the R.C. Simpson Sprint, once again using his very fast final sprint to win running away. A week later he won a heat of the Southern Cross Stakes. He was 2nd at the bell, 20 metres behind the tearaway leader, but sprinted very fast down the back straight to lead into the home straight and win easily. In the final he ran 2nd to Stanley Rio. On 14-5-76, this time driven by Terry Robinson instead of his father, Kevin, he won a heat of the 3&4yo Championship. Seventh at the bell, he was cleverly driven through the field in the final lap to be 2nd on the home turn and just got up to win. In the final the following week he ran 4th to Double Agent. He then won at Menangle before travelling to Queensland for the Derby.
On 12-6-76 he finished 5th in his heat and failed to make the final but came out and won the Consolation. At his last start for the season he won the Sunshine Sprint from Stanley Rio. As a 3yo Koala King had 20 starts for 11 wins and 6 placings.
Koala King resumed 4 months later on 8-10-76 in a heat of the Australasian 4yo Championship at HP and won first up beating Rusty Thor and Sengren Suru, the pacing brother to champion trotter, Court Jester. He was still being driven by Kevin Robibson but was now being trained by his owner, Ray Wisbey. Kevin Robinson owned a block of land next door to Wisbey and set up a riding school there with Wisbey running it. During the course of their ‘partnership’ Wisbey picked up some training tips from Robinson and, eventually, took over the training of the horse himself. In the final he ran 4th to Regent Belmont and then headed to Kilmore for the Cup. He turned in a poor performance finishing 8th to Pure Steel and 5 nights later at MV ran 8th again, this time behind Markovina. He then came back to HP for the Australian Pacing Championship. On the first night he ran 5th behind King Frost, won his heat on the 2nd night beating Paleface Adios and in the final on
26-11-76 ran 4th to Markovina. Four weeks later he ran 4th to King Frost in a HP FFA and the following week ran 4th again in a similar event.
A week later he ran 3rd in a heat of the Australia Day Cup and followed that with a win in the second round of heats. In the final he found Don’t Retreat too good, finishing 2nd. On 18-2-77 he came off 20 metres and won a heat of the 3&4yo Championship but ran last in the final the following week. He followed that with a 2nd in an Invitation, a 4th and a 2nd in heats of the Lord Mayor’s Cup and 7th in the final. That was followed by a 5th in a FFA and then 2nd in a Menangle FFA behind Roma Hanover and King Frost. Back to HP on 6-5-77, he won a FFA and the following week won the 4yo Futurity beating the soon-to-be-crowned Inter Dominion winner, Stanley Rio. That was his last start as a 4yo. For the season Koala King had 22 starts for just 6 wins and 5 placings. It wasn’t his best season!
Koala King resumed as a 5yo at HP 4 months later in the Media Guild Cup, running 3rd to Master Findlay and Don’t Retreat. A week later on 23-9-77 he ran 2nd, beaten a nose, to top class mare Roma Hanover, and the following week was 5th in the ABC Pacific Coast Pace. He won his first race for the new season at Bulli at his next start and 4 nights later won a FFA at MV. The following week he ran 7th in the Winfield Cup and 9 days later was 4th in the Kilmore Cup. He returned to HP on 28-10-77 for the Spring Cup carnival and won his heat on the first night. The next week he ran 2nd in a heat and in the final was 2nd again, this time to the rising star, Rip Van Winkle. A week later he ran 3rd to Paleface Adios in the Ansett Cup and he then headed to Adelaide for the Australian Pacing Championship.
On the first night he was 4th to Pure Steel and 3 nights later was 5th to the same horse. Failing to qualify for the final, he won the Consolation, easily beating Conmurra Chief. Back to HP on 23-12-77 for a 2nd in a FFA and then 4th in a Bulli FFA behind Roma Hanover and then 3rd in a similar event at HP. On 6-1-78 he won a heat of the Australia Day Cup, the following week ran 6th in another heat and in the final was 2nd, beaten 3 metres, by Don’t Retreat. He then travelled to Auckland for the Cup carnival.
On the first night he was 7th to Captain Harcourt and 4 nights later was 6th to Regal Light. Failing to qualify for the Auckland Cup, he contested a Consolation which he won from Royal Waldorf. A week later he was at MV for the A.G. Hunter Cup but ran an inglorious last to Pure Steel. He stayed in Melbourne for the Inter Dominion and in the first set of heats, 2 weeks later, ran 8th to Markovina, then 4th to Sole Command and 2nd to Markovina again. Failing to qualify for the final, he contested a Consolation but could only run 8th behind Pure Steel, who also failed to qualify for the final.
Given a 2 month ‘breather’, he resumed at HP on 12-5-78 running 2nd in a FFA and then 4th in a Discretionary Handicap before travelling to Queensland for the Sir Clive Uhr Championship. On the first night he ran 9th behind Rip Van Winkle but beat that horse on the second night after Rip Van Winkle’s driver, Michael Vanderkemp, drove what many said was a poorly judged race. In the Final he ran an even race to finish 5th but was no chance with the winner, Rip Van Winkle. He then came back to HP for his last 2 starts for the season, running 3rd and 5th. For his 5yo season Koala King had 35 starts for 7 wins and 11 placings.
Two weeks later he had his first start as a 6yo, running 2nd at HP and the following week ran 2nd again. On 8-9-78 he won at HP, still being trained by Ray Wisbey but now driven by Brian Hancock. Kevin Robinson had been suspended for 6 months for an ‘indiscretion’ at HP. The Hancock/Koala King pairing was to become a very successful horse and driver partnership! The next week he ran 3rd before winning a FFA at Fairfield. He then came back to HP on 22-9-78 and won again. That was followed by a 2nd in a Bulli FFA before he travelled to Melbourne. On 14-10-78 he won the first of his 3 consecutive Winfield Cups beating Pure Steel and Master Findlay. Two weeks later he was back at HP winning a heat of the Spring Cup and the following week won a 2nd heat. In the Final he finished 2nd to Double Agent and The Scotsman, both of whom would go on and win Miracle Miles. On 17-11-78 he won the Ansett Cup and then travelled to Queensland for the Australian
Pacing Championship.
On the first night he won and on the 2nd night ran 4th behind Sleepy Fella. In the Final he was the closest of seconds to Michael Frost, the horse who would ultimately end the 29 race winning sequence of San Simeon. Back to HP on 8-12-78 he produced his customary very fast finishing burst to easily win the ABC Pacific Coast Pace from Loyal Lord and Michael Frost in record time. He then travelled to Gloucester Park for the W.A. Pacing Cup carnival.
On the first night he finished 4th to Royal Force, then 2nd to Pure Steel and 5th in the final set of heats to Garry John. In the final he ran 2nd, beaten just 2 metres, behind Pure Steel. A month later he ran 2nd in a MV FFA behind Sleepy Fella and the following week was 7th in the A.G. Hunter Cup. At his last start in Melbourne he ran 4th to Elegant Jamie in the Marathon Stakes.
Back home at HP on 30-3-79 he won the Members Gold Cup after being 3rd at the bell lap and sprinting very quickly to win running away. The following week he ran 4th in the Miracle Mile won by The Scotsman. Next was the Lord Mayor’s Cup at HP where he ran 2nd on the first night, 3rd on the second night and 2nd in the Final, beaten just 1 metre by Dual Brigade. He was then 4th to Paleface Adios in the Satellite Sprint at Bankstown before time trialling at Hawkesbury in 1-59 on 12-5-79. Next was a HP FFA where he finished 5th, then 3rd in a similar event and then 4th in a Quality Handicap. He then travelled to Queensland for the Sir Clive Uhr Championship.
He was 3rd on the first night and 4th on the second night, but won the Final, off 15 metres, from Paleface Adios and Michael Frost. At his last start for the season he returned to HP and won a FFA after leading at the bell and winning easily. As a 6yo Koala King had 36 starts for 12 wins and 14 placings.
Koala King resumed as a 7yo at HP on 31-8-79 off 20 metres in a Quality handicap, running 2nd to Master Findlay. Two weeks later he won a FFA at Fairfield and 4 nights later won the Media Guild cup at HP, leading at the bell and winning easily. Three nights later he won a FFA at Bankstown in record time before running 4th in the ABC Pacific Coast Pace. He then travelled to Melbourne. His first start there was in a FFA at MV on 6-10-79, running 4th to The Scotsman but the following week he came out and won his second Winfield Cup. Dean’s Special led with Koala King locked in behind him, but in the home straight the leader drifted out under pressure allowing Koala King to drive through and just win. Two weeks later he won the Kilmore Cup from Brad Adios and Roma Hanover before heading home. His next start was at HP 12 days later when he won a FFA before running 2nd, beaten a nose, in the Ansett Cup.
Next was the NSW Sprint Championship which he won easily after being in the 1×1 at the bell and he followed that with a 2nd in a FFA to Friendly Footman. On 21-12-79 he lined up in a HP FFA. Second last early, he followed Markovina up when HE made a run and eventually settled in the 1×1 and sprinted away in the last lap to win easily equally the track record and recording his 26th HP win. Given a 2 month breather he resumed at Bulli and won a FFA unextended after starting at 1-12, then travelled to Melbourne. His first start there was a 4th to Pure Steel in a MV FFA and the following week was beaten a nose by the same horse in the A.G. Hunter Cup. He then came back to HP for the Miracle Mile and the Inter Dominion Carnival.
In the Miracle Mile on 7-3-80 he only finished 5th to Locarno and the following week ran 4th in the first set of ID heats. Four nights later he ran 4th again and was in danger of failing to qualify for the final. To get in he had to win his heat on the last night and he did this in scintillating fashion. Off 10 metres he was 9th early but settled 1×4 and was still 8th at the bell. Down the back the last time he sprinted powerfully and won running away by 5 metres from Frosty Imp and Local Motive and thereby JUST qualified for the Final. In the big race he started at 12-1 and was 7th on the rails early, but some clever driving by Hancock had him 1×3 at the bell. Coming towards to home turn the last time, Locarno sprinted very quickly up to challenge for the lead, hit the front upon straightening and was being declared the winner, but Brian Hancock ‘tracked’ Locarno all the way in the last lap and came around the home turn just behind him and in
full flight. So quickly did he sprint that no sooner had Locarno been called the winner by one commentator when Koala King sprinted past him at an enormous rate and had the race won half way down the straight. As he crossed the finish line 10 metres in front of Locarno and Pure Steel, Brian Hancock could not contain his excitement and waved and flourished the whip in triumph, although the stewards were not amused! It was a great victory and fully deserved.
Four nights later he could only run 3rd in a Bulli FFA, but Paleface Adios was ALWAYS hard to beat in FFA’s! Next was the Lord Mayor’s Cup but he finished 5th in the heat and 3rd in the final, both runs from 20 metres. Then he won a HP FFA before travelling to Queensland for the Craven Filter Championship. He was beaten a half a head by Bad Luck in the first heat but came out the next week off 15 metres and won the second round of heats. In the Final he was too strong, winning by 8 metres and running a new race record. His last start for the season was at HP on 11-7-80 where he led at the bell and won easily, when driven by Brian’s brother Richard Hancock. For his 7yo season Koala King had 29 starts for 15 wins and 8 placings.
Given a short spell he resumed as an 8yo at Penrith on 3-9-80 in a FFA, winning easily in race record time after starting at 1-5. Nine nights later he won the Hibernian Cup at HP and 4 nights later won a FFA at HP beating Loyal Lord and Teen Queen. Three nights later he was back to HP again, this time winning the Media Guild Cup. It was his 7th successive win. On 4-10-80 he won a FFA at MV beating Dean’s Special and the following week took on the Winfield cup. He got away well and settled in the 1×1 with Pure Steel leading the outside runners (where else would he be!). In a driving finish he JUST got up to beat ‘Steelo’ by a neck with Sheffield Thor 3rd. A month later he was at Penrith to win another FFA in record time and started at 1-8. It was his 10th successive win. Ten days later he was back at MV for the Australian Pacing Championship.
In his first heat he finished a close 2nd to Rhett and 4 nights later was 2nd again, this time to Ardstraw. In the Final he never got into the race and finished 8th behind Brad Adios. He returned to HP on 5-12-80 for an Invitational but could only finish 6th to Undertrick. He appeared to have lost the ‘edge’ he had earlier in the season but connections pressed on with his campaign and headed West for the Benson & Hedges W.A. Pacing Cup. In his first heat on 19-12-80, off 10 metres, he came up against the local ‘wonder horse’, San Simeon who, at that stage, was unbeaten in 25 starts. San Simeon made it win number 26 with Koala King 3rd, beaten 6 metres. A week later, off 20 metres, he finished 2nd, this time to Local Mark, and in the Final was 4th to, once again, the STILL unbeaten San Simeon.
Two weeks later he was racing in an Invitation at Fairfield but only finished 4th to Michael Frost. Four nights later at HP he bounced back to his very best with a dashing win in an Invitation against a very strong field. From the mobile Satinover led fron barrier 4 with Koala King behind him but locked in there by Friendly Footman. Down the back straight for the last time he got off the rails and set out after the leader but Satinover, who had recently won 19 straight, was no pushover and Frosty Imp was coming home VERY hard as well. In a terrific finish Koala King just got up to beat Satinover by a nose with Frosty Imp a head away 3rd. The next week he contested the Miracle Mile but could only finish 3rd to Friendly Footman and Locarno.
Ten nights later he contested the Newcastle Cup, finishing 2nd to Michael Frost, and 5 nights later was in Melbourne for the A.G.Hunter Cup carnival. In the FFA on 14-2-81 he finished 6th to Friendly Footman but the following week won the BIG one, the A.G.Hunter Cup. He was behind the leader most of the way but got out halfway down the long MV straight and won by 2½ metres from Gammalite with Friendly Footman 3rd. Two nights later he won the Cranbourne Cup. Well back early, he made his run in the last lap and was 5 wide into the straight but got up to beat Michael Frost by 2 metres with Paleface Adios a neck away 3rd. Back to MV for a 5th in a FFA and then a month later 3rd in a similar event at HP. Three nights later he ran 4th in an Invitation but the following week won a FFA at Headquarters.
Three weeks later he ran 2nd in an Invitation but 3 weeks after that won a Bankstown FFA from Paleface Adios. Seven days later he beat that same horse again in a similar event at Bulli and ten nights later won a HP FFA. It was his 36th HP win! He then travelled to Queensland for the big Winter races up there. On 6-6-81 he ran 4th in the Craven Sprint but the following week, in an Invitation off 20 metres, beat Gammalite and Frosty Imp. In the Craven Filter Championship he found giving 20 metres start to Gammalite too difficult and could only finish 9th to that horse.
Back to HP on 3-7-81 he finished 4th in an Invitation and 2 weeks later won a Bulli FFA from Michael Frost. At his last start for the season he contested a HP FFA on 17-7-81. On the home turn for the last time he was 6th, three back on the rails and looking hopelessly boxed in, but as they turned Nimble Yankee who was racing behind the leader, Double Agent, moved out to challenge for the lead. Brian Hancock saw a ‘sniff’ of daylight, when the leader drifted out slightly under pressure, and charged through to win by just a metre. It was his 37th HP win. As an 8yo Koala King had 35 starts for 17 wins and 8 placings, not bad going for an 8yo!
Koala King resumed for his 9yo racing season on 4-9-81 in a HP Invitation finishing 4th to Double Agent, but 2 weeks later won a similar event, making it his 38th win at HP. Two weeks later he ran 7th in a MV FFA before running 3rd, beaten 5 metres, in the Winfield Cup. Back home to HP on 16-10-81 to win the Media Guild Cup for the 3rd time, and win number 39 there. He then contested the Australian Pacing Championship at HP. On the first night he ran 2nd to Frosty Imp and 4th on the 2nd night to Willadios. In the Final from 20 metres he ran 9th to Jikk Adios.
Given 2 months off he resumed at Bankstown on 11-1-82 in the Bankstown Cup, winning from Tidy Jason and Disco Adios and followed that with a 7th and 4th at HP. On 29-1-82 he contested his 4th Miracle Mile but finished last to Gundary Flyer. Then followed a 2nd at Bulli, 3rd at MV then 4th (in the A.G.Hunter Cup) and 2nd at Cranbourne in the Cranbourne Cup. On 12-3-82 he returned to HP and won his 40th race there, an Invitational. Driven by Terry Robinson, he led all the way to win by 2 metres from Disco Adios. Four days later he won at Bulli and his last 4 starts were all at HP where he finished 3rd, 2nd, 4th and 9th. He was then retired to stud duties. As a 9yo Koala King had 22 starts for 5 wins and 7 placings.
Koala King retired with the impressive record of 210 starts for 78 wins and 63 placings. He was 1979 4yo Pacer of the Year and also 1979 Grand Circuit Champion. He won 40 races at HP, the most races ever won at a major Metropolitan track in Australia or NZ. Amongst his many wins he won an Inter Dominion, A.G.Hunter Cup, Craven Filter Championship, Sir Clive Uhr Championship, the Media Guild Cup 3 times and the Winfield Cup 3 times! Is there any doubt that he was a champion?
He was an excellent beginner and when he led, as he often did, was almost impossible to run down. Alternatively, when he was ‘buried’ quietly in the field and held up for a final last sprint there were few, if ANY, horses who could match his final burst. If you want more solid evidence of this just have a look at the video of his Sydney ID win. He ran past the best pacers in the Southern Hemisphere in a ‘twinkling’ and had the race shot to pieces half way down the home straight!
At stud Koala King sired 243 foals for 106 winners of $1,786,758. He won over one third of that amount himself, $680,111. And to think he was just a $1300 purchase at the Sydney Yearling sales. What a bargain and what a racing career.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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