Great Harness Horses 1960-1980
The JUNEE JET…..WELCOME ADVICE
In my last story I mentioned the quality of the 1966 crop of foals. Some of the great horses produced from that year included James Darren, Canu Bay, Never Say Die, Monara, Bay Foyle, Alecane, Bonnie Frost, New Yorker and Kiwi Lad. However the horse who improved the most from this batch and went on to become Australia’s best pacer and an Inter Dominion winner was the beautiful black horse from the Riverina, the Junee Jet, Welcome Advice.
Welcome Advice was another one of the many very good horses bred in the Riverina area of NSW and was by the imported sire Welcome Stranger from Minnie Spring, so he traced to Adios on his sire’s side and Globe Derby on his Dam’s side. If ever a horse was bred to be a champion this was it. Owned throughout his career by Russ and Edna Minchin, he was trained by George Harpley and driven by Alan Harpley and Bernie Clarke.
Welcome Advice had his first start as a 2yo on 30-11-68 at Junee, the track that was to give him his ‘nickname’ the Junee Jet. He started at 2-5 and won easily by 20 yards rating 2-13. His next start was off 12 yards in another 2yo event, this time at Leeton, where he clashed with another upcoming 2yo who had ALSO won at his only start, James Darren. These two staged an enormous battle between themselves with James Darren prevailing by just 3 yards with the rest of the field 50 yards further behind. These two great pacers continued their own personal ‘war’ a week later in a heat of the Leeton Breeder’s Plate with James Darren winning once again, this time by just a head, with the rest of the field almost distanced 60 yards behind! In the final Never Say Die blew them all away, winning in record time with Welcome Advice 7th.
Back to Junee on 11-1-69 where he won a 2yo race by 30 yards and then he travelled to the Melbourne Showgrounds for his first start there, running 6th to Heritage. On 1-2-69 he contested a heat of the Breeder’s Plate in Melbourne, running 4th to Monara and the following week, in the final, ran 3rd behind Globe Score and Monara. Two weeks later he won his first race there, a 2yo event which he won easily. It was the first of 24 wins on the old Showgrounds track, a track which MANY horses failed to handle, but NOT Welcome Advice. Back up to Wagga where he ran 2nd, beaten a head, to Canu Bay in the S.W.& Riverina Sapling Stakes, and the following week, 3-4-69, was beaten just 2 yards by that same horse at HP in the Country 2yo Championship.
One week later he was back in Melbourne for the Youthful Stakes. He won his heat by 6 yards from Monara, running a new track record, and the following week won the final by the same margin from Monara and Never Say Die. Five weeks later, still in Melbourne, he contested the Sapling Stakes, running 3rd in his heat behind Globe Score and Alecane, and in the final was 7th behind Never Say Die, who broke his track record set only 7 weeks earlier. His last start as a 2yo was at HP in a heat of the Challenge Stakes where he ran 5th to Bay Foyle. In his first season of racing Welcome Advice had 16 starts for 5 wins and 6 placings against one of the strongest crops of 2yos ever seen.
Spelled for 5 months, he resumed at Bendigo on 12-11-69 in a 3yo event, running 2nd behind Cute Guy. That was all the ‘warming up’ he needed. He then proceeded to win his next 10 races straight. The first of these was three days later in Melbourne where he comfortably won his heat of the Sires Produce from Globe Score and the following week won the final from Perfect Chime. Back home to Junee for an easy win from Threadler and on the 1-1-70, easily won the Leeton Sires Produce from All Heart and Canu Bay. Back to Junee again for another easy win from Threadler and then down to Melbourne for the Graduation Championship. On 17-1-70 he won his heat and the following week won the final from Imatoff. A month later he ‘bolted’ in a race at Bendigo by 25 yards from Stormy Lodge and then travelled back to the Showgrounds for the Victorian Derby.
He won his heat, on 14-3-70, by 8 yards from Typhoon Grove and the following week ran up his 10th consecutive win in the final, easily beating Never Say Die and Bonnie Frost. He then went through a frustrating series of placings at HP. First he ran 3rd in a heat of the NSW Pacer’s Derby behind Bay Foyle, and in the final was 2nd to his old foe, James Darren. Then he ran 3rd in the R.C.Simpson Sprint behind James Darren and Bay Foyle, 2nd behind Monara in a heat of the Southern Cross Stakes and 3rd in the final to Bonnie Frost and Alecane. He was then spelled and his 3yo season read 16 starts for 10 wins and 6 placings, outstanding figures considering the quality of the opposition at the time.
Once again he was spelled for 5 months but this time made his comeback, as a 4yo, in one of the most sought after races on the Australian calendar, the Kilmore Cup. No easy race to win at any time it was going to be harder first up, but showing all his class Welcome Advice won in a driving finish from Monara and the reigning Inter Dominion champion, Bold David. Eighteen days later he raced at the Showgrounds, winning a 4yo event from Globe Score. Here was another top class horse from the 1966 crop, ultimately a winner of 42 races including 2 Sapling Stakes, a Derby, Kilmore Cup, ANA Cup plus numerous Invitations and FFA’S.
Welcome Advice’s next start was in a heat of the Melbourne Pacing Cup, where he ran 7th, and then he travelled to HP and ran 7th behind Bay Foyle in the Australasian 4yo Championship. On 5-12-70 he went back to Junee and beat Threadler in a FFA and then travelled to Melbourne for the A.G.Hunter Cup. He finished 5th behind Field Commotion in the first heat, won his second heat and finished 6th behind Son Of Nancy in the final. He then travelled to NZ for the 1971 Addington Inter Dominion series.
In the first set of heats on 13-2-71, Welcome Advice finished a neck 2nd to Holy Hal, on the second night ran 4th to Manaroa and in the final set of heats finished 8th to Rain Again. Despite this rather indifferent showing he qualified for the final. On a heavy track he finished strongly, about 7 wide in the straight, to run into 5th behind Junior’s Image, beaten less than a length. The winner was later disqualified after he returned a positive swab and Stella Frost was elevated to winner with Welcome Advice moved up to 4th.
Two weeks later he raced in the Lady Brooks Cup in Melbourne finishing 5th and 3 days later ran in the Warragul Cup but was pulled up after a mid race skirmish. Three days later he ran 5th in the Mildura Cup off 24 yards before losing his driver in a race in Melbourne won by Reichman. He then moved up to Sydney for three races but failed to break his ‘maiden’ on the Glebe circuit. First he ran 2nd to Monara in the Lord Mayor’s Cup, then 2nd, once again, to Alecane in the 4yo Futurity heat and 2nd AGAIN in the final to Bay Foyle. Two weeks later he won the 4yo Challenge at the Showgrounds and then travelled to Canberra for his last start as a 4yo, finishing 3rd in a FFA. His 4yo season saw 21 starts for just 5 wins and 5 placings.
Once again given a 5 month spell, he resumed on 8-10-71 in the Whirlwind Stakes at HP finishing 2nd. The following week he won his first race at HP, beating Bay Foyle in a FFA. This was his main lead up race to his ‘target’ for this visit, the Spring Cup. Showing how well he comes to hand early in his races after a spell, he won the Cup by 15 yards from Viva Amigo. Back to the Showgrounds off 24 yards in the Melbourne Pacing Cup, he ran 2nd in his heat and a week later 2nd again, beaten a 1/2 neck, in the final. Given a 6 week break, he contested the A.G.Hunter Cup carnival, winning his first heat easily from Chamfer Pool, and his 2nd heat from Roc Eden. With wins in both heats he was well fancied in the final at 11-4 but only finished 4th to Dixie Boy.
A month later he ran 5th in a HP FFA before contesting the 1972 Australia Day Cup. This race was won in outstanding fashion by the most controversial pacer of the time, Harwood Brigade. He beat Welcome Advice by 20 yards, but in a sensational aftermath was disqualified after returning a positive swab and Welcome Advice declared the winner. He then returned to the Showgrounds for the Anniversary Cup winning both his heats. The first was on 19-2-72 where he beat Reichman and 4 days later he beat Valencia Bay. He started 6-4 favourite for the final but was unable to catch the flying Reichman, who sped over the mile trip in a new Australian record time of 1-58 3/5, incredible time for the small 3½ furlong track. He then ran 4th in the Miracle Mile but stayed in Sydney to contest the Lord Mayor’s Cup.
On the first night he started 4-9 favourite and won his heat easily from Kiwi Lad, on the 2nd night won again just as easily, beating Bay Foyle, and in the final, despite his 18 yard handicap, won as he liked. He had taken 3 years to win his first race at HP but had now become the first, and ONLY, horse to win all 3 major Cups in the one season at HP. He then ran 4th in a Melbourne Invitation before travelling to Qld. for the Inter Dominion.
On the first night he was slowly away and met some early interference, before running on to finish 8th behind Deep Court. The second round of heats were held on a very wet track and Welcome Advice, although in the death seat most of the way, finished powerfully to beat the brilliant West Australian, Red Vicar. On the 3rd night he won again, this time beating Bold David. Despite the rainy weather over 33,000 people turned up on Grand final night. The race was a scrappy affair with 4 horses breaking badly at the start, interfering with most of the other runners. Monara and My Gal Sal missed all the trouble and opened up a big break early with the field well strung out. Welcome Advice was ‘buried’ back in the field on the rails in a fast run race. Driven cleverly by Alan Harpley, he was eased off the fence during the last lap and while still about 5-6 lengths off the leader on the home turn, was ‘winding up’ for his final sprint. So quickly did he sprint when clear that he raced right away to win easily by 10 yards from the leader, Monara, with Reichman 3rd. With this win he became the first horse in Australia to win over $100,000 solely in Australia. It was a good time to end his 5yo season so he was sent for a spell. As a 5yo Welcome Advice had 22 starts for 13 wins and 3 placings and was named 1972 NSW Harness Horse of the year.
He resumed on 14-10-72 after a 4 month break and ran 4th in a FFA. A month later he won a Cowra FFA and then travelled to the Showgrounds for the Melbourne Pacing Cup. Off 24 yards, he won his heat on 11-11-72 and a week later ran 3rd in the final behind Rhodonite. A month later he ran 2nd to Monara in a heat of the A.G.Hunter Cup and 3 nights later won a heat from Rhodonite. In the final he and Monara staged their own ‘war’, with Monara just winning by a yard with the rest of the field well behind. He then came to Sydney for the 1973 Inter Dominion carnival. Contesting a FFA a week before the series started, he showed he was ready to defend his title with an outstanding win. On a soft track he led the outside runners, lost ground when he ‘savaged’ Sahtina 2 laps from home, but still won easily from a strong field in very fast time.
A week later in the first set of heats he ran 2nd, beaten a ½ head, after giving the winner 24 yards start. On the 2nd night, still off 24 yards, he won beating Local Ayr, and on the last night of heats ran 4th to James Eden. In the final he was last early and was making his run in the last lap but was interferred with near the home turn, when horses were pushing out to try and make a run, and finished only 7th behind Hondo Grattan. Seven nights later he brilliantly won the Lady Brooks Cup at the Showgrounds and 6 nights later ran 4th behind Reichman in Australian record time in the Miracle Mile. A month later he contested the Lord Mayor’s Cup at HP. In the first set of heats he ran 6th but after the race his driver, Alan Harpley, was given an 8 week ‘holiday’ by the stewards. With Bernie Clarke driving he won on the second night beating Local Ayr and in the final finished a close 3rd to Hondo Grattan but with all honours going to the winner who staged one of the best runs ever seen at HP to win.
Back to Melbourne to run 4th in a FFA before running 3rd at Kilmore in a flying mile, then 2nd at the Showgrounds in an Invitation. In his final run for the season he finished 2nd in a Bendigo FFA behind Nicotine Prince. He finished the season with 21 starts for 7 wins and 8 placings.
Given only a 4 months spell, he resumed as a 7yo on 13-10-73 for his last season of racing, this time winning first up in a Melbourne FFA in track record time. A week later, off 36 yards, he was pulled up after interference during running. The following week he began his quest for the Melbourne Pacing Cup. Off 24 yards, he won his heat from Amlin, and 2 days later contested the Kilmore Cup off 36 yards. He found it too hard to give the flying Paleface Adios 24 yards start and finished 3rd behind him and Royal Gaze, the margins being 5 yards and a head. With his earnings for running 3rd in this race he surpassed Cardigan Bay as the greatest stakewinner in Australasian history. ‘Cardy’ held the old record at $141,624 but Welcome Advice now had earned $142,051. Five nights later he won the final of the Melbourne Pacing Cup, leading all the way from the mobile in track record time from Paleface Adios and Monara.
He then raced back at home, Junee, in a FFA. Country FFA’s, at this time, were particularly well contested events with fields regularly being of Inter Dominion quality. This one was no exception and the ‘Jet’ was flat out to just beat Adios Victor and Just Too Good by a neck and a nose with Hondo Grattan close up 4th. He then ran 3rd in the Pacific Coast Pace and 3 consecutive seconds in Melbourne FFA,s. On 5-1-74 he ran 7th in the A.G.Hunter Cup before winning another Junee FFA from Reichman. He then travelled to Perth for the 1974 Inter Dominion series.
Handicapped off 18 yards he was 4th on the first night to Hondo Grattan, 4th on the 2nd night to Paleface Adios who ran a world record, and 3rd in the final set of heats to Adios Victor. He was poised to run the race of his life in the final, but travelled no more than 50 yards when he fell, after becoming involved in the bad skirmish at the start that saw half of the field knocked out of the race. Hondo Grattan went on to become the first pacer to win back to back finals.
Back in Melbourne for the Lady Brooks Cup, he showed he had taken no harm from his fall by easily winning this mobile event from Amlin. A week later he beat the same horse again in the Lord Mayor’s Cup before he, once again, contested a Junee FFA, against STRONGER company, and ran 2nd to Reichman and Paleface Adios. On 30-3-74 he ran 7th in the Italian Cup, then 5th, off 42 yards, to Gallagher and 7th, off 36 yards, to Simpsonic. He then ran 2nd in a Bendigo FFA behind Royal Gaze, 3rd in a Melbourne Invitation and 2nd in a FFA. He then travelled to Queensland for the Albion Park $10,000 series.
On 2-7-74 he won his first heat in track record time, and 4 nights later won again, this time beating an old foe, Paleface Adios by just a half a head. In the final, off 18 yards, he never got close to Spike who led all the way. A week after the final he went ‘against the clock’ and set a new Albion Park track record with a time of 1-58 2/5. On 27-7-74 he had his last start, in a Melbourne FFA, but could only finish 2nd to Amlin. He was then retired to stud.
Welcome Advice retired as the highest stakewinning horse ever to race solely in the Southern Hemisphere, with earnings of $176,000, VERY big money in those days. He had 125 starts for 49 wins and 39 placings, and raced his whole career against some of the strongest opposition any pacer ever had to face. Despite this he won almost 50 races, including almost every top race on the Australian calendar. He also ran 2nd in a Sapling Stakes, Country 2yo Championship, NSW Derby, Lord Mayor’s Cup, 4yo Futurity, A.G. Hunter Cup, Whirlwind Stakes and Melbourne Pacing Cup.
This was one TRUE high class horse, a horse who was almost unbeatable from the mobile and yet, when he had to come from behind, which was MORE often than not, possessed one of the fastest sprints of any horse racing at the time. He was the first true champion of the 1970’s, a decade that saw more genuine top class horses race (in my opinion) than any other decade that I have seen. Later on I would see more brilliant horses race (Popular Alm) and better stayers (Pure Steel), but for consistency against absolute top class competition over 5 seasons he was as good as it gets. He was a tribute to his trainer, drivers and owners, and they served him just as well, an unbeatable combination.
The next story will be about one of the most brilliant pacers ever to race in this country and almost certainly the most controversial, Harwood Brigade.
By Jim Hogan
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
