Outstanding mare still providing wins 63 years on

ON THE strength of former champion Angelique being inducted into the Hall Of Fame last night, let’s relive some of the mare’s amazing achievements.

WHEN it came to giving the “old boilers club” an official name the choice was obvious – Angelique.

Founded by Judy Cain, Jean Woods, Judy Rothacker and Gaye Donnelley, the club has been instrumental in highlighting the input women have had in harness racing.

Beginning at Moonee Valley before the move to Tabcorp Park Melton, the group hosts the Angelique Club Cup each season, with the feature part of the Victoria’s Mares’ Triple Crown.

A star in her own right, Angelique’s name goes side-by-side with the late champion horseman, Gordan Rothacker, who passed away in November 2010 and has previously been bestowed the honour of Legend.

Although linked with many top class performers, Rothacker is best remembered for his association with Angelique.

Bred and owned by Rothacker’s wife Jean, Angelique held the mantle as the premier pacing mare in Victoria during the 1960s.

Retired at the age of nine, Angelique registered 45 wins and 50 placings from 138 starts for just on $70,000 in earnings.

Included in her wins are the Victoria Oaks, the Lady Brooks Cup (twice), SA Trotting Club Cup, two heats of the 1964 Inter Dominion (runner-up to Minuteman in the Final) and 21 Free-For-Alls.

A bay mare, Angelique was foaled at Rothacker’s Doreen property on October 2, 1958.

By Avian Again – a half-brother to 1952 Inter Dominion champion, Avian Derby – Angelique is from the New Zealand-bred mare Worthy Stavely, which descended from the famous Thelma family.

Thelma, Angelique’s sixth dam, is regarded as one of the greatest foundation broodmares within the realms of harness racing being the ancestress of more than 300 winning descendants.

Angelique remained Rothacker’s favourite, with the late great quoted in a 1980’s interview as saying: “She was a true champion. She used to try her heart out, and she could go just as well free-legged.”

Upon her retirement, Angelique became a successful broodmare.

Her first foal is Gallagher, which is by the ill-fated Grand Monarch.

By Light Brigade, Grand Monarch enjoyed great success on the racetrack when driven by Rothacker during the majority of his wins.

Grand Monarch was tragically burned to death in the Victorian bushfires at Lara in 1969 – the same year Gallagher was born.

Gallagher went a long way towards emulating his mother, winning 37 races, including 20 at the Showgrounds – two more than his dam.

He also became the 16th member of the once exclusive ‘Hundred Grand Club’, retiring with earnings of $127,236.

His feature wins include the Ballarat, Bendigo and Cranbourne Pacing Cups, Bendigo and Kilmore Derbys, Victoria Youthful Stakes, the Milk Board Cup as well as a heat of the Victoria Pacers’ Derby.

Angelique’s second foal, in 1971, was Archibald, by Arrival, which recorded 16 wins.

A ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ type, Archibald showed glimpses of brilliance, but was just as well-known for his bad temperament.

Angelique’s offspring include Pepperstorm and Almonda, both by Arrival and unraced; Katherine, by Kentucky, which raced five times for a second at Cranbourne; and Spanish Angel, by Black Gamecock.

Pepperstorm is the dam of prolific winner Rhetoric (1:58.7, $156,000), while Almonda left Captain Smith (2:04.6).

Angelique is still providing success for the Rothackers, with her great, great, great granddaughter, Hertitage Lady, winning three races this season.