Subzero (horse)
| Subzero | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sire | Kala Dancer |
| Grandsire | Niniski |
| Dam | Wiley Trade |
| Damsire | To Market |
| Sex | Gelding |
| Foaled | 26 September 1988 Australia |
| Died | 29 August 2020 (aged 31) Bendigo, Victoria, Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Colour | Grey |
| Breeder | Wakefield Stud Management, NSW |
| Owner | D. H. K. Investments |
| Trainer | Lee Freedman |
| Record | 48: 6-6-5 |
| Earnings | $2,008,100 |
| Major wins | |
| South Australian Derby (1992) Adelaide Cup (1992) Melbourne Cup (1992) | |
| Last updated on 23 June 2007 | |
Subzero, nicknamed "Subbie" (foaled 26 September 1988 – 29 August 2020[1]), was an Australian thoroughbred racehorse that won the 1992 Melbourne Cup.[2] The horse was foaled in Australia. Trained by Lee Freedman and ridden by veteran jockey Greg Hall, the four-year-old revelled in the rain-affected going to defeat the favourite, Veandercross, and the two-miler Castletown.[3] The win was to be Subzero's last, but as one of the few grey winners of the race in the post-War era, his fame was assured.
Upon retirement from racing, he was employed as the clerk of the course's horse by Racing Victoria's long-time clerk, Graham Salisbury, and made numerous appearances on television, at charity functions and schools.[4] In July 2008, he was fully retired as he had developed arthritis.
In October 2009, it was reported that Subzero might need to be put down as the medication he needed for his arthritis became unavailable in Australia. The medication was subsequently sourced from the United States and Subzero continued to appear in public. In his retirement he was gentle natured, very patient with children and remained with Graham Salisbury until Salisbury's death in June 2020.[5][6][7]
On 29 August 2020, he was euthanised at the Bendigo Equine Hospital due to the onset of heart failure. He was 31.[8]
Namesake
Australian rail operator CFCL Australia named locomotive GL106 after the horse.[9]
See also
References
- ^ "Australian Stud Book - Horse". www.studbook.org.au.
- ^ "New Sunday Times - Google News Archive Search". news.google.com.au.
- ^ Subzero's racing career
- ^ "Subzero School Visits", Racing Victoria website.
- ^ "Quarantine decision threatens Subzero". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 October 2009.
- ^ Melbourne Cup winner Subzero faces death sentence as Customs stops import of arthritis powder
- ^ "Graham Salisbury sadly passes away". Just Horse Racing.
- ^ "Racing: Much-loved Melbourne Cup winner Subzero dies at 32". The Australian.
- ^ GL101 Unveiled Motive Power issue 27 April 2003 page 9
Further reading
- Crettenden, Adam (2016). Subzero: More than a Melbourne Cup Hero. North Sydney, NSW: Penguin Random House Australia. ISBN 9780143782094.