Over the holiday period I have been watrching a fair bit of racing - and getting some repressed memory syndrome therapy with it - looking at names of horses and racing colours that have reached the dizzy heights in racing in the past.
The Conqueror, who has been going gangbusters for Canberra trainer Nick Olive, wears the pale green, black diagonal strips and pale green cap - colours formerly owned by the late Jock Graham. These famous colours were carried to victory in many Gr 1 races by the mighty Imagele, which included a triple crown - Canterbury and Rosehill Guineas' and AJC Derby when he won that memorable tussle over Leica Lover and Grand Cidium.
They were also carried to victory in a Doomben 10,000 by outstanding mare Cele's Image and his bonny sprinting mare, Tina's Joy won a Carrington in the colours, among other wins.
At Scone and Nowra recently the famous white, yellow sleeves, black cap of the late Fred Moses also resurfaced. These colours were worn by champion gallopers Time And Tide and Fine And Dandy to many Gr 1 successes when trained by the late Harry Plant. Moses also owned a bonny little chestnut filly with a white blaze, Guilia, who was trained by the late T.J. Smith. She carried the colours to victory in a Gr 1 AJC Champagne Stakes with the late George Mulley on board. Smith also won the Golden Slipper for Moses in those colours with Fairy Walk with the late George Moore on board.
The last good racehorse I can remember to carry those coloursa for Moses and Smith was Cheyne Walk, who won a QTC Grand Prix with Mick Dittman on board.